Overview
Destination Cleveland and Graffiti HeArt are seeking proposals for a project that will consist of
up to six (6) murals located at multiple locations in the city of Cleveland. Up to six artists will be
selected. Proposals should embody the principles of what makes Cleveland Cleveland,
including the values of connection, creativity, and determination and a fun and unpretentious
attitude. Proposals should also express the city’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and
belonging. Artist commission is $14,000 per mural. Artists are expected to purchase materials.
Selected artists should plan to install the murals from June-October 2023.
Destination Cleveland
Destination Cleveland is the non-profit destination marketing and management organization for
Cuyahoga County. Our primary job: We spend every day helping more people discover the real
Cleveland. As unapologetic promoters of Cleveland, we work to fulfill our mission to stimulate
economic growth by attracting people and connecting them to experiences that illustrate
Cleveland’s diversity, creativity and contagious passion.
Racial Equity & Inclusion Commitment
As an initial response to the 2020 call to dismantle systemic and structural racism, Destination
Cleveland acknowledged our role in unintentionally perpetuating systemic racism through our
work. We took inventory of diversity efforts already underway and started building on what we
were doing as an organization.
In August 2021, we shared Destination Cleveland’s Racial Equity & Inclusion Roadmap, a set of
initial pragmatic actions to ensure our work equitably, inclusively and intentionally grows the travel
and tourism industry, improves Cleveland’s narrative and enhances visitors’ experiences
This project is funded by Destination of Cleveland.
Project Logistics
This call seeks selected artists to create photo-worthy expressions of the Destination Cleveland
brand throughout the City of Cleveland. Within each mural, artists will be required to apply one
(1) Destination Cleveland brand phrase as the focal point of the work. Artists are to design around
and behind this typographic design according to their own style, interpretation of the brand phrase,
and/or the neighborhood context. The brand phrase will be provided via stencil in a typographic
lockup to ensure consistency of application. Additionally, each mural must include the application
of the Cleveland Script logo (a stencil or other means will be provided).
Brand Phrases
• Always Unmistakably Cleveland
• The Land Where Anything is Possible
• The Land of Exceeding Expectations
• The Land of Keeping It Fresh
• The Land of Blazing Your Own Trails
• The Land of Redefining City Limits
• World-Class Experiences Without the World-Class Ego
Brand phrases will be provided via stencil in a typographic lockup, as pictured here: Attached
Project Eligibility
This call is open to any artist at any stage of their artistic career. Destination Cleveland and Graffiti
HeArt strongly encourage submissions from artists residing in the city of Cleveland.
Application Requirement and Submission
Artists should submit their application materials (see below) to murals@DestinationCLE.org by
May 26, 2023.
Application Materials
All applications should include the following:
Within the PDF document, please include up to 15 images of previous work alongside a
corresponding, numbered, annotated image list with title, media, dimensions, location, brief
description, date of work, and project partners if applicable.
PLEASE NOTE: Design proposals will not be accepted at this point in the process.
If you need assistance developing your proposal, free workshops will be held at Graffiti HeArt
(4829 Superior Ave.) on Sunday, May 7; Sunday, May 14 and Sunday, May 21 from 1 to 3pm.
Selection Process
Artists will be selected from this call as a pool of eligible artists/teams. Selected artists/teams will
be paid an $800 stipend to develop a site-specific project proposal. Information will be sent to the
selected artists/teams with details of the proposal process and contracts. Design proposals will
only be considered after the selection of artists/teams.
Project Timeline
May 3: Call to Artists released
May 26: Responses due
June 5: Artists selected to produce site-specific designs
June 19: Site-specific designs due
June & July: City review processes
Late July – September: Installation
Project Contact
If you need assistance with your application, please contact Max McMillen, Program Manager of
Graffiti HeArt: max@graffitiheart.org
©2023 Graffiti Heart. All Rights Reserved.
