We are seeking a female or non-binary identifying artist to create a mural on MAPA Cultural Arts Centre in Bradford as part of the WOW Girls Festival.

The WOW Girls Festival is a project taking place in March 2024 celebrating creative women, girls and non-binary people. BD:Walls is a series of public art installations across the Bradford District over the next two years. As part of these two projects Bradford 2025 and Bradford Council are commissioning a mural on MAPA Cultural Arts Centre. The project will be female led but will include the views and voices of MAPA’s many diverse communities.

The primary function of MAPA Cultural Arts Centre is to promote opportunities that enrich and enhance the personal and social development of young people and the community. Using creativity as a tool to empower, engage and include, their work ​aims to bring about change, encourage positive activity and develop vital life skills

Who can Apply?

We invite female and non-binary identifying artists who meet the criteria below to apply:

• Artists with experience producing large-scale public art pieces.
• Artists who are comfortable developing ideas in consultation with local communities. 
• Artists may be based anywhere but must be able to demonstrate an interest in exploring MAPA’s history and creating art which represents the diverse communities it serves.

The Brief

The Lead Artist will:

•  Design and create an artwork for the specified location within the agreed timeframe, including a review and sign off process with the project team. The art should celebrate the history of MAPA and the diverse local communities which it serves.
• Lead creative consultation activities for local girls, women and non-binary people to feed into the mural design, as part of the WOW Girls Festival on Tuesday 5th March 2024. We can offer guidance, support and staff to work with you on this if required.
• Work with ideas from the creative consultation day, and consultation with wider communities carried out by the MAPA team, to create the mural design.
• Potentially be shadowed by an early career artist as part of a development programme.

Location: The mural will be located at MAPA Cultural Arts Centre, 1 Coates St, Bradford BD5 7DL. See an image of the wall attached.

Timeline:  

• The deadline for applications is Wednesday 7 Feburay 2024.
• Selection will take place in early February, we may invite shortlisted artists for an informal conversation before a final decision.
• The artist will be required to lead a creative consultation activity with local girls, women and non-binary people on Tuesday 5th March 2024.
• The mural itself should be painted in spring – early summer 2024.

Fee: 

There is a budget of between £8,000 - £15,000 available for this piece of work. You will be asked to provide a budget breakdown when you submit your application.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 7 Feburay 2024.