BEVERLY HILLS—The Beverly Hills Library is looking for an artist or team of artists with designing a mural for the entryway of the Enchanted Woods Room inside the Beverly Hills Public Library. Those who are interested in applying must submit a proposal and application by Friday, May 16.

No late proposals will be accepted. Interested parties should postmark or deliver proposal materials to: Library Mural Project, City of Beverly Hills c/o Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Canyon News spoke with Heather Sumagaysay, Publicist-Recreationist Specialist for the City of Beverly Hills via email about the new art mural. She indicated that artwork completed and installed for presentation is to be expected by January 31, 2015.

Artists will be notified via mail by June 23, 2014 and anticipated execution of contracts are expected by July 29.   When asked by Canyon News what the Beverly Hills Public Library is hoping will transpire with this new piece of artwork for the already popular library, Sumagaysay replied, “The Beverly Hills Public Library’s new artwork project should complement the value the City places on children, learning and community. Two locations have been selected for public artwork:

-Entryway from the main Children’s Library into the Enchanted Woods Room. A successful RFP response will address the best way to adorn the entryway into this magical room by developing a vision that is original and compelling, yet in keeping with the design of the Children’s Library and the Enchanted Woods Room.

-East wall along the transition passageway that leads from the primary area, designated for the youngest readers to the secondary area, designated to suit the needs of school age children. As the passageway symbolizes the transition from one phase of childhood to another, the artwork could capture this transition.

There is no age requirement for those interested in designing the mural, but Sumagaysay indicated that the reputation and stature of the artist will be taken into consideration when selecting a proposal.

“This is an exciting opportunity for artists to be featured in a historic and prestigious library. For more than 75 years, the Beverly Hills Public Library has served as a premier literary and cultural center for patrons of all ages,” says Nancy Hunt-Coffey, Assistant Director of Community Services forBeverly Hills. “With the recent remodel of our 12,000-square-foot children’s library, the Enchanted Woods Reading Room is an extraordinary place for kids to explore, dream and discover traditions of the past as well as innovations of the future.”

Interested parties must indicate in their proposal all projected costs which include design, travel, materials, installation, protection and insurance. The artist selected to complete the mural will receive $85,000 to develop the original piece of work. A pre-proposal meeting and conference is to be held on Monday, March 10 at 9 a.m.  at the Beverly Hills Public Library Meeting Room South to address questions and provide additional information about requirements for the artwork for the mural.

The children’s area art project is being sponsored by Friends of the Beverly Hills Library; a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping the library’s most needed collections and programs. Those interested in viewing the entire Enchanted Woods Room Art project visit www.FriendsofBHPL.org.

For additional information about the Beverly Hills Public Library, contact Nancy Hunt-Coffey at (310) 288-2220 or nhuntcoffey@beverlyhills.org.