The Windborn Group and Quad City Arts, with support from the Illinois Arts Council in celebration of America at 250, are seeking an Illinois-based artist for the design and installation of a public mural in Aledo, Illinois. The mural will be on the south-facing wall of the building at 114 E. Main St. in historic downtown Aledo. This mural will serve as a public record of the history of Illinois’s creativity and values and show how art can energize local economics and deepen our sense of place across Illinois.
In the spirit of the 250th, this mural project seeks to honor the history of Aledo and Mercer County, specifically of the rich artistic heritage of artists Gertrude Abercrombie or Doris Lee, both of whom have ties to Aledo. The mural could incorporate the artists themselves, or use their themes, colors, and motifs to honor their contributions to the art world at large.
This mural project is jointly undertaken by Quad City Arts and the Windborn Group. Quad City Arts acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
MEASUREMENTS
The paintable surface of the wall is approximately: 24’ W x 18’ H. Photos are attached at the end of the document.
PAYMENT
$8,500 — 50% to be paid upon contract execution and 50% within 30 days of completion of the mural. This fee includes all associated costs of creation (i.e., design, materials, paint, etc.). Local lodging provided as needed, and a transportation stipend will be provided at federal milage rates.
Commissioners to prep wall (power wash/prime) ahead of mural installation, and an anti-graffiti coat applied following completion. Elevation solutions, if needed, will be provided by Quad City Arts.
DEADLINE
Proposals shall be submitted no later than Monday, April 20, 2026 at 9:00am via online form through Jotform or by email at rfq@quadcityarts.com. If submitting via email, please submit written materials as PDF and work samples as .jpeg. Do not embed work samples within PDF. Submissions shall be clearly labeled “Aledo Mural RFQ”.
MURAL OBJECTIVES
- Mural should be celebratory in sprit and have a connection to America’s 250th Anniversary.
- Mural should focus on Aledo and Mercer county.
- Mural should pay tribute to the history of Aledo artists, specifically Gertrude Abercrombie and/or Doris Lee.
- Mural should continue a thoughtful and concerted redevelopment of downtown Aledo.
- Mural should work with the established style of downtown Aledo, both honoring its history and looking forward to its future.
TO CONSIDER
- Artist MUST be an Illinois resident.
- Artists must have large scale mural experience, with sufficient knowledge of both medium and materials to ensure durability of the mural.
- Proposed public art pieces must have a significant anticipated lifespan that Illinois residents and guests can enjoy for years to come.
- A plaque commemorating the installation of the mural will be installed on the wall, with the selected artist to work with Quad City Arts and the Windborn Group on placement of said plaque within the scope of the mural design.
- Upon selection, Artist shall procure or otherwise provide proof of commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), property damage ($1,000,000 per occurrence), bodily injury ($1,000,000 per occurrence) and automobile liability ($500,000 combined single limit), naming Quad City Arts, Perryton LLC, and the Windborn Initiative LLC, together with its officers, agents, employees and engineers as additional primary insureds prior to commencing mural installation and shall maintain such insurance until completion of the mural.
- The selected Artist must be willing to work with Quad City Arts and the Windborn Group to modify the design or materials based on design input and building specifications.
- Artists will comply with all federal and state laws, county and municipal codes, ordinances, rules and regulations that in any manner affect the services to be provided.
- A qualifying Artist shall have the ability to obtain all necessary licenses, permits and approvals, whenever applicable.
TIMELINE
- April 13, 2026: Questions shall be submitted via email to rfq@quadcityarts.com.
- Monday, April 20, 2026: at 9:00am: Deadline for submissions submitted via Jotform or email to rfq@quadcityarts.com.
- April 21-April 25, 2026: Qualifications reviewed, 3 finalists selected. Finalists will be asked to submit a proposal of the planned mural. Finalists to receive $500 stipend.
- May 15, 2026: Final designs submitted and selected. Selected artist to meet with mural selection committee to go over design, logistics, timeline, and budget.
- June 2025: mural completed, subject to weather*
- This timeline will be agreed upon with the building owner and the artist, and weather pending.
- Targeted completion deadline of July 2, with a proposed dedication ceremony on July 3, 2026.
TO APPLY
Email a PDF to rfq@quadcityarts.com including the following information or submit online through Jotform.
- Name, phone number, email, and 2 references with contact info
- Website, Instagram, or other online profiles, if applicable.
- Include 3-5 images of completed murals, including your most recent. Min. 900×900 jpg. No images embedded within PDFs, please.
- A brief bio about you as an artist and your process.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Award determination shall be based on selection committee’s determination of design aesthetics, proposed use of the wall space, availability and ability to deliver mural on time, and Artist’s experience with similar scale projects.
- Following the proposal deadline, the selection committee will collaboratively review, analyze and rank all submittals based on the evaluative criteria set forth herein. Three finalists will be selected to submit RFPs, with a $500 stipend. The selection committee may invite finalists to interview prior to selection. Upon selection, the selected Artist will be required to enter a contract with Quad City Arts.
- The selection committee reserves the right to request additional information from the proposers. Such information will be limited to clarification or amplification of the information requested in the original proposal. The selection committee may take all actions deemed necessary to investigate the qualifications of each proposer. The selection committee reserves the right to qualify or disqualify proposers because of lack of similar project experience and/or any other information obtained from its investigation.
- The selection committee reserves the right to reject all proposals. The selection committee reserves the right to waive technical defects in the proposals and to accept the proposal which, in the judgment of the selection committee, best serves the project goals.