Issued: February 28, 2023
Issued by: Niagara Falls National Heritage Area
Deadline: March 15, 2023
The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA) is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the design and creation of a mural for the new community garden space at Heart, Love & Soul on 930 Ontario Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 14305. The budget for the project is up to $20,000 with a target install timeframe of mid-April, 2023. This mural will allow Heart, Love & Soul guests and the surrounding community to not only to enjoy a natural greenspace, but to promote wellness in all forms.
The mission of Heart, Love & Soul is to “[nourish] people in need – body, mind & soul – in partnership with others.” Heart, Love & Soul was founded in 1983 as a food pantry to collect and distribute food to community members struggling with unemployment and financial instability in the North End neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York. The organization has been a fixture in the community for 40 years, and provides the neighborhood with food assistance, human services, and social care. Heart, Love & Soul works collaboratively with other partner organizations through its new Daybreak Program to provide social care services to Niagara Falls residents, and has “provided over 9,405 amenities to guests” since starting in 2021. Heart, Love & Soul is deeply embedded into the fabric of the North End community, and is committed to providing the highest standard of care possible for its community, and to creating positive change.
Public art projects foster pride in communities, assist with neighborhood revitalization, and build appreciation for our community, culture, and heritage. The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area has fostered deep relationships within the community, and has proven experience implementing public art projects, including the murals at Main & Depot and along Main Street. Working together, Heart, Love & Soul and the NFNHA will administer the project and work with the selected artist to create a storytelling experience in the new community garden and outdoor space.
Mural Space: 125 ft. x 25 ft.
The NFNHA is seeking a mural that reflect the breadth and depth of the Niagara Falls community, and speak to the neighborhood revitalization currently taking place in the North End community. Our goal is to reflect the people important to Heart, Love & Soul and Niagara Falls, and amplify our values of dignity, social justice, stewardship, and collaboration in our neighborhood. Specifically, the mural should:
Qualifications for the Heart, Love & Soul mural project will be reviewed by team members from Heart, Love & Soul and the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. Applicants will be judged by the eligibility criteria listed below:
Proposals will be accepted between February 28th and March 15th. Applicants will be notified following the deadline whether or not they have been accepted for the project. The mural project must be completed in April 2023.
The maximum budget for this project is $20,000. Applicants should detail the use of funds in the budget section of their application.
Applicants should submit their application materials to Ally Spongr, NFNHA Director of Public Art, at ally@discoverniagara.org by the deadline of March 15th. For additional information, please visit: heartloveandsoul.org and discoverniagara.org.