21 Nov OPEN CALL for Storm Drain Murals at RCBOE Schools
Call to Artists: “It All Flows into the Savannah” 2024 STORM DRAIN MURALS AT SCHOOLS Project
Cash Stipend: $1,000 each
Eligibility: Local artists
Number of artists to be hired: five (5)
Artist responsibilities: Work with students and teachers at RCBOE schools to create sidewalk murals
Deadline to apply: November 30, 2023 (midnight)
Selected artists announced: December 14, 2023
Begin working with schools: as soon as all background checks are completed with RCBOE
Installation (painting the storm drains): May 1-17, 2024
The Greater Augusta Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Augusta, GA and in partnership with the Richmond County Board of Education (RCBOE) and Phinizy Center for Water Sciences is seeking artists to work with the students and teachers at five (5) RCBOE schools to design and paint sidewalk murals at selected locations at
each school for the 2024 “It All Flows Into the Savannah” Storm Drain Mural Project. This project is part of the City’s education and outreach efforts to raise awareness about storm water pollution. It is a yearly program that combines environmental education by staff from the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences with a sidewalk mural designed by the students, based on the environmental stewardship lessons covered by Phinizy Staff.
Previous murals can be viewed online at https://augustatours.opentour.site/storm-drain-murals-tour . This project is supported through City of Augusta Engineering Storm Water Services Program funds.
Background: When it rains, storm water runs over pavement, sidewalks, and yards picking up oil, litter, yard waste, chemicals, and other pollutants. The polluted storm water then flows down storm drains, through storm water pipes that empty directly into our local creeks and rivers without treatment. Storm drains can also become a hot spot for illicit dumping – trash, grease, pet waste, paint, cigarettes, and more. These
pollutants make their way to the Savannah River, damaging the health of our waterways, flora and fauna. This project seeks to educate Richmond County families on our responsibility to protect our waterways and keep pollutants out of storm drains.
Locations/Size: Storm drains to be painted will be located at RCBOE schools. (See location listing at the end of this call.) Designs must cover the sidewalk area directly above the storm drain and may extend to the street-facing mouth of raised drains. The mural size varies from school to school, but will generally cover 200-400 square feet. At one school, 5 concrete pavers will also be painted. Materials and Support Provided: Artists will be supplied with 5 brushes, a gallon of water, small cups, and paint in the three primary colors, black and white. The paint provided will be specifically formulated to accommodate foot traffic in an outdoor setting, and may not be substituted with lesser quality paint by the artist. Artists will additionally be working in tandem with the arts teacher and principal at each school and will have access to school facilities for clean-up while working.
Eligibility/Selection Criteria: The Storm Drain Mural Project is open to all local, adult artists. Artists who enjoy working with children and who can pass the RCBOE background check and complete the Mandatory Reporter certification process are encouraged to apply.
Selection Process: All applications will be reviewed by the Public Art Advisory Panel with ad hoc participation by members of RCBOE staff. Selected artists will be provisionally invited to the project, but must pass all security checks with RCBOE. There will be a list of back-up artists who may be invited, should the originally selected artist prove unable to complete the required child safety measures.
*RCBOE panel members reserve the right to conduct background checks and reject any applications they deem to be from persons not eligible to work with children in the school.
How to Apply: Submit a letter of interest, a short bio/cv/resume, images of previous work, and any preference on school from the list of participating schools below. Be sure to communicate any previous experience you have working with children, what age groups, as well as any experience you have with painting murals. Please include any specific ADA accommodations you would need to perform the responsibilities associated with this commission Send all materials to Pax Bobrow via email at [email protected] or deliver them in person between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm M-F at the Greater Augusta Arts Council offices located on the 2nd floor of the Sacred Heart Cultural Center at 1301 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901
(Do not attempt to hand-deliver application materials outside of office hours.)
Contact the Pax Bobrow at the Arts Council at 706-826-4702 or [email protected] with any questions you might have.
This project is supported through City of Augusta Engineering Storm Water Services Program funds.
Schools requesting a professional artist in the 2024 Storm Drain Mural Roster:
• Barton Chapel Elementary School: 2329 Barton Chapel Rd, Augusta, GA 30906
• Belair K-8: 3925 Harper Franklin Ave, Augusta, GA 30909
• Garrett Elementary School: 1100 Eisenhower Dr, Augusta, GA 30904
• Sue Reynolds Elementary School: 3840 Wrightsboro Rd, Augusta, GA 30909
• Tutt Middle School: 495 Boy Scout Rd, Augusta, GA 30909
The following schools will be painting their murals without the assistance of an outside artist, but would
welcome an artist to speak to their students about painting a mural:
• Butler High School
• Cross Creek High School
If you are interested in speaking at these schools please let Pax know in your application. There is an additional
$50 stipend available for each of those speaking engagements
PDF HERE: Call to Artists Storm Drain Murals at RCBOE schools 2023-24