Bearing Witness: Frederick’s Sites of Enslavement Call for Artwork • Frederick, MD

Introduction 

The City of Frederick requests proposals from artists to create original artwork that will illustrate historic markers as part of its Sites of Enslavement Project.  

The City of Frederick’s Sites of Enslavement: The Untold Histories of Frederick initiative seeks to identify, document, and interpret the sites located in the downtown historic district that are linked to the history of slavery. We are partnering with the African American Resources Cultural and Heritage Society (AARCH) to share stories that have long gone untold. A Historic Context Report was completed in the spring of 2025, and serves as a foundational document to help guide historic and artistic interpretation. The final project includes a walking tour, brochure, historic markers, online platform, and videos. The artwork is primarily needed for historic markers but may be used for other elements of the project.

Scope of Work and Artwork Requirements

The City plans to install a series of 11 markers with interpretive panels measuring approximately 24”x18.”  The installations will be made of Fiberglass Embedded (FE) panels set on a single pedestal base made of aluminum.  The markers will feature a short historic context (100-125 words). 

Artwork is critical to the storytelling of enslaved people on the local level, as few photographs are available.  The markers will be comprised of approximately 50% text while 50% will feature artwork/imagery.  

The City has hired a graphic designer who will have final design authority for the coordination of design, text and artwork.  The artist we be given an opportunity to review final marker design and provide comment.

The artwork is expected to: 

1. Be new and created specifically for this project

Digital art will be accepted, however AI generated artwork will not be accepted unless it is central to your artistic practice. 

2. Two dimensional and digitized 

There is no size restriction for the original artwork, however it should be designed to be produced on a 24”x18” panel. The Artist shall provide a high-resolution digital image of the original Artwork to the City so that it can be applied to the marker, or other material related to the Sites of Enslavement Initiative.  The digital images shall be formatted at 600 dpi, at a minimum of 8 x 10 inch sized jpg or another resolution agreed upon by Artist and the City.

3. Designed for a Historic Marker and Video

The markers will be comprised of approximately 50% text while 50% will feature artwork/imagery. Artwork should be purposely designed to accommodate the sizing of the panel and the incorporation of text, including title and logo. Artwork can be comprised of a single scene or multiple smaller images and professionally photographed for final submission to the City. If the artwork is digitally created, then the City expects to obtain the native file of the design for incorporation into the marker and video. 

4. Incorporate lost sites using art

Many of the building sites associated with the history of enslavement have been lost or are obscured from public view. When buildings are gone, a tangible link to Frederick’s history is lost and the marker can help bridge that connection. When the building no longer stands, we encourage artists to feature the structure to help establish the historic setting. The City can provide historic building photos and/ or mapping for reference. Alternatively, if the building is not documented by the artwork, the City can add a historic photograph to the marker to illustrate the site.

Additional Information. Artwork designed or created by the Artist shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the Artist. The Artist shall have no obligation to transfer, deliver or relinquish possession of the original physical artwork to the City unless the Parties enter into a separate written agreement expressly providing for such transfer or delivery. The City is planning to organize an art exhibition around June 19, 2027 to accompany the grand opening of the historic walking tour and associated markers.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should include the following in one combined PDF with your full name and date of submission as the file name (e.g., Jane Doe_12.20.2025.pdf):  

1. Current bio 
2. Portfolio of relevant work 

The combined PDF should be emailed to both Christina Martinkosky, Manager of Historical Preservation, CMartinkosky@CityofFrederickMD.gov and Laila Jadallah, Manager of Arts and Culture, LJadallah@CityofFrederickMD.gov by April 6, 2026, 11:59 PM EST. Files sizes should be no larger than 3MB. 

Proposals will be reviewed by an internal selection committee consisting of representatives from City of Frederick and the African American Resources and Cultural Heritage Society, and a site location will be assigned. After proposals are reviewed and awarded, City staff and project partners are available to discuss the history and significance of the sites to be interpreted and share historic reference materials such as photographs, drawings, and mapping, to ensure that the artwork matches the historic context on the marker and that we are creating a strong visual interpretation of our past. 

Project Timeline

Budget. Each artist invited to submit a proposal will receive a $150 honorarium for their time. Each selected artist will receive a fee of $900 for the artwork commission. The artist will be responsible for professionally photographing the work. If the artwork is digital in nature, the City will coordinate with the artist to receive the file in the required format described above.

Additional Information. At this time, the City does not have the budget to cover travel of selected Artists to Frederick for the unveiling of each marker and the planned related exhibition. The City will notify Artists, if funds become available. 

Artists will retain copyright of the Artwork but must provide permission for the City to reproduce the Artwork for the Historic Markers, related video and for educational and marketing purposes, including a brochure and related website. Agreed upon uses will be outlined in the artist agreement with the City. 

Questions and proposals should be directed to: 

Christina Martinkosky

Manager of Historic Preservation Planning 

Planning Department

CMartinkosky@CityofFrederickMD.gov 

Laila Jadallah

Manager of Arts and Culture

Office of Arts and Culture

LJadallah@CityofFrederickMD.gov