Issued by: Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, Baltimore City
Submission Deadline: February 19, 2024

I. Overview

The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture is inviting experienced visual artists to submit qualifications for the creation of portraits of the last five mayors of Baltimore. These mayors, whose portraits are yet to be commissioned, include Brandon Scott, Bernard “Jack” Young, Catherine Pugh, Stephanie Rawlings Blake, and Sheila Dixon. This project seeks to honor each mayor’s distinct personality and their contributions to Baltimore through historically and artistically significant portraits. These works will be displayed alongside other mayoral portraits in the Board of Estimate Room (BOE).

II. Project Description

Scope of Work
Artists are tasked with creating portraits that capture the essence, role, and impact of each mayor on Baltimore City. Acceptable mediums include painting and mixed media (excluding photography). While artists have the liberty to choose the size and medium, it is recommended to align with the existing life-sized portraits in the BOE, approximately 36x46 inches. The final works must be suitable for public display in city buildings.

Display Locations
The portraits will be showcased in the Board of Estimates Room at Baltimore City Hall, a space rich in history and adorned with portraits of mayors from James Calhoun (1794) to Martin O’Malley (1999). These additions will complement the room's historical significance and aesthetic.

III. Artist Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Eligibility:
Open to professional visual artists experienced in portraiture, aged 18 or above. Artists should be able to showcase their portfolio, reflecting conceptually and stylistically relevant work. Preference may be given to artists with ties to Baltimore City.

Selection Criteria:
Artists will be interviewed and evaluated based on artistic excellence, originality, experience in creating realistic portraits, and alignment with Baltimore's cultural and historical context. Artists must be open to being assigned a specific mayor by the selection committee.

IV. About the Selection Committee

The Committee comprises arts professionals Jeffrey Kent, Sammy Hoi, Cara Ober, Jenenne Whitfield, a representative from the mayor's office, and the previous mayors.

V. Budget and Payment

The total project budget per portrait is $20,000, covering all artist fees, materials, and associated costs.

VI. Project Timeline

• Proposal Submission Deadline: February 19,2024 
• Artist Selection: March 1, 2024 - March 15, 2024
• Completion of Portrait: 6-8 months