My Response to Being Asked to Paint a Mural for Free

Dear Interested Organization:

Thank you for your interest in my work, I’m excited about this project and working with you in support of your organization’s mission and the Erie community at large. I even have a vision for this project based on the information provided to me during our meeting. I am also able to make time for this project.  However, based on the number of volunteer projects I’ve already taken on and those I’m still committed to; the time, energy, and resources it takes to see each project through; and the adverse consequence to the careers of other artists who can’t make a living in part because they are also expected to work without payment,  I can’t commit to working for free.  I invite you to consider the alternatives to asking me and other artists to work for free, including the following: 

• Explore crowd funding
• Seek sponsors
• Pursue grant funding
• Conduct Small Fundraisers
• Offers of Donations in kind
  • Formal letter required
• Teaching artist residency
  • I am a teaching artist with Erie Arts and Culture. Erie arts & Culture will pay a portion of my fee to teach a community residency. I am always willing to turn a mural project into a teaching artist residency, where, in addition to rendering a mural, I simultaneously teach the mural making process to the community involved.

These are all pathways forward that I’m willing to discuss with you at our next meeting.
 
Respectfully,

Antonio Howard
Community Muralist