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Mural site at 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos

Mural design proposals to celebrate student diversity invited

Last updated on October 13, 2021

Cabrillo College is soliciting applications from artists in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties to paint a mural celebrating Latinx, black and indigenous culture on its Aptos campus. Applications are due by April 30.

The mural will celebrate Cabrillo’s status as a Hispanic Serving Institution — approximately 44% of Cabrillo students are Latinx. Mural designs should celebrate Latinx culture and history, and represent Cabrillo’s diverse student population.

The Cabrillo College Foundation and Student Senate are funding the mural’s $8,500 budget. The project is a collaboration between Cabrillo’s Title V staff and the Chicano/Latino Affairs Council.

“It’s a great opportunity to tell our story while creating a unique experience of engagement, community, and, hopefully, foster a stronger sense of belonging that has been long desired by many of us at Cabrillo.”

Claudia Hernandez

In October 2019 Cabrillo College and CSUMB were awarded a five-year $3 million U.S. Department of Education Title V HSI to assist students of Latinx origin.

“One of the goals,” said Claudia Hernandez, a counselor for the program, “is to create a sense of belonging, particularly amongst Lantinx students… the mural will go beyond academic and culturally-responsive support.”

“It’s a great opportunity to tell our story,” said Hernandez, “while creating a unique experience of engagement, community, and, hopefully, foster a stronger sense of belonging that has been long desired by many of us at Cabrillo.”

Each submission must include a narrative and design illustrating the concept, as well as supplemental information such as medium, timeline for completion, and approximate dimensions of the proposed mural. All components must be in digital format and submitted via google form. A complete application includes the following:
•Project description
•A color representation of the proposed mural
•Images of previous work and a description of previous collaborations with other artists or community members in a public art project.
•Itemized budget, including time and materials
•Short description of how the artist(s) will incorporate student participation.
•Timeline for completion (June-Oct)
•Maintenance Plan

The project budget, which is required, is not to exceed $8,500 for an artist or team of collaborative artists. The budget should include the artist(s) fee, supplies, travel-related expenses, time for redesign activities beyond the original submission, and other associated costs such as equipment required to access the mural location.

To view the request for proposals, click here.