IMAGO: A Living Art Experience
Call for Artists / Request for Qualifications & Proposals (RFQ/RFP)
Project Overview
Old Town Greenwood, Inc. / Arts in Old Town, Festival Country Indiana, and Teal Canary / Artist Amy Barile are seeking artists to participate in IMAGO: A Living Art Experience, a public art and field guide experience designed to celebrate creativity, community, placemaking, and exploration throughout Old Town Greenwood.
IMAGO will feature approximately 16 butterfly installations located throughout Old Town Greenwood. Artists will be selected to create original artwork on interchangeable butterfly wing panels that will become part of a larger public art experience. Through an accompanying field guide, visitors will be encouraged to explore locations, discover artists, engage with local businesses, learn about the area's history and culture, and experience public art.
Selected artwork will be displayed on outdoor butterfly installations located on both public and private property.
Project Intent
The goal of IMAGO is to:
• Support local, regional, national and international artists
• Encourage community engagement through public art
• Promote tourism, exploration, and visitation throughout Old Town Greenwood
• Enhance placemaking efforts in Old Town Greenwood
• Create a recognizable and evolving public art experience
• Connect residents and visitors to local businesses, destinations, artists, and community spaces through an interactive field guide experience
The project is intended to be family-friendly, accessible, and welcoming to residents and visitors of all ages.
Artist Opportunities
Artists selected for the project will be assigned one or more butterfly wing sections to design and paint/adorn.
Selected artists will receive:
• Prepared butterfly wing panels
• Design specifications and templates
• Installation handled by project partners
• Professional promotion through project marketing efforts
• Artist recognition through printed and digital materials
• Opportunities to participate in artist talks, public painting events, media opportunities, and community engagement activities associated with the IMAGO project
Artist Compensation
Selected artists will receive $400 per completed adult-sized butterfly wing section (there are four wing sections per butterfly). Each wing section includes both front and back surfaces. The stipend is $200 per completed child-sized wing section.
Artists may be selected for two wing sections (half a butterfly), four wing sections (a full butterfly), or in a rare case eight wing sections (a full adult-sized butterfly and a full kid-sized butterfly), with typical stipends beginning at approximately $800 and increasing based on the number of wing sections assigned. Some supplies will be covered.
Final artist assignments and compensation will be determined following artist selection and project review. Two artists may request to collaborate on a butterfly.
Community-painted wings and collaborative wings may also be included as part of the project.
Artist Eligibility
Open to artists ages 18 and older.
Artists working in a variety of mediums are encouraged to apply, including:
• Painting
• Mixed Media, including adornment with metal, mosaic or whimsical items
• Sculpture/3D
• Graphic Design/Illustration
Artists must be able to complete work within the established project timeline.
We aim to assign some projects to artists residing in Johnson County, while also bringing in talented artists from across the nation or international artists.
Artwork Requirements
Artwork should:
• Be original work created by the applicant
• Be appropriate for public display and viewing by all ages
• Avoid political messaging, advertising, commercial promotion, or divisive subject matter
• Avoid copyrighted material not owned by the artist
• Be durable and suitable for outdoor display
• Reflect the positive and welcoming spirit of the IMAGO project
• Avoid anything created by AI
Artists are encouraged to interpret the IMAGO theme creatively. Artists can create designs of actual butterflies, interpretations of butterfly colors, or do something not butterfly related.
Possible themes may include:
• Transformation
• Nature
• Community
• Growth
• Indiana landscapes
• Local history
• Imagination
• Color and pattern
Submission Requirements
Applicants must submit:
1. Artist resume or biography
2. Five to ten images of previous work
3. Contact Information
4. Concept sketch and/or theme statement
Selection Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a jury panel based on:
• Artistic quality
• Originality
• Public art potential
• Ability to complete work within the project timeline
• Diversity of artistic styles and perspectives
• Contribution to the overall IMAGO experience
Ownership & Rights
Artists retain copyright to their original artwork.
Artists grant project partners permission to photograph, reproduce, and promote the artwork for educational, marketing, tourism, archival, and project-related purposes.
The physical butterfly wing panels and installation structures remain property of the IMAGO project and its owners, including Festival Country Indiana and Old Town Greenwood, Inc.
Timeline
Applications Open: June 8, 2026
Application Deadline: July 6, 2026
Artist Notification: July 20, 2026
Design Approval Deadline: August 3, 2026
Creation Period: August 4 – October 7, 2026
Installation: Beginning August 2026 and continuing as wings are completed and approved.
Project partners reserve the right to adjust dates as needed to accommodate fabrication, installation, weather, and project logistics.
Questions and submissions
Questions regarding IMAGO and artist submissions should be directed to both contacts listed below:
Amy Barile
Teal Canary
Kenneth Kosky
Festival Country Indiana
