2222 Main Mural Project

Commonwealth Properties and One Columbia seek qualifications from professional artists or artist teams to design and paint an exterior mural in Columbia's Cottontown neighborhood. One to three artists may be selected to work across eight designated panels totaling approximately 985 square feet. The artwork should reflect Cottontown's character and history, complement the building's Craftsman-inspired architecture, and celebrate community, nature, gardens, history, and place. A portion must be painted during the Cottontown Art Crawl on March 6, 2027.

Cottontown's character and history; community, nature, gardens, history, and place.

Applicants must be professional visual artists or artist teams living in the United States, have experience creating murals or large-scale public artwork, demonstrate the ability to complete a project of this scale, and be available to work during the Cottontown Art Crawl on March 6, 2027. Applicants must not currently be enrolled as students in a degree program. Submit a statement of interest describing interest in Cottontown and the project, mural or large-scale public art experience, alignment of artistic practice with the project goals, and experience working in public or community settings. Submit up to 6 images of previous work; examples demonstrating murals, large-scale painting, public art, outdoor artwork, or community/neighborhood-based projects are encouraged. Concept proposals are not required with the initial application. The exterior first-floor, Sumter Street-facing façade comprises eight designated panels totaling approximately 985 square feet, divided into three sections; the panels will be divided evenly among the chosen artists. Artwork must be welcoming and engaging for residents, neighbors, and visitors, visible from Sumter Street and surrounding areas, appropriate to the neighborhood's residential character, and made with durable materials suitable for exterior conditions. Political, polarizing, or unsettling imagery should be avoided. Direct reference to the site's history as the former Jim Moore Cadillac dealership is not required. A portion of the mural must be painted during the Cottontown Art Crawl. Artists may propose an attendee participation activity, but any such proposal should appear only in the final concept presentation. Each selected artist will receive $6,700 if three are selected, inclusive of all project costs for the assigned section: design, artist labor, paint and materials, surface preparation, equipment and supplies, transportation, insurance, and installation/painting. Up to nine artists will be shortlisted to develop concepts, with the intent of selecting up to three for the final project; each finalist will receive a $250 proposal stipend. No application, participation, or additional fees are stated.