The City of Carlsbad is seeking artist proposals to develop and complete a site-specific mural at two separate locations within the city. These murals will have a strong visual presence and will play a significant role in defining the character of each community while contributing to the aesthetic quality of the public space. These large-scale artworks will bring people together while encouraging new opportunities within the creative sector in alignment with the city’s Arts & Culture Master Plan.

Cultural Arts Manager Richard Schultz said, “Carlsbad has a vibrant and colorful reputation for murals which encourage residents to slow down for a moment and enter an artist’s vision. They create dialogue and showcase art for all in the most accessible way. They are certainly thought-provoking and represent Carlsbad’s ongoing support for the arts. These two distinctive mural opportunities celebrate creativity in our community.”

Two designated locations:

• An exterior west wall of the city-owned historic Bauer Lumber Building adjacent to the North County Transit District’s Carlsbad Village Coaster Station, just north of Christensen Way. The historic lumber building houses long-term tenant, New Village Arts Theatre.
• An exterior west wall of the Carlsbad City Library Learning Center, located at 3368 Eureka Place.

At a glance

• Request for qualifications released: July 10, 2021
• Submission deadline: Aug. 24, 2021 by 4 p.m.
• Budget: up to $50,000 per mural
• If you are interested in submitting a bid for these projects, go to “Bids & Contracts”, click on “Open goods & services, RFPs, bids or RFQs” link for full details.
• For all opportunities, visit Current Public Art Projects, Calls for Artists

More information

The city’s temporary public art program encompasses all the same goals of the city’s Art in Public Places program while supporting a variety of visual arts experiences with the possibility of a performing arts elements. These pop-up arts experiences may range from a single experience to a short term of several days or a longer duration over multiple years. The overall goal is to provide a greater awareness of local and regional artists and heighten the visibility of artists and the arts in Carlsbad. Ultimately, these projects deepen the city’s commitment to public art and the arts, in general, and broadens its value to the quality of life.

Questions

Email arts@carlsbadca.gov