Bureaucracy Mural

Theme: Fictional Weather Bureau / Institutional Mythology / Ceremonial Office Iconography
Location: Somerville, MA
Eligibility: Somerville-based artists preferred; open to New England
Mural Size: 10 feet wide × 4 feet tall (interior wall)
Budget: $3,000–$5,000 all-in

About Midnight Mansion and Edge of Elsewhere

Midnight Mansion creates immersive, narrative-driven environments that blend art, technology, and physical space.

Edge of Elsewhere is an indoor immersive venue inviting visitors to explore themed environments and interact with installation elements. The mural will live inside this environment and contribute directly to the atmosphere and identity of the space.

Project Overview

We are commissioning an original 10’ Wide x 4’ Tall mural for an interior wall inside Edge of Elsewhere, located in Somerville, MA.

This piece will live within a district centered around a fictional bureaucracy in which office workers determine the weather for the entire world. In this imagined system, every rain droplet, cloud formation, and ray of sunlight is carefully designed, approved, and placed through process and paperwork.

We’re drawn to work that hints at procedural grandeur and a kind of internal mythology, but we’re completely open to a wide range of interpretations. Whether the piece feels official, absurd, symbolic, restrained, or something entirely unexpected, it should feel cohesive and remain legible from both close and mid-range viewing distances.

Because this mural will exist in an immersive exhibition, it must be highly durable, properly sealed, and suitable for long-term display. While the work does not need to be weatherproof, it should be finished and protected to withstand consistent public presence.

Budget

The total budget for this project is $3,000–$5,000, inclusive of:

Artist fee
Design and revisions
Materials and supplies
On-site execution and finishing

Scope of Work

Initial concept and rough sketch aligned with the theme
One to two rounds of design refinement
On-site mural execution
Sealing and finishing for durability
Coordination with Midnight Mansion for on-site access, scheduling, and other constraints

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

Artistic quality and strength of visual voice
Interpretation of the fictional weather-bureaucracy theme
Quality of past work
Feasibility within the stated budget and timeline

Submission Requirements

Please submit the following as a single PDF or a set of links:

Short artist bio (1–2 paragraphs)
Portfolio samples (murals or large-scale work if available)
A brief concept sketch or written idea responding to the theme
A short note on materials and approach
An estimated timeline

How to Apply

Send submissions and questions to art@midnightmansion.com
Subject line: Bureaucracy Mural Proposal