July 24th, 2024
MANKATO — The CityArt Committee of Mankato, MN is requesting proposals in an open competition for artists to design and create original murals for the 2024 CityArt On the Go traffic signal mural project. The murals will be painted or printed and installed on vinyl wraps on four strategically chosen traffic signal control cabinets (TSCC) located at key intersections within Mankato’s downtown core. These locations – Warren Street & Front Street, Warren Street & 2nd Street, Warren Street & Broad Street, and Main Street & Broad Street – offer both artist safety during creation and maximum visibility for the public to enjoy the finished pieces.
This exciting multi-year initiative, now entering its third phase, transforms ordinary TSCCs into vibrant works of art, with the goal of enhancing the aesthetics of City Center, increasing pedestrian traffic, and extending public art to new areas of downtown Mankato.
A selection committee consisting of members of the CityArt Committee and City of Mankato, will evaluate proposals based on artistic merit, thematic relevance to Mankato, and suitability for the specific TSCC locations. Artists interested in participating can find a complete Request for Proposal (RFP) on the CityArt website at www.cityartmankato.com or pick up a printed copy at the Twin Rivers office, located at 523 S. 2nd St. Mankato, MN 56001.
The submission deadline is Tuesday, August 6, 2024, and there is a $20 application fee. The selection committee will review applications and make final selections Tuesday, August 13, 2024. Installation is tentatively scheduled for the second week of September. Artists who are selected by the committee will receive a $1,400 stipend to cover materials, artist labor, travel, and other incurred expenses.
Proposals can be submitted via email to Wyatt@twinriversarts.org, or by mail to:
Twin Rivers Council for the Arts
Attn: Wyatt Miller, Program Manager
PO Box 293
Mankato, MN 56002
“We’re thrilled to launch the next phase of CityArt On the Go,” said Tricia Lewis, chair of the CityArt program. “This project transforms traffic signal boxes into vibrant canvases, enriching our cityscape and fostering artistic expression. We encourage artists of all backgrounds to submit proposals that capture the spirit of Mankato and contribute to a more vibrant and welcoming downtown experience.”
CityArt On the Go is designed to enhance the Mankato City Center by adding works of art to streetscape on surfaces. CityArt is a joint program of the City Center Partnership and Twin Rivers Council for the Arts. For more information about CityArt or to view artwork completed in earlier phases of the project, please visit www.cityartmankato.com.
About CityArt
CityArt is a joint program of the City Center Partnership and Twin Rivers Council for the Arts dedicated to bringing public art to the community. CityArt initiatives include the Walking Sculpture Tour, CityArt On the Go, the Mankato Flood Wall Mural, the City Center Public Art Tour, and the Silo Art Project.
About City Center Partnership
City Center Partnership, a downtown development organization, is a business unit of Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. (GMG) which includes the chamber of commerce and economic development organization, Greater Mankato Growth, the local convention and visitor’s bureau, Visit Mankato and GreenSeam, which utilizes agriculture to build on the region’s extensive agribusiness assets to develop ag economy.
About Twin Rivers Council for the Arts
Twin Rivers Council for the Arts is a collaborative alliance of local arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, and community members who share a vision for the arts in Greater Mankato. Twin Rivers Council for the Arts serves as a unifying voice, advocating for and connecting arts groups to the community by providing services and shared resources to affiliate members throughout southern Minnesota.