Call for Professional Mural Artists
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The AIM Center invites qualified mural artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for the design and installation of a large-scale exterior mural at Espero Chattanooga, a new permanent supportive housing development located at the corner of Main Street and Hawthorne Avenue in Chattanooga’s historic Highland Park neighborhood.
The selected artist will co-create directly with AIM Center members—adults living with serious mental illness (SMI)—to develop a mural concept that reflects the spirit of Espero, which means “hope” in Spanish. The artwork should celebrate themes of hope, belonging, recovery, resilience, community, and the transformative impact of safe, affordable housing.
The mural will serve as a highly visible landmark facing Main Street and will become a welcoming visual centerpiece for residents, neighbors, and visitors alike.
ABOUT THE AIM CENTER
Founded in 1989, the AIM Center is Tennessee’s only accredited Clubhouse and a leader in psychosocial rehabilitation services for adults living with serious mental illness. Through supportive housing, employment services, education, wellness initiatives, and community engagement, AIM Center empowers individuals to build meaningful and self-directed lives.
The Espero Chattanooga Project represents the next chapter of this mission, expanding access to affordable, supportive housing while creating a vibrant community where residents can thrive in 60 new units of affordable permanent supportive housing.
PROJECT SITE
The mural will be installed on the exterior wall of the Espero development facing Main Street in the style of a ‘mural cloth’. Situated within Chattanooga’s historic Highland Park neighborhood, the site occupies a prominent location at the intersection of Main Street and Hawthorne Avenue.
Artists are encouraged to research and draw inspiration from Highland Park’s rich history, cultural diversity, architectural character, and enduring sense of community. While historical context should inform the work, the mural should primarily focus on the future—celebrating hope, opportunity, recovery, belonging, and community connection.
The total mural area is approximately 584 square feet and is made up of board and batten lap siding (dimensional slats) with a cedar texture, in the color ‘Rapids Blue’ that will be covered over in mural cloth.
ARTISTIC VISION
The selected artist will facilitate a co-creative design process that actively engages AIM Center members in concept development.
The final artwork should:
- Reflect the meaning of Espero (“hope”)
- Celebrate recovery, resilience, and personal growth
- Communicate a sense of belonging and community
- Honor the character and history of Highland Park
- Create a welcoming and inspiring visual experience
- Reflect the dignity and humanity of residents and community members
- Serve as a lasting symbol of hope and opportunity in Chattanooga
- Be in the style of mural cloth and include participation from AIM Center Members and possibly community members
PROJECT BUDGET
Funding for this project has been generously provided through grants and gifts from the Footprint Foundation and the Weldon Osborne Foundation-Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.
Lead Mural Artist Fee: $20,000
The artist fee includes:
- Design development
- Community engagement activities
- Coordination of surface preparation
- Project management
- Installation labor
- Lift rental
- Site preparation
- Artist travel (if applicable)
- Insurance coverage
- Other artist-related expenses
The remaining project budget will support materials, equipment, security and other project-related costs.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a practicing professional artist or artist team
- Demonstrate experience creating large-scale murals with mural cloth, public art installations, or community-engaged art projects
- Be willing to co-create with AIM Center members throughout the design process
- Successfully complete a criminal level and/or state-level background check
- Be available to complete the project within the established timeline
- Be capable of meeting all contractual requirements, including insurance requirements, if selected
- Artists from Chattanooga and the surrounding Appalachian region (TN, GA, AL), especially those with lived experience of mental illness, are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Artists must currently reside within Chattanooga or the surrounding Appalachian region (TN, GA, AL).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
Because the Espero Mural Project includes direct participation from AIM Center members and staff throughout the concept development and artist selection process, AIM Center has established the following eligibility requirements to ensure a fair, transparent, and unbiased selection process.
The following individuals are not eligible to serve in any way as an artist or submit qualifications for this RFQ:
- Current AIM Center members
- Current AIM Center employees
- Immediate family members of individuals directly involved in the project selection process
This policy is intended to eliminate actual or perceived conflicts of interest, protect the integrity of the selection process, and ensure equitable access to this public opportunity.
This restriction should not be interpreted as a reflection of artistic ability, professional qualifications, or community contributions. AIM Center recognizes and values the creative talents, perspectives, and lived experiences of its members and staff.
AIM Center members are not eligible to serve as the contracted artist(s), AIM Center members will play a central role in shaping the project through facilitated engagement activities, concept development workshops, storytelling opportunities, and collaboration with the selected artist throughout the design process. The completed mural should authentically reflect the voices, experiences, hopes, and aspirations of the AIM Center community while being created through an independent and transparent artist selection process.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REQUIREMENT
The selected artist must demonstrate a willingness and ability to work collaboratively and co-create with AIM Center members, individuals who have serious mental illness, throughout concept development and, where appropriate, during mural installation activities.
Artists should view community engagement as a core component of the project rather than a supplemental activity. The selected artist will participate in workshops, listening sessions, and collaborative design activities that help translate the experiences of residents and AIM Center members into a compelling public artwork.
The final mural should embody themes of hope, belonging, recovery, resilience, and community while honoring the history and character of Chattanooga’s Highland Park neighborhood and the transformative impact of the Espero housing development.
PROJECT TIMELINE
- RFQ Released: Friday, June 26, 2026
- Submission Deadline: Friday, July 24, 2026 at 4 PM EST Close of Business
- Artist Interviews (if needed): July 27 and 28, 2026, between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM EST
- Artist Selection: July 31, 2026
- Community Engagement & Design Development: August 2026
- Installation: Begins as soon as possible
- Present onsite at Espero Grand Opening: September 10, 2026
- Project Completion: No later than December 11, 2026
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- The AIM Center reserves the right to reject any or all submissions.
- Submission materials become part of the project record and may be used for review and promotional purposes.
- Artists retain copyright to original artwork unless otherwise negotiated through contract.
- The selected artist will be required to enter into a formal agreement with the AIM Center.
- The selected artist will be required to attend the Espero Grand Opening Ceremony and event and participate in an interactive activity.
- All applicants are responsible for costs associated with preparing and submitting qualifications.
- Final artwork concepts must be approved by the AIM Center prior to fabrication and installation.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Interested applicants should submit a resume, a letter of interest, references, and a portfolio and/or sample images showing their history of work to the link below no later than Friday, July 24, 2026, at 4 PM EST. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
To submit application materials, please click here.
Questions?
Questions regarding the Espero Chattanooga Mural Project, artist eligibility, submission requirements, or the RFQ process may be directed to development@aimcenterinc.org.