Artists Wanted: 988 Mental Health Hotline Mural

1. Project Overview

Mural Arts Philadelphia is seeking qualified visual artists or artist teams to design and execute a text-heavy public mural prominently featuring the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The mural will be installed in a high-visibility, high-traffic location, such as major transportation corridors and hubs including (but not limited to) the Frankford Transportation Center.

The mural will be paired with a large, inclusive community paint day focused on mental health awareness, visibility, and care. Given the site context, the artwork must be highly legible from a distance, bold in composition, and effective in fast-moving environments with vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

The project prioritizes artists who demonstrate sensitivity to mental health topics and experience working with community members in participatory public art settings.

2. Project Goals

• Increase public awareness and visibility of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Reduce stigma around mental health and crisis support
• Create a welcoming, text‑forward mural that is clear, accessible, and impactful
• Engage community members directly through a large-scale paint day
• Reflect trauma‑informed, inclusive, and culturally responsive practices

  3. Scope of Work

The selected artist will be responsible for:

A. Design Development

• Creating a text‑heavy mural design that clearly and prominently features “988” and crisis support messaging
• Collaborating with Mural Arts staff and project partners to refine language, layout, and accessibility
• Incorporating legibility standards for public right‑of‑way viewing

B. Community Engagement

• Planning and facilitating one large community paint day (with support from Mural Arts staff)
• Designing paint‑by‑number or other accessible participation methods
• Engaging participants in a way that is welcoming, trauma‑informed, and supportive
• Engaging with DBHIDS representatives and specific communities outlined by DBHIDS and Mural Arts to drive the content of the mural

C. Fabrication & Installation

• Preparing final artwork for mural execution
• Painting and completing the mural on site
• Coordinating with Mural Arts on timeline, materials, and site logistics

Final Artist Selection & Budget

• One artist or artist team will be selected to execute the final mural
• Final artist will enter into a contract with Mural Arts Philadelphia
• Artists will be asked to submit a proposed budget / stipend as part of the final selection phase

The final artist budget is expected to include, but is not limited to: Artist fee / stipend – Design development – Community engagement and paint day participation – Fabrication and installation labor – Travel (if applicable)

Final project budget range: $40,000/$16,000 artist fee for design and installation.

5. Eligibility

This opportunity is open to:

• Individual artists and artist teams
• Emerging and established muralists
• Artists with experience in text‑based work, graphic design, typography, or public messaging
• Artists with lived experience, professional experience, or demonstrated commitment to mental health advocacy are strongly encouraged to apply.

6. Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit a single PDF (max 10 pages) including:

Artist Statement / Letter of Interest (1 page max)

• Interest in the project, specifically around 988 or mental health
• Approach to text‑heavy public murals
• Experience with community engagement

Work Samples (5–8 images)

• Relevant mural, public art, or text‑based work
• Include title, year, location, and brief description

Community Engagement Experience

• Brief description of past participatory or community‑based projects

Resume or CV (2 pages max)

Contact Information

7. Selection Criteria

Submissions will be reviewed based on:

• Artistic quality and clarity of visual communication
• Strength of text‑based and typographic work
• Demonstrated ability to address sensitive topics with care
• Experience with community engagement or participatory projects
• Alignment with project goals and values

8. Anticipated Timeline

• RFQ/RFP Released: April 7, 2026
• Submission Deadline: May 8, 2026
• Final Artist Selected: May 22, 2026
• Design Development & Approvals: June-July 2026
• Mural Installation & Community Paint Day: August 2026
• Project Completion: September-October 2026

9. Additional Notes

• All final artwork will remain the property of the project sponsor, with artists retaining moral rights
• Mural Arts Philadelphia is committed to equity, inclusion, and fair compensation in all artist opportunities
• Reasonable accommodations are available upon request

10. Submission Instructions

Please submit materials electronically here.

Subject line: RFQ/RFP – 988 Mental Health Hotline Mural

For questions, contact:

Jess Kratzer
Project Manager
jess.kratzer@muralarts.org

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate mental health support.