Artists Wanted: Engaging Women and Girls of Color (EWGOC) Initiative Mural Project

1. Project Overview

Mural Arts Philadelphia is seeking qualified visual artists or artist teams to design and execute a community-centered public mural as part of the Engaging Women and Girls of Color (EWGOC) Initiative. This project will center the voices, lived experiences, and leadership of women and girls of color, including trans individuals, and will be grounded in community engagement within Kensington, Fairhill, Strawberry Mansion and/or surrounding areas.

The mural will be developed through a collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive process and installed in Fall 2026. The selected artist(s) will work closely with community members, grassroots partners, and Mural Arts staff to ensure the artwork reflects local priorities, stories, and visions for collective wellbeing.

2. About the Engaging Women and Girls of Color (EWGOC) Initiative

The Engaging Women and Girls of Color Initiative is a community-driven platform that uplifts the voices of women and girls of color to lead conversations and shape solutions around their wellbeing.

Designed for participants ages 10 and up, EWGOC empowers individuals to: – Share personal and collective stories – Address systemic disparities – Build leadership, connection, and resilience – Thrive individually and collectively

The initiative intentionally includes trans women and girls and affirms gender-expansive identities.

3. Project Goals

The goals of this mural project include:

• Amplify the voices and leadership of women and girls of color
• Reflect community narratives rooted in Kensington, Fairhill, and Strawberry Mansion
• Address disparities at the intersection of behavioral health and social equity
• Create a visible, affirming public artwork that promotes dignity, safety, and possibility
• Foster community ownership through an inclusive engagement process

4. Thematic Focus Areas

The mural content and engagement process should respond to EWGOC’s four core focus areas:

1. Income Gap

Economic opportunity, labor equity, and financial empowerment

2. Holistic Health

Behavioral health, physical wellness, emotional resilience, and community care

3. Educational Attainment

Access, achievement, mentorship, and lifelong learning

4. Political Leadership

Civic engagement, advocacy, representation, and power-building

Artists are encouraged to interpret these themes through a strength-based and future-facing lens.

5. Scope of Work

The selected artist(s) will be responsible for:

A. Community Engagement

• Collaborating with women and girls of color (ages 10+) in the focus neighborhoods
• Designing and facilitating engagement activities (listening sessions, workshops, paint days, etc.)
• Employing trauma-informed and youth-centered engagement practices

B. Design Development

• Creating a mural design informed by community input
• Participating in design reviews with project partners
• Ensuring cultural relevance, accessibility, and visual clarity

C. Fabrication & Installation

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

6. Artist Selection Process & Honoraria

Preliminary Selection Phase

• A shortlist of artists or artist teams may be invited to develop preliminary concepts
• Shortlisted artists may receive an honorarium (amount to be confirmed)

Final Artist Selection & Budget

• One artist or artist team will be selected to execute the mural
• The final artist will enter into a contract with Mural Arts Philadelphia
• Finalists may be asked to submit a proposed artist budget / stipend

Proposed budgets may include: – Artist fee / stipend – Design development – Community engagement activities – Fabrication and installation labor – Travel (if applicable)

Final project budget range: $50,000, including $16,000 artist fee for design and installation.

7. Eligibility & Priority Considerations

This opportunity is open to:

• Individual artists and artist teams
• Artists with experience in community-based or socially engaged art
• Artists with lived, professional, or demonstrated commitment to working with women and girls of color

Priority will be given to: Artists of color–Philadelphia-based artists and artist teams–Artists who live in or have strong ties to Kensington, Fairhill, Strawberry Mansion and/or surrounding areas.

Artists who reflect the communities most impacted by this work are strongly encouraged to apply.

8. Submission Requirements

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

• Letter of Interest / Artist Statement (1 page max)
• Relevant Work Samples (5–8 images)
• Community Engagement Experience (brief narrative)
• Resume or CV (2 pages max)
• Contact Information

9. Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed based on:

• Artistic quality and relevance of past work
• Strength of community-centered and equity-driven practice
• Lived experience and/or demonstrated commitment to communities of color
• Experience working with youth and/or women and girls of color
• Sensitivity to behavioral health and social justice issues
• Connection to Philadelphia communities, particularly Kensington, Fairhill, and Strawberry Mansion
• Alignment with EWGOC values and goals

10. Anticipated Timeline

• RFQ/RFP Released: Apr 17, 2026
• Submission Deadline: May 22, 2026
• Artist Selection: Jun 5, 2026
• Community Engagement & Design Development: June and July  2026
• Mural Installation: September-October 2026
• Project Completion: Fall 2026

11. Submission Instructions

Please submit application materials electronically here.

Subject line: RFQ/RFP – EWGOC Mural Project

For questions, contact:

Jess Kratzer
Project Manager
jess.kratzer@muralarts.org

Mural Arts Philadelphia is committed to equity, inclusion, and fair compensation. We encourage applications from artists of all backgrounds who align with the mission and values of the Engaging Women and Girls of Color Initiative.