Call to Artists for Mural Mentorship Opportunity

Business for the Arts Broward (BFA), in partnership with the Florida Purchasing Agency, is seeking artist submissions for the “Welcome to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea” mural mentorship project. The mural will be painted on the highly visible Florida Purchasing Agency building at 262 Commercial Blvd. in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. This mural is graciously funded by Wayne and Lucretia Wiener, Florida Purchasing Agency and Dara and Jarett Levan. Artists must be 18 or older to participate.

The deadline to submit is Sunday, June 1 by midnight. A virtual information session for interested applicants will be held via zoom on Wednesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. Participants will learn about the opportunity, application process, and may ask questions. To register for the session, please email lpratico@bfabroward.org.

This mural mentorship project aims to create a vibrant and visually striking mural under the guidance of lead artist and mentor Lori Pratico in partnership with BFA. Lori Pratico brings over 30 years of experience and creativity to the initiative. This collaborative endeavor will provide five mentee artists with the opportunity to build their mural skills and gain valuable insights into the process of creating murals. Throughout the project, the mentees will work with Pratico during brainstorming sessions, design development, and executing the mural. Chosen artists may have the opportunity to contribute their concepts and artistic style to the mural. This hands-on experience not only allows the mentees to contribute to a meaningful public art piece which reflects the community’s unique character and spirit but also fosters personal growth and professional development in the field of muralism. The lead artist, Lori Pratico, will guide the design of the mural’s overall look and have final say in its design and execution. The final design will be pre-approved by Florida Purchasing Agency and Lauderdale by the Sea.

All applicants must apply through the CaFE call to artists website. To be considered, qualified artists will have completed one to five murals or three to five large-scale artworks on canvas measuring at least 36 by 38 inches. Artists who have completed more than five public works will not be considered. Applicants must submit eight to 10 images of current work, which may include non-mural pieces, as well as a written letter of interest outlining how they anticipate this mentorship program will influence their career in the arts. Questions related to submitting through the CaFÉ platform should be directed to CaFÉ.

Eligible applicants must reside in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach or Monroe counties and have reliable transportation to the mural site. Artists should have a flexible schedule to accommodate weather delays. Selected artists must be available to work outdoors from approximately mid to late September through October 2025 (exact dates to be confirmed). The project requires a minimum of 100 on-site painting hours, to be completed over roughly 10 to 15 days, with a daily commitment of seven to nine hours and a schedule of five to six consecutive workdays per week, weather permitting.