Main Street Underpass RFP Louisville KY

Description

Call Summary
Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP) is seeking a mural artist or artist team to design and install a large-scale mural on the south wall of the Main Street underpass in Downtown Louisville. The wall spans roughly 260 feet wide, with heights of 23 feet on the east side and 12 feet on the west side. The creative theme, "Bridging Louisville," envisions weaving together the stories of Downtown’s past and present with those of adjacent neighborhoods—creating a visual bridge that celebrates our shared identity and history.

LDP is a non-profit organization that, in addition to increasing economic growth in Downtown through strategic efforts and public and private partnerships, creates and supports various placemaking programs to make Downtown Louisville’s streets and public spaces more colorful, unique, and engaging.

Budget Description
• Project jointly funded by Louisville Metro Government and LDP
• The budget is intended to pay for travel, artist and design fees, insurance, materials, equipment, fabrication, and installation
• Wall prep (power washing & sticker removal) will be completed by LDP before project starts in Spring 2026
• Goal to have mural completed by end of April 2026 weather permitting

Technical Requirements
• Artwork should cover at least 70% of a 10 ft tall x 250 ft wide section of the wall (no full coverage, no border, more open layout desired)
• Concrete-specific paint suitable for exterior conditions (to be approved)
• Completion within 4 weeks of project start date – weather permitting
• Limit usage of dark colors (for inspection purposes and low-light environment)
• Include primer coat and non-sacrificial anti-graffiti/UV protection coating that promotes the removal of graffiti without damaging the mural

Eligibility
• All artists must be over 18 years of age, or teams with one member over the age of 18
• Artist or artist team resides within 200 miles of Louisville, KY
• Experience with large-scale outdoor murals

Selection Process
The selection committee will have representatives from LDP, the Mayor’s Office, the Commission on Public Art (COPA), and adjacent property owners. The awarded artist or artist team will be notified no later than the end of January 2026.

Selection Criteria
Submission to include:
• Written Statement
o Experience with large-scale murals in outdoor public spaces
o Experience with community-engaged public art
o Project timeline and budget breakdown
• Proposed concept sketch and description (full color and fine detail not required, but should communicate storytelling, layout, and style direction)
• Portfolio (overall artistic style and quality of work)

Submission Instructions
Deadline: December 15, 2026:
• Share all required information along with contact information: full name(s), mailing address, and phone number
• Portfolio (3-5 relevant mural works) including artist bio (can be links to website pages or digital files)
• Professional references (2), name and email
• Application Form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-dzai0VIT4ULHMdFn6BTwrMraCWDP-ENcyi9NMqdvpRjKLA/viewform
• All information will be collected in the form, including uploaded files
• Artist or artist team name must be on each file uploaded

Timeline
Phase 1: Call for Mural Artists & Final Selection
Artist applications will be due by Monday, December 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET. Artists may be contacted with questions regarding their concept sketch. Additional information may be requested to make final selection, including a full-color render, if necessary. Artists will be paid for any post-submission artwork requests if they are not awarded the project.

Phase 2: Contracting, Design, and Installation
The final artist or artist team will be asked to enter a contract, which outlines project milestones and a payment schedule, with LDP. Anticipated installation will be in the early spring of 2026, depending on the design process and the artist’s availability.

For questions or site details, contact Jenny Cutshaw, 502-614-4129, jcutshaw@louisvilledowntown.org