City Seeks Artist to Create West Street Mural in Downtown Arlington

The City of Arlington has announced a new public art initiative in Downtown Arlington and issued a call for artists.

As stated in a recently released Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the City seeks individual artists or entities interested in painting a figure-ground mural depicting the Downtown Arlington street grid and building massing on the walls of the West Street railroad underpass, along with the street name on the railroad bridge span.

Qualifications, in accordance with the specifications and scope of work, will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

West Street Bridge and the Downtown Master Plan

In 2018, the City of Arlington adopted a Downtown Master Plan to guide growth and development in the Downtown core of the City. In order to enhance the aesthetics of Downtown, one project proposed in the Plan involves painting a mural on the side walls of the West Street railroad underpass. The underpass is one of a few vehicular and pedestrian crossings of the railroad tracks in Downtown and therefore provides important connectivity for the district.

The West Street underpass was built in 1929 and is listed on the National Historic Register. To highlight this important connective and historic resource in Downtown, the City envisions painting a mural on both sides of the bridge that features a figure-ground depiction of the street grid and building fabric of Downtown along with the street name on the railroad bridge span. The City seeks an artist or firm who can create this image on the West Street underpass in order to improve the visual appeal of the bridge and surrounding area.

For more information, click here to view a PDF of the full RFQ.

About Downtown Arlington

Designated by the State of Texas as the Arlington Cultural District, Downtown Arlington blends a unique mix of activities, sights, tastes and sounds that attract visitors and locals alike. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to a top tier public research university, prolific fine and performing artists and arts institutions, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, tag us with @DTArlington and click here to subscribe to Downtown Arlington’s weekly e-newsletter.