Ethel Phillips School Mural Project
The Franklin Neighborhood Development Corporation (FNDC), in partnership with the City of Sacramento's Department of Public Works, has released a request for qualifications (RFQ) for artists based in Sacramento for a new mural on the storage building at Ethel Phillips Elementary School. See images at the end of this post for the specific mural location and the timeline for this project.
This new mural is part of our 21st Avenue Beautification Project, designed to create a more welcoming environment along a key walking route between South Oak Park, North City Farms, and the Franklin District and to and from Ethel Phillips Elementary School, and to help reconnect these neighborhoods that were cut off by the construction of Highway 99 in the 1960s.
The selected artist will lead this Ethel Phillips project to design a mural that is welcoming and representative of the school and surrounding neighborhood. It is expected that the artist will obtain input into the mural design through meetings with students during class, lunch, or other forums, and involve students in the painting through paint day(s) or other opportunities.
This RFQ is open to any artist or team of artists based in Sacramento who demonstrates the ability and experience to successfully execute the project. Artists living in Oak Park, North City Farms, the Franklin District, and South Sacramento are strongly encouraged to apply. Since many Ethel Phillips students are Spanish speakers, Spanish proficiency is desirable although not required.
The budget for the project is $16,000 through Clean CA grant funding from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). A lead artist or artist team will be selected by a review panel and will be paid 30% upon contract signing, 30% upon presenting final design, and 40% upon mural completion.
The budget anticipates that the selected artist/team will provide the needed paint, supplies, equipment, and graffiti coating to complete the mural. FNDC and Ethel Phillips staff will help the selected artist/team with coordinating student participation, design review, and other needs to complete the project.

Process and Criteria for Selection
A panel of school representatives, community members, and art experts will review application materials and work samples and select up to three finalists to interview before choosing the lead artist or artist team. They will evaluate the artwork quality, mural experience, capacity and experience to engage and work with elementary school students, and capacity to complete the project on time.
How to apply
All interested candidates can apply below with the ‘Apply Here’ button. You will need a Google account to upload files. (If you have a problem accessing the link, try using Chrome or Edge as your browser.)
You can apply as an individual or as a team
Individual Lead Artist Guidelines
You will be asked to submit your:
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Contact information (name, address, email, phone number)
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CV or Resume (2 page maximum)
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A letter of interest in .pdf format. In the letter, briefly explain your qualifications, experience with murals, experience working on school mural projects and with elementary age students, and your connection if any with Oak Park, North City Farms, the Franklin District, and/or South Sacramento.
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Portfolio (10 image files of recent work, only one work or project per file). The images need to be JPEG, or PDF labeled with your last name, first name, and title (LastName_FirstName_Title.jpg / LastName_FirstName_Title.pdf).
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Three Professional References (Name, Title, email, phone number)
Team Artists Guidelines
The Team Lead Artist and each Team Member should submit their own application including all of the above information so the review panel can evaluate the team’s qualifications.
The Team Lead Artist should also make sure in their submitted letter of interest to explain the team’s experience working together on mural projects, the team’s experience with elementary school mural projects and student engagement, and the team’s connection if any with Oak Park, North City Farms, the Franklin District, and/or South Sacramento.
Is there a deadline for applying?
Yes, applications are due by Wednesday, February 22, 11:59 pm. There is no submission fee.
Proceso y criterios de selección
Un panel de representantes escolares, miembros de la comunidad y artistas revisará los materiales de solicitud y las muestras de trabajo y seleccionará hasta tres finalistas para entrevistar antes de elegir al artista principal o al equipo de artistas. Evaluarán la calidad de la obra de arte, la experiencia en murales, la capacidad y la experiencia para involucrar y trabajar con estudiantes de primaria, y la capacidad para completar el proyecto a tiempo.
Cómo aplicar
Todos los candidatos interesados pueden postularse a continuación con el botón 'Aplicar aquí'. Necesitarás una cuenta de Google para subir archivos. (Si tienes problemas para acceder al enlace, prueba a usar Chrome o Edge como navegador). Puedes aplicar como individuo o como equipo
Directrices individuales para artistas principales
Se le pedirá que envíe su:
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Información de contacto (nombre, dirección, correo electrónico, número de teléfono)
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CV o hoja de vida (máximo 2 páginas)
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Una carta de interés en formato .pdf. En la carta, explique brevemente sus calificaciones, experiencia con murales, experiencia trabajando en proyectos de murales escolares y con estudiantes de primaria, y su conexión, si la hay, con Oak Park, North City Farms, el Distrito Franklin y / o South Sacramento.
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Portafolio (10 archivos de imagen de trabajo reciente, solo un trabajo o proyecto por archivo). Las imágenes deben ser JPEG o PDF etiquetadas con su apellido, nombre y título (LastName_FirstName_Title.jpg / LastName_FirstName_Title.pdf).
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Tres referencias profesionales (nombre, título, correo electrónico, número de teléfono)
Directrices para artistas en equipo
El artista líder del equipo y cada miembro del equipo deben enviar su propia solicitud, incluida toda la información anterior, para que el panel de revisión pueda evaluar las calificaciones del equipo.
El artista principal del equipo también debe asegurarse en su carta de interés presentada de explicar la experiencia del equipo trabajando juntos en proyectos de murales, la experiencia del equipo con proyectos de murales de escuelas primarias y la participación de los estudiantes, y la conexión del equipo, si la hay, con Oak Park, North City Farms, el Distrito Franklin y / o South Sacramento.
¿Hay una fecha límite para presentar la solicitud?
Sí, las solicitudes vencen con vencimiento el miércoles, 22 de febrero, 11:59 pm. No hay tarifa de presentación.
Project Timeline:
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RFQ Released: January 26, 2023
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RFQ Deadline: February 22, 2023, 11:59 pm
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Finalists Notified: by March 6, 2023
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Finalists Interviewed: by March 10, 2023
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Lead artist/team selected and notified: March 15, 2023
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Contract agreement executed with FNDC: March 20, 2023
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Design, painting, and completion of murals: Contract signature to end of school semester on June 15, 2023. Note: the artist/team may be able to continue after school is out to complete final painting and graffiti coating of the mural. The schedule will be refined as part of the contract process.
What if I need help or have more questions? If you need help with completing the application, or have questions about the RFQ or mural project, please email sharon@franklinblvddistrict.com
¿Qué hago si necesito ayuda o tengo más preguntas? Si necesita ayuda para completar la solicitud, o tiene preguntas sobre la RFQ o el proyecto de mural, envíe un correo electrónico a sharon@franklinblvddistrict.com
Mural Location
The mural will be on the side wall of the school storage building at 2930 21st Avenue. The building is just east of the Parker Community Resource Center and Ethel Phillips playground, and next to the parking lot of La Superior grocery store. The wall is visible from 21st Avenue as shown below. The wall space to the right of the blue door is approximately 44’ long by 10’ high. The actual mural size, placement, and design will be determined by the selected artist/team working with school students.



Sponsors/Partners
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