MLK Park Mural RFQ

MLK PArk Mural RFQ

The Friends of MLK, Downtown Davenport Partnership, and Quad City Arts are seeking the design and installation of a public mural to be created in Davenport, Iowa. The mural will be on the north-facing wall of the train bridge on the southeast corner of Brady St. and E. 5th St., across from the MLK Interpretive Center. This mural will be the first installation in a series of installations around the Center and park.

This mural project seeks to honor the resilience and vibrancy of Black Davenport in the late 1880’s through the early 1900s, focusing on the intersection of race, community, entertainment, and labor. Using archival imagery from the era, the artist should highlight daily life, entrepreneurship, and social gatherings in a style that emphasizes warmth and dignity for all.

This mural project is jointly undertaken by the Friends of MLK (FOMLK), Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), and Quad City Arts (QCA).

MEASUREMENTS
The paintable surface of the wall is approximately: 105’ long and 11’ tall. Every inch of the wall does not need to be painted. Photos are attached at the end of the document.

PAYMENT
$17,500 — 50% to be paid upon contract execution and 50% within 30 days of completion of the mural. This fee includes all associated costs of creation (i.e., materials, paint, transportation, lodging, etc.). Please note, walls will be power washed and primed ahead of mural installation.

DEADLINE
Proposals shall be submitted no later than Monday, March 30, 2026 at 9:00am via online form at form.jotform.com/260627026956159 or by email at [email protected]. If submitting via email, please submit written materials as PDF and work samples as .jpeg. Do not embed work samples within PDF. Submissions shall be clearly labeled "Friends of MLK RFQ."

MURAL OBJECTIVES

This mural will be an energetic start to a collection of public art/murals in and around the MLK Interpretive Center.
This mural will tell the story of the property, which was the location of mixed-race restaurants, entertainment, and rooming houses from at least 1880's to the 1940's.
This mural will highlight the history of Davenport’s African American owned businesses.
This mural will establish an artistic and stylistic foundation for subsequent public art.

TO CONSIDER

The train bridge is made up of multiple sections of concrete, each approximately 15’ wide. The sections could be considered as separate panels.
These sections could include individual framing elements.
Artists must have large scale mural experience, with sufficient knowledge of both medium and materials to ensure durability of the mural.
As seen in provided photos, there are areas of concrete that have fallen away. Artist may incorporate these areas in the manner of their choosing.
Upon selection, Artist shall procure or otherwise provide proof of commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), property damage ($1,000,000 per occurrence), bodily injury ($1,000,000 per occurrence) and automobile liability ($500,000 combined single limit), naming the Friends of MLK and QCA, together with its officers, agents, employees and engineers as additional primary insureds prior to commencing mural installation and shall maintain such insurance until completion of the mural.
The selected Artist must be willing to work with QCA and Friends of MLK to modify the design or materials based on design input and building specifications.
Artists will comply with all federal and state laws, county and municipal codes, ordinances, rules and regulations that in any manner affect the services to be provided.
A qualifying Artist shall have the ability to obtain all necessary licenses, permits and approvals, whenever applicable.

TIMELINE

March 25, 2026 - All questions shall be submitted via email to [email protected]
Monday, March 30, 2026- Deadline for submissions at 9:00am online at form.jotform.com/260627026956159 or via email to [email protected].
March 31-April 15, 2026 - Qualifications review, 3 finalists selected. Finalists to receive $500 stipend.
May 2025 - Final designs submitted and selected. Selected artist to meet with mural selection committee to go over design, logistics, timeline, and budget.
June 2025 - mural completed, subject to weather*
- This timeline will be agreed upon with the building owner and the artist, and weather pending.
- Targeted completion deadline of June 18, with a dedication ceremony on June 19.

TO APPLY
Email a PDF to [email protected] including the following information or submit online at https://form.jotform.com/260627026956159
Name, phone number, email, and 2 references with contact info.

Website, Instagram, or other online profiles, if applicable.
Include 3-5 images of completed murals, including your most recent. Min. 900x900 jpg. No images embedded within PDFs, please.
A brief bio about you as an artist and your process.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Award determination shall be based on selection committee's determination of design aesthetics, proposed use of the wall space, availability and ability to deliver mural on time, and Artist's experience with similar scale projects.
Following the proposal deadline, the selection committee will collaboratively review, analyze and rank all submittals based on the evaluative criteria set forth herein. Three to five finalists will be selected to submit RFPs, with a $500 stipend. The selection committee may invite finalists to interview prior to selection. Upon selection, the selected Artist will be required to enter a contract with Quad City Arts.
The selection committee reserves the right to request additional information from the proposers. Such information will be limited to clarification or amplification of the information requested in the original
proposal. The selection committee may take all actions deemed necessary to investigate the qualifications of each proposer. The selection committee reserves the right to qualify or disqualify proposers because of lack of similar project experience and/or any other information obtained from its investigation.
The selection committee reserves the right to reject all proposals. The selection committee reserves the right to waive technical defects in the proposals and to accept the proposal which, in the judgment of the selection committee, best serves the project goals.

Photos of Train Wall in Davenport, IA
*Areas of the wall have significant cracking/missing outer layer.
These areas WILL NOT be repaired, but will be power washed and primed.
Artist may choose to paint or leave unpainted.