Request for Expressions of Interest: "Among These Are" Printmaking Workshops

Mural Arts Philadelphia is seeking expressions of interest from non-profit printmaking organizations and from
artists to organize and facilitate printmaking workshops as part of its Printmaking by the People project, a
signature project to celebrate the semi-quincentennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

The project will consist of dozens of workshops throughout the city, a mural in a prominent location, an
exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia, and an online gallery.

The project, and our “Among These Are” workshop model, are described in attached documents.
Interested organizations should respond with a letter of interest describing their capacity to take on this project.

For questions, please contact Todd Bressi or Lindsey Rosenberg, printmaking@muralarts.org for full document, follow this link.

Contractor Responsibilities

Contractors will be asked to facilitate a minimum of five community-based printmaking workshops,
in locations throughout the city, between February 2025 and October 2025.

Coordinate scheduling with Mural Arts

Mural Arts will take the lead in identifying sites and coordinating the workshop schedule, which will occur
in community-accessible locations throughout the city, such as branch libraries. Mural Arts will develop a list
of potential dates and locations and will match contractors to the locations, based on availability.

Organize personnel

Each workshop will take two to three personnel, a lead artist and one or two assistants, which the Contractor
must provide. Mural Arts will attempt to assign one staff member to each, but this should not be factored into
the workshop plans.

Obtain workshop supplies

Procure all necessary materials, including but not limited to ink, paper, palettes, brayers, matrixes, writing and
marking instruments, plastic sleeves for storing prints, disposable or re-useable table cloths, and cleaning
supplies.

Manage workshop logistics

Transport workshop supplies and equipment to and from sites
Set up and break down workshop; clean up workshop site
Store materials and supplies in between workshops
Check-in participants and collect registrations from walk-in participants

Facilitate workshops

Mural Arts will provide a curriculum framework and presentation tools that each organization can adapt,
provided that the outputs of the workshop meet the expectations of the project.
As the workshop consists of presentation of information, facilitation of discussion and a printmaking project,
different members of the workshop team may lead different aspects of the project.
Collect posters
Collect at least one archivable print from each participant, cross-referenced with participant name.

3- Shared Responsibilities

Promotion

Mural Arts, the workshop hosts and the contracted organization will promote the events via their calendars,
newsletters, e-blasts and social media that they normally use to promote events.
Mural Arts will promote via its project web page, events web page and period e-newsletters.

Mural Arts Responsibilities

Locate and schedule workshop venues

The workshops will be at indoor locations that are accessible to the public. Our lead partner on this project is
the Free Library of Philadelphia, so many of the locations will be branch libraries (see attached list of potential
libraries). Other locations may be provided by community-based non-profits, including arts organizations.
Mural Arts will maintain a list of venues and coordinate with contracting organizations to schedule workshops.
Dates, location and timing will be driven by the availability of these spaces.
Contracting organizations can organize a maximum of one workshop at their studio / location.

Coordinate registration

Registration will be limited to twenty people per workshop. Mural Arts will coordinate registrations via an
Eventbrite system, and provide a list of registrants to the contractor before the workshop begins. Registrations
will also include permissions / releases.

Provide tables and chairs

Mural Arts or the site host will provide tables and chairs, as well as access to water and restrooms.
Provide equipment (limited)
Mural Arts has a Provisional Press flatbed press to loan if that is being used, but has no other equipment
available to loan.
 

Budget and Fee

Mural Arts will pay each Contractor as follows:
• $750 per workshop, to include all personnel and transportation costs, as well as project management and
administration.
• Reimbursement of costs for materials and supplies. Mural Arts will negotiate a flat fee for material and
supply costs, based on Contractor estimates.
 

Qualifications

• Contractors must be based in Philadelphia (artists must live or work in Philadelphia)
• Contractors must have experience in at least one form of printmaking, as demonstrated by production,
sales, exhibition, teaching or other ongoing practice
• Contractors must have experience leading community workshops