Alternating Currents Mural Fest Request for Qualifications
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Alternating Currents (ACQC) and Quad City Arts (QCA) are seeking five artists or artist teams to install murals on five separate walls as part of the 2025 Alternating Currents Mural Fest. The walls, located in downtown Davenport, Bettendorf, and Rock Island, vary in size and scale.
 
ABOUT ALTERNATING CURRENTS
Alternating Currents is a one-of-a-kind arts and culture festival that takes place each August in the Quad Cities. The festival features over 200 performances and events across 40+ venues, including music, film, comedy, visual arts, and interactive experiences.
 
Powered by the Downtown Davenport Partnership, ACQC is designed to celebrate the creative energy of the region while bringing people together across city and state lines. The festival is committed to accessibility, artist support, and placemaking that strengthens downtowns as cultural destinations.
 
Now in its eighth year, Alternating Currents continues to grow as a showcase for emerging and established artists, helping to elevate the Quad Cities as the creative capital of the Midwest. The Mural Fest is supported through funding and support from the Regional Development Authority, RubberStamps.net, Downtown Davenport Partnership, Rock Island Downtown Alliance, Downtown Bettendorf Organization, Scott County Regional Authority, and Quad City Arts.
 
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Each selected Artist will receive a $5000.00 USD stipend for completion of their assigned wall. The murals’ design, themes, and colors are at the discretion of the Artist, pending final approval of ACQC, Quad City Arts, and building owners. The murals are intended to help create vibrant, artful downtowns in all three communities in support of the Alternating Currents Festival.
 
Artists must be available to install murals between August 10–17, 2025.
 
These mural projects are undertaken by Alternating Currents with Quad City Arts serving as project facilitators.
 
MEASUREMENTS: The walls to be completed* are as follows:

• The south wall of B&B Shooting Supplies, 2152 State St., Bettendorf, IA 52722
  • Approx. 20’W x 17’H
• *The north wall of Marigold Resources, 308 E. River Dr., Davenport, IA 52801
  • Approx. 64’W x 17’H
• *The pedestrian walkway wall of the River Center Building Parking Ramp, 102 E. 2nd St., Davenport, IA 52801
  • Approx. 196’W x 3’H
• The south facing wall of WHBF, 231 18th St., Rock Island, IL
  • Approx. 54’W x 7’H
• *The east facing wall of M&J International Food Market, 1706 3rd Ave., Rock Island, IL 61201
  • Approx. 33’W x 31’H  

 
* Asterisked walls do NOT need to be fully painted. DDP and Quad City Arts reserve the right to assign/change walls.
 
PAYMENT
$5,000.00 USD per mural — 50% to be paid upon contract execution and 50% within two weeks of completion of the mural. This fee includes all associated costs of creation (i.e., materials, paint, transportation, meals, etc.).
Wall prep and elevation solutions will be provided by ACQC. Selected artists will also receive lodging for up to 7 days, as well as access to food and beverages at the AC Hospitality Lounge in downtown Davenport on Friday and Saturday, August 15-16, 2025.
 
DEADLINE
Qualifications shall be submitted no later than Monday, June 30, 2025 at 9:00am via the link below:
 
Mural Fest RFQ Submissions
OR via email to [email protected].
 
MURAL OBJECTIVES

• To celebrate and support the Alternating Currents Festival through large-scale public artworks that reinforce downtowns as creative and cultural destinations.
• To create vibrant points of interest in downtown Davenport, Rock Island, and Bettendorf that serve as must-see visual landmarks.
• To offer regional and national artists a platform to contribute meaningful, high-impact art installations that reflect their creative voice.
• To support placemaking goals through permanent artwork that contributes to each city’s identity and appeal.
• To increase public access to art by embedding creativity directly into the built environment.

 
TO CONSIDER

• The murals’ design, themes, and colors are at the discretion of the artist, pending final approval from AC festival and building owner.
• The murals will work together with the existing building aesthetic to create vibrant, must-see pieces.
• The selected Artists must be willing to work with QCA, ACQC, and the property owners to modify the design or materials based on design input and building specifications.
• Artists must have large scale mural experience, with sufficient knowledge of both medium and materials to ensure durability of the mural.
• 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 Quad Cities Chamber, 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.
• 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

• June 25, 2025: Deadline for questions; these shall be submitted via email to [email protected].
• Monday, June 30 at 9:00am: Deadline for submissions
• July 2025: Submissions review, Artists selected by mid-July.
• July-August 2025: Selected Artists to work with AC, Quad City Arts, and property owner to create/finalize design. Selected Artists to meet with mural selection committee, either in person or via video conferencing, to discuss design, if needed.
• August 10-17, 2025: Murals installed to correspond with Alternating Currents Festival.

 
TO APPLY
Submit online at Mural Fest RFQ Submissions or email a PDF to [email protected] including:

• Name, phone number, email, and two references with contact info
• Website, Instagram, or other online profiles, if applicable.
• A brief bio about you as an artist and your process.
• A short, written proposal for your mural concept.
• A ranked choice of the available walls
  • Ranking does NOT guarantee choice of wall.
• 3 samples of work, including your most recently completed mural.
  • JPG only, 900 x 900 px minimum.

 
SELECTION CRITERIA
Selection will be based on overall design aesthetic, proposed use of wall space, availability, ability to meet deadlines, and relevant large-scale mural experience.
 
Following the application deadline, the selection committee will review and rank all submissions based on the criteria above. Up to five artists or artist teams will be selected. Finalists may be invited to interview prior to selection. Selected Artists will be required to enter into a contract with Quad City Arts.
 
The selection committee reserves the right to:

• Request clarification or additional materials
• Investigate qualifications and past work
• Disqualify applicants lacking sufficient experience
• Waive technicalities and select applicants that best align with project goals
• Reject all applicants, if necessary

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pHOTOS OF pROPOSED wALLS