Call to Artists- Airway Heights Downtown Mural Project

Call to Artists: Downtown Mural Project – Airway Heights, WA

The City of Airway Heights has partnered with Billie’s Diner to bring a new wall mural to downtown Airway Heights:

Project Description

The City of Airway Heights Arts Commission invites artists to submit designs for an aviation inspired mural to be painted on the eastern facing wall at the Billie’s Diner building located at 3008 W Sunset Hwy. in downtown Airway Heights, WA, as a function of the Downtown Revitalization Project. This project is intended to provide a platform for artists through the beautification of downtown Airway Heights. One selected artist will install a hand-painted mural on one building wall drawing inspiration from the influence of aviation and the notion of flight, perhaps incorporating a kinetic, wind powered vertical element(s).

The goal of the Downtown Revitalization Project is to provide beautification of the downtown core area located along State Hwy. 2 to the north and south between Lundstrom Street and Lawson St, as the infrastructure is being redeveloped. This area features some of Airway Heights original structures, built prior to incorporation in 1955. In 2019, the City of Airway Heights published a Public Art Plan, which identifies an overall theme of Crossroads of Culture. This theme suggests a broad interpretation of culture and natural landscape including the ethnic and historical contributions of the local American Indian Tribes and the contemporary influence of aviation in shaping Airway Heights. This plan identifies celebrating the impact of aviation within the downtown core area of Airway Heights.

Successful submissions will be those that communicate the broad impact aviation has and continues to have, whether through military, commercial, or amateur influence, on our community. Additionally, artists may choose to consider the context of the existing site and business within their submittals. Billie’s Diner is a locally owned and operated farmer-first American diner serving breakfast and lunch, Billie’s celebrates the best of the Inland Northwest by sourcing 70% of ingredients from local farmers.

Eligibility

This call is open to adult artists over 18 years of age. Artists are eligible regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, and gender expression or identity. Artist teams are eligible to apply, including teams of artists from multiple disciplines. Artists residing within the following counties within Washington State are eligible to apply: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, or Yakima. 

Project Timeline (subject to change)

June 26 – August 2, 2024: Submission Period

August 12- 23, 2024: Artwork Selection, Notification, and Agreements

October 1, 2024: Finished Artwork Delivered

Honorarium, Sales Information and Agreement

1. Selected artists will complete an Art Purchase Agreement.
2. Selected artist will receive an honorarium of $1,500 upon completion of the artwork.
3. The City of Airway Heights will provide a budget of $3,500 to the artist for the purchase of exterior-grade paint for the artist to use to prepare the background for the mural as well as a clear coat upon completion of the mural. The artist will be responsible for providing all other tools and supplies to complete the mural design.
4. A variety of promotions such as press releases, social media posts, and educational events may follow the completion of the mural. Artists may be called upon for media events, such as interviews or photo opportunities.

Submission Requirements

1. Artwork submissions will be accepted until 4 pm on August 2, 2024 via email to planninginfo@cawh.org or hand-delivered to: City of Airway Heights City Hall, 13120 W 13th Ave, Airway Heights, WA 99001 during normal business hours.
2. Artists may submit up to three separate designs for consideration.
3. Each design submission must be presented approximately to the scale of the designated mural wall.
4. Submit JPEG file(s) of each design at 72 DPI or higher or .pdf file.
5. Please include artist or artist group name(s), phone number, email, residential address, mural and art experience and design concept description and visual in submission.

Selection Process

The Selection Panel will select designs based on the works’ alignment with the criteria below. Selection processes will be facilitated by the City of Airway Heights Planning Department and the City of Airway Heights Arts Commission. The selection committee retains the right to reject any or all submissions.

Selection Criteria

1. Formal & Conceptual Quality

• The artist presents a compelling concept.
• The proposed design is original to the presenting artist.

2. Content & Context

• The artwork’s subject matter and content is appropriate for public exhibition and does not contain advertising, religious references, sexual content, negative imagery, or convey political partisanship.
• The content does not include any Ai generated imagery.
• The proposed design communicates the impact aviation has and continues to have, whether through military, commercial, or amateur influence, on our community.

Site Details

The selected artist will paint/prep the wall prior to installation of the mural at the mural site in Airway Heights, WA. Once the walls are prepped the artist will use provided paint materials to create the selected mural artwork.