Request For Proposal

Deadline:
Applications received by April 24, 2026 will be considered for hosting the 2027 festival. Applications for hosting the 2028 or 2029 festival will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Contact:
Interested cities and organizations are encouraged to reach out for preliminary conversations and questions prior to submitting an application. Email Executive Director Kristen Milburn @director@sunnydayzmuralfest.com.

RFP Application

About the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival:

Sunny Dayz is a traveling mural festival that partners with a new community each year to produce a series of large-scale public murals by women and gender-minority artists. The festival blends public art production with mentorship, education, and community programming.

Festival highlights include:

  • A series of 20-30 permanent, large-scale public murals

  • Visiting and local artists

  • Community programming and special events

  • An on-site production period, often referred to as “Sunny Week,” when murals are actively painted

Creative Control
Artists selected by Sunny Dayz retain full creative control over their mural concepts. Content review is limited to safety, legality, and publicly funded guidelines (e.g., profanity, hate speech) and is not intended to restrict artistic expression. All content review is conducted by Sunny Dayz and is not delegated to the Host Community.

Why Host Sunny Dayz?

Hosting the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival provides lasting cultural, economic, and social benefits, including:

Beautification & Placemaking

  • High-quality, permanent murals that enhance neighborhood identity

  • Activation of underutilized or overlooked spaces

  • Public art that reflects inclusive values and community pride

Economic Development & Tourism

  • Increased foot traffic and spending at local businesses

  • Visiting artists, staff, and attendees supporting hotels, restaurants, and services

  • Long-term arts and cultural tourism benefits

Quality of Life & Public Safety

  • Active, vibrant public spaces

  • Increased presence and visibility in
    mural areas

  • Strengthened neighborhood pride, care, and stewardship

Civic Pride & Visibility

  • National recognition for supporting
    artists

  • Media coverage and positive social visibility

  • Alignment with equity, arts, and cultural investment goals

What Sunny Dayz

Provides:

Sunny Dayz manages the core creative, production, and operational components of the festival, allowing Host Communities to focus on local coordination and support.

Sunny Dayz is responsible for:

  • Artist recruitment, selection, and contracting

  • Artist communication and coordination

  • Festival production and on-site management

  • Marketing, branding, and creative direction

  • Press and media outreach

  • Supplemental fundraising and grant-writing

  • Volunteer recruitment and management

  • Mentorship, educational programming, and special events

What Sunny Dayz Needs From the Host Community?

Financial Commitment

The most significant requirement to host the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival is a $80,000-$100,000 financial commitment from the Host Community. These funds are used to support muralist stipends and represent approximately one-third of the total festival costs.

Sunny Dayz understands that funding structures vary and is open to discussing how this commitment is assembled.

Additional Support

Host Communities are also asked to provide:

  • A letter of support for additional fundraising efforts

  • A designated local point of contact to serve as site liaison

  • A designated local point of contact to serve as fundraising chair

  • Assistance identifying and securing mural sites and building owner permissions

  • Support with permitting and barricading, security, trash services, and local logistics

  • A proposed festival headquarters location

  • Proposed housing options for artists, staff, and volunteers