A mural project lives or dies on the artists who apply. A clear call for artists brings in experienced muralists who know exactly what you want. A vague one brings in a pile of submissions you cannot compare, or worse, silence.

The good news is that a strong call is not long or complicated. It answers the questions every muralist asks before they spend hours on an application: where is the wall, what is the budget, what do you want the mural to say, and how will you choose. This guide walks through each piece, with an outline you can copy.

Decide these things first

Before anyone writes a word, get your group to agree on a few basics. Calls that skip this step usually change halfway through, and artists notice.

• Who owns the wall, and do you have their permission in writing? The building owner should sign off before the call goes out.
• What the money is and where it comes from: city budget, a grant, a sponsor, a business, or a mix. Know if any of it has rules or deadlines attached.
• What the mural is for. Town history, a gateway welcome, a bright spot downtown, a business brand, a memorial. One or two sentences is enough.
• Who decides. Name the group that will pick the artist and approve the design, and how many rounds of review there will be.
• Any approvals the city needs, such as a permit, a design review board or a historic district review.

If funding is still the open question, start with our guide to mural grants and how mural sponsorship works.

RFQ or RFP: which one to use

Most public art calls are one of two kinds. Pick the one that matches how much work you are asking artists to do for free.

• RFQ (request for qualifications). Artists send past work, a short letter of interest and references. You shortlist a few, then pay them (or pay one) to develop a design. This respects artists’ time and usually draws more experienced applicants.
• RFP (request for proposals). Artists send a design concept and budget up front. It shows you ideas sooner, but it asks a lot of unpaid work, so many established muralists skip RFPs that do not pay finalists for their concepts.

A common middle path: run an RFQ, pick two or three finalists, and pay each a small design fee to bring a concept to an interview. Say in the call how much that fee is.

What every call for artists should include

Use this outline as a starting point. Each section can be a short paragraph or a few bullet points.

1. Project summary. Who you are, what you want painted, where, and why, in a few sentences.
2. The wall. Address, size (height and width), surface (brick, block, stucco, metal, wood), its current condition, which way it faces, and what is in front of it (sidewalk, parking, traffic). Include clear photos taken straight on.
3. Theme and goals. What the mural should say or celebrate, any must-have or off-limits subjects, and whether text or logos are required.
4. Budget. The total amount and what it must cover. More on this below.
5. Timeline. Deadline to apply, when finalists hear back, design approval, the painting window, and the completion date.
6. Eligibility. Who can apply: anyone, a region, teams, emerging artists. Be honest if you need someone who has painted a wall this size before.
7. What to submit. List exactly what you want and in what format, for example a letter of interest, 5 to 10 images of past murals, a resume, and references.
8. How you will choose. The selection steps and what the panel will be looking at.
9. What you will provide. Wall prep, power, water, a lift, parking, storage, a place to work, traffic control, insurance or permits. If the artist is responsible for any of these, say so.
10. Contract basics. Payment schedule, insurance requirements, who owns the design, and how credit and photos of the mural can be used.
11. Contact. One person, one email, and how questions will be answered.

Being clear about the budget

The single biggest reason experienced muralists pass on a call is a missing or unclear budget. Put a real number in the call, and say what it covers.

• All-in or not? Say whether the number includes the artist’s fee, paint and supplies, lift or scaffold rental, wall prep, anti-graffiti coating, travel and lodging.
• How it is paid. Many muralists work on a deposit at signing, a payment partway through, and the rest at completion. Spell out your schedule so artists can plan.
• Design fees. If finalists are asked for concepts, say what they are paid for them.

Not sure what is realistic for your wall? Read how much a mural costs before you set the number. The cost depends heavily on size, surface, access and detail.

How you will pick the artist

Artists want to know the process is fair. Tell them who is on the panel (roles are enough, names are optional) and what the panel will weigh, for example:

• Quality of past murals, especially at a similar scale
• How well their style fits the site and the goals of the project
• Experience working outdoors, on lifts and with community groups
• Ability to finish on time and on budget, backed by references

Then follow the process you posted. If plans change, tell every applicant.

Mistakes that scare good artists off

• No budget, or “budget to be determined.”
• Asking for a full custom design for free from every applicant.
• Missing wall details. Without the size and surface, an artist cannot tell if the job fits them.
• Paying “in exposure.” A mural is skilled, physical, weeks-long work.
• Too short a window. Give artists enough time to put together a good application, and post well before your painting season.
• Unclear rights. If you plan to put the mural on merchandise or in ads, say so up front and expect to pay for that use.
• No contact person. Artists will have questions; a call with nobody to ask feels risky.

Before you post it

Run through this list once the draft is done.

1. The building owner has approved the project in writing.
2. The call says RFQ or RFP and what applicants must send.
3. The wall size, surface, location and photos are included.
4. The total budget is stated, with what it covers and how it is paid.
5. Finalist design fees (if any) are stated.
6. The deadline, painting window and completion date are clear.
7. The selection steps and panel are described.
8. What you provide (lift, power, water, prep, permits, insurance) is listed.
9. Image rights and credit are addressed.
10. There is one named contact and an email for questions.
11. Someone outside the committee read it and understood it.

Getting it in front of artists

Post your call on your own website first so it has a permanent home, then share it with local arts councils, art schools, artist groups and social media. The more places muralists already look, the better your pool will be.

ArtMyTown keeps a running list of open mural calls and opportunities that artists check for work. If you have a call you would like artists to see, send it to us. You can also browse ArtMyTown artists or learn more on our page for towns and communities.

This article is general information, not legal, tax, insurance or procurement advice. Public agencies should follow their own purchasing and public art rules.