In a Mandatory Milwaukee piece from earlier this year, we had this to say about Black Cat Alley:

The site may now shy away from any overt social or political statements, but the natural alley-ness of the alley gives it plenty of natural flavor. Mixed in with the sanctioned murals are oodles of unsanctioned pieces, ranging from graffiti tags and stickers to more ambitious works of spontaneous creation. In some places, it’s hard to know where one ends and the other begins.

Interested in creating one of those sanctioned murals for the East Side street art destination (located between Prospect and Farwell)? Then you’re in luck, because Black Cat Alley is seeking three artists or artist teams to do just that!

“This year’s Black Cat Alley project is open to artists and artist teams 18+ years of age, living in Wisconsin,” reads a press release. “Travel costs are not covered for artists. Submission is free of charge, and limited to one submission per wall per artist (or artist team). Preference will be given to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women artists. Sharing this demographic information is optional, but if you feel comfortable sharing your information on race and gender, the jury will consider it in its discussions. All work must be the artists’ own, and original in design, concept, and execution.”

Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. The submission deadline is Monday, August 24 at 11:59 p.m. Painting dates will be scheduled between September 5 and September 27. Also, no “nudity, religion, or derogatory/negative references.”

Here are details on the three mural spots, followed by more information:

WALL 1

Details:
• Rough brick, 17’ wide x 8’ tall
• Located near the Prospect side of Black Cat Alley
• Artist must provide own ladder for wall access
• Artist stipend for this mural: $2,500 ($18 per ft2)
• An additional paint/materials budget of up to $200 will be provided

WALL 2

Details:
• Rough brick square, 8’ wide x 8’ tall
• Located near the garden in Black Cat Alley
• Artist must provide own ladder for wall access
• Artist stipend for this mural: $1,150 ($18 per ft2)
• An additional paint/materials budget of up to $100 will be provided

WALL 3

Details:
• Smooth brick, 12’ square
• Located at the Prospect Ave entrance to Black Cat Alley, near AXEMKE
• Artist must provide own ladder for wall access
• Artist stipend for this mural: $2,500 ($18 per ft2)
• An additional paint/materials budget of up to $200 will be provided

Eligibility:
This year’s Black Cat Alley project is open to artists and artist teams 18+ years of age, living in Wisconsin. Travel costs are not covered for artists. Submission is free of charge, and limited to one submission per wall per artist (or artist team). Preference will be given to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women artists. Sharing this demographic information is optional, but if you feel comfortable sharing your information on race and gender, the jury will consider it in its discussions. All work must be the artists’ own, and original in design, concept, and execution.

If multiple artists collaborate as a team, it is considered a joint entry and they should exhibit a single body of work. If accepted, they may exhibit only that work which is collaborative.

Piece content/materials:
In concert with the requirements of project funding, design content cannot involve any display of nudity, religion, or derogatory/negative references. Only submissions whose content is consistent with the stated theme for the wall will be considered.

Submission requirements:
All submission materials and artist information should be sent in ONE email to [email protected] Any late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Please feel free to contact with any questions ahead of the Monday, August 24th at 11:59PM deadline.

Any questions about this Call, please contact Larissa at [email protected]

– Please state clearly which wall you are applying for.

– Attach an image of your proposed mural design, preferably in the correct proportion/shape of the wall you are applying for, and a short description of your design.

– Please include a short artist bio (200 word max per artist). If you are a BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or femaleidentifying artist, please feel free to share with us (optional).

– Attach 2 examples of past work in JPEG format—ideally these would also be murals, but other painted works will suffice. Please provide links to online portfolio such as Instagram.

– Artist contact information (full name, email address, phone number).

– Artist teams, please provide contact information for ALL artists, but designate one person as your main point of contact.