The Muralist-In-Residence Project (MIRP) is an initiative of the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural Program aimed at providing established artists a forum to work with a neighborhood within the SACA Mural District to develop murals/public art (1 MIRP mural per year). The purpose of the MIRP is three-fold: 1) provide established artists much needed training and education in the process of the development of community-based murals/public art; 2) provide a forum for established artists to showcase their talent in a community / public venue; 3) give established artists the freedom to create murals/public art, in economically depressed areas of San Antonio, and that challenge conventional wisdom of the purpose and aesthetic of murals/public art.

The SACA Community Mural Program defines established artists as having: 1) at least 4 museum / community gallery exhibits - i.e., SAMA, McNay, Mexicarte, AMA, Blue Star, Gallista, Guadalupe, Esperanza, 1906, Centro Aztlan, etc. 2) 2 alternative exhibits - Saluté, Honey Factory, Ellis Bean, Tacoland, etc. 3) Profession Resume 4) Slides or disks of art work 5) Biography

Veterano (a) clause: Veteranos(as) who have been active artists for 15 years or more but who do not meet the above exhibit requirements, may submit a MIRP proposal. Artists who fall under the Veterano clause must still submit a resume, biography and slides/disk of art work.

The Muralist-In-Residence Project (MIRP) will address needs, concerns and opportunities facing our community on many levels. San Antonio and our country are blessed with an extraordinary number of established, talented artists. Many of these artists have little opportunity or skills to work with neighborhoods in the development/creation of murals/public art. The main focus and purpose of the MIRP is to provide established artists the opportunity to develop their talents/skills as it pertains to working pro-actively with a neighborhood, to develop murals/public art.

The Muralist-In-Residence will be chosen by Mural/Public Art Design Review Committee composed of the San Anto Cultural Arts Mural Program Coordinator, a neighborhood / community resident, a current or former project participant of the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural Project, Executive Director and a neutral, established San Antonio artist.

Projects will be located within the current boundaries of the SACA Community Mural Program Mural District – HWY 90 to the south; IH 35/10 to the east; Culebra St. to the North; Zarzamora St. to the West. A call-for-mural/public art-designs will be sent out to a list of pre-identified artists. The design review committee will then choose among the submissions which artist will be granted the Muralist-In-Residence position. The chosen artist will then work with the Mural Coordinator to develop the time-line and over-all project. The artist will be required to follow the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural Project Process - Mural Crew Formation, Site/Wall Selection, Mural Site Community Survey, Theme/Design Development, Initial Sketches, Final/Composite Sketches, Sketch Presentation to Design Review Committee, Sketch/Design Presentation to community, Site Prep., Mural/Public Art painting/installation, Mural/Public Art Dedication, Post-Project Evaluation Meeting, Post-Community Survey, Mural/Public Art Maintenance.

Although the Muralist-In-Residence will be required to adhere to the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural Program Process, the artist will be encouraged to be “non-studio” (work pro-actively with community) in the development of the mural/public art piece. Make-up of collaborators, partners and crew will ultimately be decided by the artist at the time of project initiation, with guidance from the San Anto Cultural Arts Mural Program Coordinator.

To get involved with Community Mural Program, please contact
Ruth Buentello
Community Mural/Public Art Program Coordinator
ruth@sananto.org