Organizer Information
This opportunity is jointly commissioned by the Windborn Group, Quad City Arts, and supported by the Illinois Arts Council as part of the national cultural initiative celebrating America at 250.
Quad City Arts is a regional arts organization dedicated to promoting public art, cultural programming, and artist development across the Quad Cities region. The organization has a long-standing role in managing mural programs, public commissions, and community-based cultural initiatives that connect artists with municipalities and private stakeholders.
The Windborn Group operates as a development and cultural placemaking partner, collaborating with civic and private entities to integrate art into urban redevelopment projects. Together, the commissioning partners aim to use public art as a tool for cultural storytelling, economic activation, and historic preservation.
This project specifically contributes to the revitalization of downtown Aledo, Illinois, and aligns with broader statewide efforts to commemorate American cultural history through locally rooted artistic interventions.
Title & Description
Aledo Mural Commission RFQ – America at 250 Public Mural Commission
This Public Art opportunity invites Illinois-based professional muralists to design and execute a large-scale exterior mural on the south-facing wall of 114 E. Main Street in historic downtown Aledo, Illinois.
The commission is part of a civic initiative celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, with a strong focus on regional identity, artistic heritage, and cultural storytelling. The mural is intended to function as both a public landmark and a visual archive of Aledo and Mercer County’s creative legacy.
Artists are asked to develop a concept that reflects:
- The historical and cultural identity of Aledo and Mercer County
- The legacy of influential local artists, particularly Gertrude Abercrombie and/or Doris Lee
- The role of Mural practice in urban revitalization and community identity
- A balance between historical recognition and contemporary civic renewal
The mural should enhance downtown Aledo’s ongoing redevelopment efforts while contributing to its visual and cultural continuity.
Categories
- Public Art
- Mural
- Site-specific Installation
- Painting
- Visual Arts
- Street Art
Eligibility
- Open exclusively to Illinois-based artists
- Applicants must demonstrate professional experience in large-scale Mural production
- Artists must have proven technical knowledge of materials, durability, and exterior application methods
- Individual artists and artist-led teams are eligible if the residency requirement is met
- Applicants must be able to comply with insurance, permitting, and municipal regulations
- Experience with civic or publicly accessible Public Art commissions is strongly preferred
Equity and inclusion are implicitly supported through open access within Illinois residency, though no additional demographic restrictions are specified.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total commission fee: $8,500 USD
- 50% upon contract execution
- 50% upon completion of the mural
- Fee includes all costs:
- Design development
- Materials and paint
- Production and execution
- Additional support:
- Local lodging (as needed)
- Transportation stipend (federal mileage rates)
- Wall preparation and post-installation anti-graffiti coating provided by the commissioners
- Equipment and elevation support provided if required
- Final installation includes a commemorative plaque recognizing the artist
Shortlisted finalists receive:
- $500 stipend for proposal development stage
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Contact information (name, phone, email)
- Two professional references
- Artist biography and process statement
- Portfolio of 3–5 completed mural projects (minimum 900x900 JPG images)
- Online presence links (website, Instagram, etc., if available)
- Submission must be labeled: “Aledo Mural RFQ”
- PDF submissions required if applying via email (no embedded images allowed)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 20 April 2026
- Finalist selection: April 21–25, 2026
- Final proposal submission (selected artists): 15 May 2026
- Installation period: June–July 2026 (weather dependent)
- Target Completion: 2 July 2026
- Dedication ceremony: 3 July 2026
Location
Aledo, Illinois, United States
Additional Details
- This is a competitive Public Art commission following an RFQ → RFP structure
- Three finalists will be selected and invited to develop full proposals
- Selection criteria include:
- Artistic quality
- Wall utilization strategy
- Technical feasibility
- Prior large-scale Mural experience
- Selected artists must obtain insurance coverage:
- $1M general liability
- $1M property damage
- $1M bodily injury
- $500K auto liability
- Compliance with all federal, state, and municipal regulations is mandatory
- Commissioners reserve the right to reject all submissions or modify selection procedures
- Final design may be adjusted in collaboration with commissioning partners