The Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, located in Corning, New York, is seeking to hire an experienced mural artist to work with the Museum’s Youth and Visitor Engagement Educator and Corning-Painted Post High School Learning Center (HSLC) students to plan, design, and paint a public mural.
Key Dates
Application Due Date: September 15, 2025
Artist Finalist Interviews: Mid-October, 2025
Artist Notification: November 14, 2025
Artist Agreement Signed by: December 1, 2025
Download full scope and application >>
Project Scope
The artist must have teaching and mural design experience, preferably direct experience working with teens. The artist co-teaches with the Rockwell Educator and Project Manager and takes a leadership role in developing the concept; creating a cohesive mural design that both represents the students’ artwork and honors the artist’s creative ideas. The development of the mural design is a collaborative and creative process that uses a work of art in the Museum’s collection as inspiration and is connected to The Rockwell’s annual theme.
The 2026 annual theme will be Rockwell Re/framed as we embark on celebrating The Rockwell’s 50th anniversary in addition to America’s 250th commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This provides an opportunity to reimagine a work in the collection, re-center the evolving American experience through storytelling, and reframe perspectives as we look to the future.
The selected Teaching Mural Artist is required to: sign a contract with The Rockwell Museum; attend planning meetings (remote as needed); attend 10 weekly mural design classes (remote/hybrid); participate in a mural design unveiling event and reception; paint the mural onsite with students; and attend the community ribbon cutting ceremony in August 2026. This is an eight-month commitment. The teaching artist will be onsite for approximately 10 days in August, and onsite for one mural design class and the student reception (depending on artist location). See Artist Guidelines and Project Dates & Timeline for details.
Program Goals
- Feature youth collaborating with a professional, teaching mural artist
- Complete The Rockwell Museum’s 18th Alley Art Project mural in Corning
- Uplift public art projects and overall community aesthetics in Corning
- Demonstrate the importance of community collaboration: The Rockwell Museum, Teaching Mural Artist, the Southeast Steuben County Library, the High School Learning Center, and the City of Corning
Teaching Mural Artist Guidelines
The artist is responsible for creating a visual framework to allow the vision of the students to be clearly recognized in a professional aesthetic design that fulfills the project goals and complements the building wall. It is essential for the artist to thoughtfully depict and honor the students’ artwork and ideas in the final mural design, while also creating a design that is representative of their own unique vision inspired by The Rockwell’s collection and connection to the featured work of art. Striking a balanced blend of the artist’s original art integrated with the student artwork in the final design is vitally important.
The artist is responsible for creating a preliminary design to share with students for feedback. The artist will then produce a final mural design for submission to the Museum and partners in April 2026 for review and approval. Modifications to the design may be requested. The hired artist must be willing to make adjustments and changes to the design in response to input and feedback from Rockwell’s Executive Director, Education and Curatorial staff, the HSLC, the Southeast Steuben County Library, and the City of Corning for approval.
Once the design is approved by all parties, the artist will work with The Rockwell to complete on-site preparations for painting with students in August. The artist is then responsible for the execution and completion of the mural with students within the given time frame.
About Alley Art Project
The Alley Art Project is a unique educational mural program that connects local students to both The Rockwell collection and their community at large. The Museum has partnered with the Corning-Painted Post High School Learning Center (HSLC) since the program’s inception in 2010, working with youth to beautify public spaces. The program has included many organizations during its lifespan, including the Laura Richardson Houghton Corning Youth Center (2012), and more recently SUNY Corning Community College (2022, 2024). The Alley Art Project embraces start-to-finish, project-based learning initiatives and the idea that public art has the power to bring people together, encourage conversation, and ignite the imagination.
Each mural project is inspired by art in The Rockwell’s collection and enables students to meaningfully contribute to the aesthetics of their community. Students are guided by artists and educators throughout the creative process by questioning ideas relevant to the project theme and selected objects. In a mural design course, students research and study art, learn about symbolism and design, and explore aspects of individual and community identity. This holistic program prioritizes civic engagement, offering students the opportunity to use the arts for exploration and self-expression, fostering safe dialogue, and developing a stronger sense of self. More information >>
Building Location: The 2026 mural will be at the Southeast Steuben County Library, 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza Suite 101, Corning, NY 14830. The mural will be on the North facing façade, a poured concrete wall of the library staff parking lot. This site is adjacent to the downtown Civic Center Plaza, visible from a main thoroughfare, and across from Fallbrook Park. There is a pedestrian walkway to other nearby murals in Corning from past years of the Alley Art Project.
Please submit the following information to Amy Ruza at ruzaa@rockwellmuseum.org to be considered for the 2026 Teaching Mural Artist position for The Rockwell Museum’s Alley Art Project.
For questions or additional information, please contact Amy Ruza by email. Thank you!
- Resume
- Sample images of artwork
- Website URL where you are featured as a muralist and/or social media accounts
- Answers to the following four questions
- Why do you think you would be a good fit for the Teaching Mural Artist position? (200-word limit)
- Please share your background. What inspires you as an artist? (200-word limit)
- What is your experience working with youth on group projects? (200-word limit)
- What are your strengths in community-based project work? (200-word limit)