REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
2026 Runnemede Centennial Mural Project
Issued by: Borough of Runnemede, NJ
In partnership with: Reimagine Runnemede
RFQ Release Date: February 15, 2026
Qualifications Due: March 13, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
Finalists Notified: March 20, 2026
Design Proposals Due: April 20, 2026
Public Design Reveal: April 24, 2026 (Centennial Day)
1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Borough of Runnemede, in partnership with Reimagine Runnemede, is seeking qualifications from professional mural artists or artist teams for the design and execution of a large-scale public mural commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Borough of Runnemede (1926–2026).
The mural will serve as a permanent civic landmark celebrating Runnemede’s past, present, and future, reflecting the community’s history, identity, and aspirations. The project is intended to be highly visible, durable, and accessible to the public.
2. PROJECT LOCATION (SEE IMAGE GALLERY BELOW)
The site for the mural is a highly visible wall associated with the Borough’s municipal facilities at:
Borough of Runnemede
24 N. Black Horse Pike
Runnemede, NJ 08078
Artists are asked to consider design strategies that maximize visibility from key approaches along the Black Horse Pike corridor and surrounding routes. (See photos above)
3. PROJECT FUNDING
A specific dollar budget is not listed at the RFQ stage. Final project funding is anticipated to be secured through a combination of grants, Borough support, and private sponsorship. This project is intended to be a professionally funded public art commission.
Shortlisted artists will be invited to submit a paid design proposal. At that time, detailed scope and budget parameters will be shared. Final artist compensation and project costs will be negotiated based on the selected proposal, available funding, and project requirements.
The overall project funding is expected to support:
4. PROJECT TIMELINE (ANTICIPATED)
The mural should interpret the theme:
“Runnemede: Past, Present, and Future”
Artists may draw inspiration from:
6. MATERIALS & PROCESS
The Borough and Reimagine Runnemede prefer the mural to be executed using a parachute cloth (polytab) mural process, which offers:
7. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement is an important component of this project. The selected artist may be asked to:
8. ELIGIBILITY
This RFQ is open to:
Applicants must submit the following materials in PDF format:
Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee based on:
This RFQ is a qualifications-based process. Shortlisted artists may be invited to submit a paid design proposal at a later stage.
The Borough of Runnemede reserves the right to:
Deadline: March 13, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
Reimagine Runnemede will manage the collection and collation of submissions on behalf of the Borough of Runnemede.
To submit, CLICK HERE or click the button below. A Google Form will open in a new window. No Google account? No problem, you can submit a pdf to the email below.
Contact for Questions / Submissions: [email protected]
13. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Borough of Runnemede is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages submissions from artists of all backgrounds.
2026 Runnemede Centennial Mural Project
Issued by: Borough of Runnemede, NJ
In partnership with: Reimagine Runnemede
RFQ Release Date: February 15, 2026
Qualifications Due: March 13, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
Finalists Notified: March 20, 2026
Design Proposals Due: April 20, 2026
Public Design Reveal: April 24, 2026 (Centennial Day)
1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Borough of Runnemede, in partnership with Reimagine Runnemede, is seeking qualifications from professional mural artists or artist teams for the design and execution of a large-scale public mural commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Borough of Runnemede (1926–2026).
The mural will serve as a permanent civic landmark celebrating Runnemede’s past, present, and future, reflecting the community’s history, identity, and aspirations. The project is intended to be highly visible, durable, and accessible to the public.
2. PROJECT LOCATION (SEE IMAGE GALLERY BELOW)
The site for the mural is a highly visible wall associated with the Borough’s municipal facilities at:
Borough of Runnemede
24 N. Black Horse Pike
Runnemede, NJ 08078
Artists are asked to consider design strategies that maximize visibility from key approaches along the Black Horse Pike corridor and surrounding routes. (See photos above)
3. PROJECT FUNDING
A specific dollar budget is not listed at the RFQ stage. Final project funding is anticipated to be secured through a combination of grants, Borough support, and private sponsorship. This project is intended to be a professionally funded public art commission.
Shortlisted artists will be invited to submit a paid design proposal. At that time, detailed scope and budget parameters will be shared. Final artist compensation and project costs will be negotiated based on the selected proposal, available funding, and project requirements.
The overall project funding is expected to support:
- Artist design fees
- Artist labor
- Materials and fabrication
- Surface preparation and installation
- Community engagement activities (if applicable)
- Protective coatings and finishing
4. PROJECT TIMELINE (ANTICIPATED)
- RFQ Issued: February 15, 2026
- RFQ Closes: March 13, 2026
- Finalists Notified: March 20, 2026
- Proposals due (finalists): April 20, 2026
- Design exhibition and voting opens: April 24, 2026 (Centennial Day)
- Final design reveal: May 9, 2026 (Centennial Pike Jam)
- Installation Completion & Unveiling: September 2026
The mural should interpret the theme:
“Runnemede: Past, Present, and Future”
Artists may draw inspiration from:
- Local history and archival material, including The History of Runnemede by William W. Leap – available at the Runnemede Public Library
- Significant people, places, industries, and traditions
- Contemporary community life
- Aspirational imagery reflecting Runnemede’s future
6. MATERIALS & PROCESS
The Borough and Reimagine Runnemede prefer the mural to be executed using a parachute cloth (polytab) mural process, which offers:
- Enhanced durability
- Improved quality control
- Faster installation
- Reduced long-term maintenance
- Flexibility for community participation
7. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement is an important component of this project. The selected artist may be asked to:
- Participate in a public design presentation
- Facilitate one or more community paint days, if appropriate to the design
- Engage residents of varying ages and abilities
8. ELIGIBILITY
This RFQ is open to:
- Professional mural artists or artist teams
- Artists with demonstrated experience in large-scale public art projects
- Enter into a contract with the Borough of Runnemede
- Provide proof of insurance
- Comply with all local, state, and federal regulations
Applicants must submit the following materials in PDF format:
- Letter of Interest (brief statement describing interest in the project and relevant experience)
- Artist Resume(s) (including public art experience and qualifications)
- Portfolio (6–10 images of completed public murals or large-scale works; include title, location, year, medium, dimensions, and client)
- Statement of Approach (how the artist would approach a project of this scale and theme; experience with parachute cloth or comparable processes; experience with community engagement)
- References (at least two professional references for similar projects)
Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee based on:
- Artistic quality and professional excellence
- Demonstrated experience with large-scale public murals
- Ability to interpret historical and community-based themes
- Experience working collaboratively with municipalities and community groups
- Feasibility relative to project timeline and requirements
This RFQ is a qualifications-based process. Shortlisted artists may be invited to submit a paid design proposal at a later stage.
The Borough of Runnemede reserves the right to:
- Reject any or all submissions
- Request additional information
- Modify the project scope or timeline
Deadline: March 13, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
Reimagine Runnemede will manage the collection and collation of submissions on behalf of the Borough of Runnemede.
To submit, CLICK HERE or click the button below. A Google Form will open in a new window. No Google account? No problem, you can submit a pdf to the email below.
Contact for Questions / Submissions: [email protected]
13. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Borough of Runnemede is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages submissions from artists of all backgrounds.
Mural Site Reference Photos of the mural wall are provided above to help artists understand the architecture, scale, and visibility of the site.
The building address is 24 N. Black Horse Pike, but the mural wall faces Clements Bridge Road.
The building address is 24 N. Black Horse Pike, but the mural wall faces Clements Bridge Road.