Project Background and Goals
Arts Services Inc. (ASI) and Buffalo Common Councilmember Joel Feroleto’s office are seeking artists and creatives in various mediums to apply for participation in the Hertel Alley Mural Fest which will take place June 10-11, 2023.
Beginning this year, Hertel Alley Mural Fest will be an annual event that brings together creatives, business owners, and community members to watch new mural art come to life in real-time. Each year the current murals will be taken down and replaced with new ones to create an evolving ode to WNY’s bustling arts scene. Mural Fest will feature live-painting, music, and other arts activities and become an exciting North Buffalo addition to WNY’s festival season.
Not visible from the street, Hertel Alley runs behind businesses and buildings stretching between 1225 and 1301 Hertel Ave. in North Buffalo. It currently hosts more than 20 murals created at the first Mural Fest in 2019 (photos below).
2023 Hertel Alley Mural Fest Details
For the 2023 Hertel Alley Mural Fest, there are 16 buildings that will serve as blank canvases for mural creations. Wall space ranges from 10’ x 10’ up to 20’ x 20’ and will be assigned based on panel discussion and previous level of large scale public art experience. Selected artists will be invited to live-paint or live-install their mural during Mural Fest weekend.
The Festival will take place the weekend of June 10th from 10am until dusk and June 11th from 10am to 7pm. Artists must be available to create their work on site during this timeframe and may arrive begin arriving at 8am each day to set up equipment and supplies.
In the event of inclement weather, the festival will be cancelled but artists will be able to install their work at any time beginning June 10th through the next week, June 18th.
Who can apply
Hertel Alley Mural Fest is a celebration of WNY’s arts scene and any artists or creatives residing in Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus or Allegany Counties in any 2D medium are invited to apply. All applicants must be over the age of 18.
Artists/creatives can include (but is not limited to):
- Visual Artists
- Graphic Designers
- Muralists
- Tattoo Artists
- Painters
- Sketch Artists
- Graffiti/Street Artists
Prior experience in mural art is not required but selected applicants must demonstrate the ability to finish a large-scale mural over the three-day festival.
Multi-person teams will also be accepted. Only one application is required per team. All persons involved must be over the age of 18 and the compensation rate will remain the same, regardless of team size.
Application details
Interested parties should complete and submit a short online application that will include examples of past work by 5pm on March 24th.
The application does not include a design proposal. Final designs will not be vetted before installation to encourage free artistic expression but designs must be image-based and cannot include trademarked or copyrighted logos or characters, hate speech or political/radical language, signage or advertising, or violent imagery. Selected applicants will sign a contract prior to Mural Fest that they agree to these terms or will forfeit payment and be removed from the festival.
A selection committee will select participants based on 1) work samples, 2) strength of implementation plan, and will assign mural sites and sizes based on 3) previous experience. Previous mural experience is not required, however, applicants with previous mural experience (if accepted) will be assigned to larger sites. Accepted applicants will be notified in April 2023.
If artists need assistance submitting electronic materials, please call Desiree at (716) 833-3004 x516.
Artist compensation
Each participant or group will receive up to $2,000 in compensation. Participants are required to purchase and bring their own supplies and materials but are NOT required to provide their own insurance.
Once accepted, participants will sign a W9 and additional contract with Councilmember Feroleto and Arts Services Inc. which will include terms of participation, deliverables timeline (including in event of adverse weather), insurance, payment, mural lifespan and upkeep agreement, etc.
All building surfaces will be primed and ready for installation prior to the start of the festival by a third party contractor, artists are not responsible for this cost.
More information about the Hertel Alley Mural Fest in 2019 can be found at:
Photos from Hertel Alley from 2019
