Town of Midland Bee City Murals

Media Release: Midland unveils new Bee City mural

October 21, 2021 – Midland has added to its mural collection.

Combining its status as a Bee City with its reputation as a mural community, the Town commissioned two Bee City murals to highlight its commitment to protecting pollinators and pollinator-friendly habitats.

The first mural, led by artist Shandelle McCurdie with members of the community invited to help paint the mural, was unveiled in David Onley Park this morning. Shandelle's design concept allowed for community members of all ages and all artistic levels to participate in this project.

“We are proud to be a Bee City and to feature our community's commitment to protecting pollinators through these beautiful new murals," said Mayor Stewart Strathearn. “Midland is known as a mural community, and it's wonderful to unveil this new mural that the community helped create."

The second Bee City mural is an intergenerational endeavour with residents of Georgian Village, King Place and local high school students working together to complete the painting. It will be installed in Little Lake Park in spring 2022.

The Town recognizes financial support received by the County of Simcoe to assist with some of the costs associated with this project.

Media Release: “Bee" part of the Buzz!

September 16, 2021 – A new Bee City mural is being created and the community is invited to “bee" part of the fun!

Community members, including individuals and households, can pre-register for one-hour time slots to work with mural artist Shandelle McCurdie to help paint one of Midland's newest murals.

The community painting day will take place on September 22 from 1 to 8 p.m. at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre (NSSRC). Participants will be pre-screened, required to provide their contact tracing information, and wear a mask. In addition, participants must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 along with photo ID to enter the NSSRC, following the provincial requirements that come into effect on that date. The only exemptions permitted for this activity are for unvaccinated people with medical exemptions and people under 12 years old. Individuals who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted to participate with a doctor's note until the medical exemption can be integrated as part of a digital vaccine certificate.

McCurdie has designed the concept for the mural and will have paint and brushes ready for those who are scheduled to help paint the mural's bees, pollinators and pollinator-friendly plants and flowers.

“We are a mural community and what better way to celebrate our status as a Bee City than by creating vibrant, colourful new murals," said Karen Mealing, Cultural Development Coordinator. “These murals will be installed around Midland so residents and visitors can enjoy them for years to come."

No special painting skills are required, and all ages are welcome.

To register for a spot, contact Karen Mealing, Cultural Development Coordinator, at kmealing@midland.ca or 705-526-4275 ext. 2200. Registrations will be accepted until 4 p.m. on September 21, unless all available slots are filled before this date.

The Town recognizes financial support received by the County of Simcoe to assist with some of the costs associated with completing this project.

Media Release: What's the buzz? The Town of Midland to commission two new murals!

July 15, 2021 – Midland is combining its new status as a Bee City with its reputation as a mural community to create two Bee City Murals.

The Town is currently accepting proposals from visual artists who live in Simcoe County and who enjoy working with the public for this project. The themes of the murals will reflect bees, pollinators as well as pollinator-friendly plants and flowers.

“We're proud to be a Bee City and be part of the Bee City Canada program, and what better way to celebrate that in Midland than with beautiful new murals," said Mayor Stewart Strathearn. “We have a large talented group of artists in our region, and I can't wait to see the finished pieces. I know they'll create a real buzz with residents and visitors to Midland."

For one mural, the artist will conceive the design and facilitate community painting days to allow public participation. For the second mural, the selected artist will work with local high school students bringing them through the entire process of creating a mural from design concept to completion.

Artists interested in this project must submit their proposal to the Town by Friday, August 13, 2021, including a demonstration of their artistic ability as well as past experience either leading a community art engagement project or experience with or teaching all ages.

Each mural will measure 8'x16' with one mural being installed in David Onley Park and the other located in Little Lake Park.

For more information about this project, visit www.midland.ca/BeeCityMurals

The Town recognizes financial support received by the County of Simcoe to assist with some of the costs associated with completing this project.

Funded in part by

Request for Proposals:2021 Bee City Murals

The request for proposal period had closed. Thank you to all who applied!

Timeline

Deadline to apply: Friday, August 13, 2021 at 12 p.m. (noon)

Notification to selected artist by: week of August 23, 2021

Possible Community Painting Days may be September 24, 25 and 26, 2021, as part of Culture Days.

Dates and times for working with high school students will take place in September/early October 2021.

Deadline for mural completion and ready for installation: Friday, October 15, 2021

Installation: fall 2021 or spring 2022, pending completion of project in line with public health guidelines.

Any questions regarding this project and call for proposals are to be received no less than five business days prior to the submission deadline of Friday, August 13, 2021. Questions may be sent to kmealing@midland.ca.

*The Town of Midland recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic and public health guidelines may impact the project timeline. Any changes to the timeline due to the pandemic will be coordinated between the Town of Midland and the selected artists.

Objective

In March 2021, the Town of Midland became a designated Bee City committed to providing pollinator habitat within the municipality's boundaries. To highlight the Town's commitment to this project and to aid in community education, the Town is creating two Bee City Murals. The theme of the murals will reflect bees, pollinators as well as pollinator-friendly plants and flowers.

Each mural created as part of this project will be a collaboration between the mural artist, the Town of Midland and the community. The murals will serve as both an educational and art engagement project. The mural artists will conceive the designs for the murals and will facilitate community painting days to allow public participation. Strict public health guidelines will be in place for the community painting days.

For more information about Bee City Canada, visit www.beecitycanada.org.

Location

Two 8’x16’ murals will be created with one being installed in David Onley Park and the other in Little Lake Park. They are meant to be permanent installations and the murals will become part of the Town of Midland’s Public Art Inventory and will be maintained per the Public Art Policy.

Town of Midland will:

Cover the cost of, and provide, the alu panels for the murals.
Cover the cost of materials and supplies, per quotes provided by the selected mural artists.
Provide space for the community painting days.
Assist with the procedure to book painting times.
Be responsible for all costs of, and all aspects of, the final installation of the murals.
Install a plaque with the murals to provide information about the project.

The Selected Artists will:

Design the murals in keeping with the pollinators theme and will receive final approval of the design by the Town of Midland. The mural design may include the use of text, however profanity, advertising, branding and/or promotion of contempt against anyone are not permitted.
Provide their own equipment to transfer the approved designs to panels.
Secure all materials and supplies, pending approval of Town of Midland prior to purchase. They will also provide a list of needed PPE (hand sanitizer, wipes, etc.) for community painting days to ensure public health protocols are met. These will be supplied by the Town of Midland.
Prepare boards for painting and seal with topcoat prior to installation.
Be available after final installation if any touch-up work is required.
Be responsible for their own mileage, as well as personal protective equipment required per public health guidelines.
Provide their own insurance listing the Town of Midland and County of Simcoe as an additional insured.

*One artist will be contracted for each mural.

Funding

This project is funded by the Town of Midland and the County of Simcoe.

Eligibility

Submissions will be considered from artists and muralists who live in Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia. Applicants must demonstrate a high level of artistic ability, as well as past experience either leading a community art engagement project or experience working with or teaching all ages.

How to apply

Proposals are due by 12 noon on Friday, August 13, 2021 and should be sent to kmealing@midland.ca. Do Not Zip files as they will not be received. If files are too large to email, a link to a OneDrive folder will be provided upon request.

Proposals should include:

Contact name and information, as well as website and any social media accounts used to profile artist portfolio
Brief description of artistic experience as well as experience leading a community art project or teaching/working with all ages
One or both murals will be painted with the aid of the general community. There is the possibility of partnering with the local high schools to create one of the murals, providing students with the opportunity to learn about the creation of a mural from start to finish. Artists should indicate if they are interested in the community mural, the high school mural or both.
Draft sketch of idea for mural as well as brief description of the concept
Budget outlining artist fee as well as estimated list of materials and supplies (primer, acrylic paint, brushes, drop cloths, etc). NOTE: the Town of Midland will supply the alu panels and will cover all installation costs.
Proposal should indicate an estimate of the number of days/hours of community involvement in the painting of the murals. For proposals that include working with local high school students, indicate the estimated number of hours needed to work with them from development of image concept to completion of mural.
Five to ten samples of completed mural projects or paintings
At least one reference with contact information, noting the project and date
Artist bio and/or artist statement
Confirmation of insurance coverage listing the Town of Midland and County of Simcoe as an additional insured
Confirmation that the project will be completed within the required timeframe* and adherence to all public health guideline related to the COVID-19 pandemic

In submitting this proposal, it is understood that:

The selected artist will be required to enter into an agreement with the Town of Midland.
The Artist will retain copyright of the artwork. The artwork must be original and not violate the copyright of any other person.
Ownership of the artwork will be assigned to the Town of Midland. The Town has the right to record the installation and display of the artwork and reproduce images of the artwork for promotional and municipal purposes.
Information on this form is collected pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Town of Midland is subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act therefore this information and any records provided may be subject to public disclosure under that Act.
The Town of Midland reserves the right to reject any and all submissions which do not adhere to criteria and guidelines.