The Details

The Queens Culture & Arts Network (QCAN) and the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) are seeking submissions from qualified artists or artist teams for the creation of a mural at PS201 in Queens. This mural aims to encourage educational curiosity, imagination, and transformation by engaging all students and visitors who travel through this vital gateway.

Project Location & Dimensions

• Site: PS201Q: 65-11 155th St, Flushing, NY 11367

• Mural Shape: six (6) tall independent columns with windows on either side

• The murals will be painted on brick

• Each column is 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide*

*Length and Height will be confirmed during the on-site visits

Concept and Artistic Focus

The mural is a vibrant masterpiece, comprised of six independent columns that together evoke the enchantment of a Harry Potter portal. Each column stands as a magical gateway, adorned with swirling colors and whimsical details, inviting students to step into a world of possibility. Fantastical scenes unfold across the columns, where children imagine themselves as the professionals they dream of becoming—one column features a future doctor in a lab coat, another a scientist surrounded by bubbling potions, while elsewhere an astronaut explores a distant planet and a dancer leaps across a sparkling stage. The mural can also include scenes showcasing engineers, artists, and other aspiring professionals, each rendered with imaginative flair.

Interwoven throughout the mural are inspiring words like “Believe,” “Explore,” and “Transform,” seamlessly blending into the vibrant imagery. These words encourage every student who passes by to overcome challenges and pursue their greatest ambitions. The overall effect is both magical and motivational, empowering children to dream big and see themselves as the heroes of their own stories.

Artists are encouraged to propose inclusive and innovative designs. Design must include the statement “sponsored by Assemblymember Sam Berger and commissioned by the Queens Culture & Arts Network.”

Project Timeline and Budget

• Completion Date: Mural must be completed by Thursday, May 21, 2026

• Artist Fee: $25,000 (inclusive of all labor, materials, travel, insurance, and any other costs associated with the mural’s creation.

Site Visits

Interested parties are invited to visit the site before submitting their designs/proposals on one of the following dates:

• Monday, March 2, 2026, at 2:45 PM

• Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 11:00 AM

Proposal Submission Deadline

All proposals must be submitted no later than Friday, March 13, 2026, 5:00 PM (ET).
No exceptions will be made. Proposals (and questions) should be submitted to: Info@qcanetwork.org

Proposal Requirements

Artist submissions must include the following information:

• Artist bio and mural painting experience

• Full cost of artist services (with basic budget breakdown)

• Insurance coverage (if any)

• A detailed written description of the artwork concept and an illustrated draft of the proposed design (must reflect the concept and artist focus above)

• Safety and Environmental Practices: current practices related to the storage, dispensing, and disposal of potentially toxic items and hazardous substances, such as certain types of paints (note: under no circumstances shall lead paint be used in the creation, repair, or maintenance of the mural)

Legal & Ethical Agreements (these statements may be copied, signed by the artist, and included with the artist’s submission):

• Artist’s written agreement to waive any liability, expense, suit, or claim for damages in connection with actual or alleged infringement of the mural

• A statement agreeing that the artwork will not: be demeaning or disparaging, promote the sale or use of tobacco or tobacco-related products, contain profanity or violence in any form, promote unlawful behavior or activities based on race, color, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or similar factors or imply endorsement by QCAN or VGBCQ (this exact statement can be copied and included in artist’s proposal).