Description

The Wurtele Center for Leadership and Lazarus Center for Career Development announce a co-sponsored search for an artist to create a temporary mural for the main stairwell of Kathleen McCartney Hall, a new campus building for the Wurtele and Lazarus Centers. Thematically, the mural will explore the future(s) of work and leadership, framed within the context of Smith College’s history as a women’s college with a mission to develop “engaged global citizens and leaders to address society’s challenges.” We seek to commission an artist whose work will inspire the Smith community to think critically and expansively about leadership and careers/work, and who will incorporate inclusive practices in the project. The artist must be willing to work in collaboration with key stakeholders in the Smith community, including students, staff, faculty, and alums. We encourage applications from local and regional artists (within 3-4 hours ground travel). As part of the commission, the artist will engage 2–3 Smith students in collaborative partnership via an internship during the summer or fall semester of 2025. The mural — preferably developed off-site and digitally printed on a wallcovering substrate — will be installed for 4–5 years after which point we plan to commission a new mural in order to engage a future group of students in this creative process. The artist honorarium for this project is $20,000. Initial applications are due November 1, 2024.