Local artists urge Merced to revisit mural RFP funding; council asks staff for spending report
Multiple local artists told the council that the two mural RFPs, funded at $10,000 each, underpay labor and risk lowering rates; council members debated pausing the procurement but ultimately directed staff to report on art spending since 2022 and let the RFP process proceed.
The full story
Several artists testified during public comment that the city's current calls for artists — two murals budgeted at $10,000 each — would not cover fair labor, materials and insurance, and could undercut local artists by incentivizing low bids. "Whether you break down insurance, you break down equipment rentals and materials and and all of that, what that labor puts into artists is not enough," Jazz Deashane said during public comment, urging a pause and a review of budgets.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.
Keep reading for free
Create a free account to finish this story and see the video, transcript and key details.
Continue with GoogleContinue with emailAlready have an account? Log in