The 100% Taos County Initiative, Peñasaco Independent Schools District, and The Paseo Project are excited to announce a new opportunity for a Taos County based Artist in the creation of an outdoor wall mural in Peñasco, New Mexico. The mural is the second 100% Taos County Initiative mural in Taos County, the first installed in 2022 by artist Lynnette Houzous in the Town of Taos.

Project Overview:
We are seeking a talented and experienced mural artist to create a vibrant and impactful mural that celebrates the tradition, diversity, and spirit of the Peñasco community. The mural will be a focal point in a public space at Peñasco Independent School District’s Community School, serving as a representation of our community's culture, values, and inclusivity, and commitment to the community schools model.

Location:
The mural will be located on the exterior wall of the Peñasco Schools Administration Building, a prominent spot within the community, and particularly relevant to our children and their families.

Theme:
While there is no direct theme for the mural, we encourage artists to explore concepts of cultural richness and local traditions, inclusion, unity, and the interconnectedness of our community.

Specifications:
The fully installed mural will be within a wall surface measuring: 26’ wide by 13.5’ tall. Artist will be responsible for painting the entire mural with support from youth, interns, and volunteers. 

Medium: The mural will be created using outdoor-grade paint or other durable materials suitable for long-term display. 

Style: We welcome various artistic styles, from realistic to abstract, but the design should be engaging and accessible to the public.

Selection Criteria:

• Artistic merit and creativity

• Alignment with the theme and purpose of the project reflecting the community's values

• Experience with painting medium to large-scale projects

• Ability for Artist to engage with youth and community members in the creation of the mural
  

Submission Requirements:
This is a two part call. There is no fee to apply to this call. Artists must be Taos County based. 

Phase 1:
Interested artists should submit the following materials by March 17, 2024, midnight.

• Contact information and any relevant website, links or references.

• Portfolio of works showcasing previous painting samples, mural work or relevant artwork.

• Artists are not being asked to provide a mural design proposal in Phase 1. 

Phase 2.
The mural committee will select three artists from Phase 1 and provide them each with a $150 stipend for the creation of original artwork showing a mockup of the proposed mural for the site. The three artists will be first be required to join a community listening zoom call to learn more about the vision for the mural. Artists will then be asked to submit a concept sketch or proposal for the mural design. 

The mural committee will select a finalist from the three artists in Phase 2 to hire for the creation of the mural. 

Deadline for Submissions:

Phase 1: All submissions must be received by March 17, 2024, midnight at THIS LINK.

Phase 2: Details to be provided to selected artists. Artists will have approximately two weeks to prepare their proposal for review. Winning proposal to be selected by end of April. 

Selection Process:
Phase 1: Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of community members and stakeholders.
Phase 2: A Shortlist of three artists will then be selected and paid to attend a listening event and provide a concept drawing proposal. Of those three proposals, a panel of community members and stakeholders will review and select the winning proposal.

Compensation:
The selected artist will receive a commission fee. Artist will be provided an additional materials budget for the purchase of paints, supplies, etc. 

Additional Information:
For inquiries or further details, please contact paseo@paseoproject.org

We look forward to receiving your creative proposals and working together to bring this exciting project to life!