In honor of the WNBA All-Star Weekend, to be hosted in Indianapolis July 18-20, 2025, the Indy Arts Council will commission a new portrait mural depicting former Indiana Fever player and WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings. Artists are invited to provide their interest and qualifications for this project.
ELIGIBILITY: Professional mural artists over 18.
- All other factors being equal, preference will be given to artists living in central Indiana (defined as Marion, Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, and Shelby counties) or with strong connections to the greater Indianapolis area.
- Artists must be able to obtain professional liability insurance, plus either worker’s compensation insurance or a workers compensation insurance exemption certificate from their home state.
- Lead artist applicants must have completed at least 2 civic-scale mural projects in the past 5 years and have excellent portrait painting skills, ideally displayed through commissioned portrait murals.
- Apprentice artist applicants must be based in the Indianapolis area, have between 2-5 years’ experience working as an artist, and have not completed more than 2 paid mural projects.
COMMISSION FEE (paid to artist):
- $60,000, covers artist fees, labor, and materials for a site approximately 45 ft. h. x 30 ft. w. (approx. 1350-1500 s.f.)
- Artists based outside of a 1-hr driving radius of downtown Indianapolis will also receive a travel stipend of $5,000 (negotiable based on distance traveled) to cover mileage, lodging, food, and parking.
- Equipment (lifts, job box, etc.) will be provided, as will site prep and coatings: artist is not responsible for covering those items out of their fee.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2025
APPLY AT: http://indyarts.grantplatform.com
Review the full Request for Qualifications document.
Review a recording of the virtual application workshop. Use passcode r0W&@$Q=
About Tamika Catchings
Tamika Catchings was one of the best two-way players in the history of basketball. The four-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year is also one of the most decorated players ever, and she accomplished all of this and much more while living with a severe hearing impairment. Since her retirement from playing, Catchings has focused on philanthropy through her Catch the Stars Foundation, entrepreneurship through her Tea’s Me cafes, and supporting the next generation of players as a league ambassador, a player development specialist, and a game analyst.
About the Mural
The Tamika Catchings portrait mural will convey a recognizable likeness of Catchings, and will also present the selected artist’s interpretation of her legendary nature in his/her/their own style. The selected design will provide a strong and lasting impression of Catchings’ accomplishments on and off the court, and her influence locally, nationally, and internationally.
Mural Apprentice Program
With each mural the Arts Council commissions, we offer the opportunity for an emerging Indianapolis-based muralist to serve as an apprentice to the lead artist. Apprentice artists spend approximately 100 hours working with the lead artist from design development through completion, learning how to design, plan, and paint a major civic-scale artwork. Apprentices are paid between $3,500 and $5,000 depending on the nature of the site.
Timeline
- Applications open: December 4, 2024
- Application deadline: Sunday, February 2, 2025 11:59 p.m.
- Finalists selected and applicants notified: Friday, February 14, 2025
- Finalists’ design concepts due: Sunday, March 16, 2025
- Design presentations and community engagement: March 30 – April 4, 2025
- Design concept selection and artist contracting: by April 11, 2025
- Final design (if needed): April 15-30, 2025
- Permitting: May 1-30, 2025
- Site prep and painting (depending on artist’s schedule): June 1-July 10, 2025
- Final coatings: July 10-15, 2025
- Dedication event (anticipated): July 16, 2025
Selection Process
This is a two-step selection process. A panel of reviewers will select up to three finalist artists and will commission concept proposals from them after disclosing the specifics of the site. A mural design and artist will be identified from the commissioned proposals. At all times the selection process will adhere to the Indy Arts Council’s established principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What to Prepare
Artists will need to provide the following information on the application form:
- Artist contact information
- Artist experience information
- Technical capacities
- Statement of interest in the project
- Information about past projects: visuals and context
- Demographic profile
How to Apply
Apply ONLINE ONLY by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 2 at the Arts Council’s application portal, http://indyarts.grantplatform.com. You will need to register for a free account on the platform if you are not already registered.
QUESTIONS? Contact Julia Moore, Director of Public Art, Indy Arts Council, jmoore@indyarts.org