The City of Rockville will celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with a free, all-ages Pride event on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Rockville Town Square, and is seeking proposals from visual or literary artists to lead a community-engaged art project during the festival.
Per the City of Rockville: “The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. The commemorative month also recognizes the impact LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history—locally, nationally, and internationally.
The City of Rockville has issued proclamations declaring LGBTQ+ Pride Month since June 2017. The city’s Human Rights Commission celebrates Pride Month with the annual Rockville Pride event in June at Rockville Town Square.
Event Info:
Sunday, June 1, 2025
2-5 p.m.
Rockville Town Square
131 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850
The event is free, open to all ages, and wheelchair accessible. For ADA modifications, contact 240-314-8108, TTY 240-314-8137 or Relay 711.
Call for Artists:
2025 Rockville Pride will feature one or more visual or literary artist(s) who will engage with the community during the event to create an interactive artwork celebrating and reflecting LGBTQ+ identities. The resulting artwork will support connection and inclusivity with participants, allowing people to contribute to the art in a meaningful way as the piece evolves throughout the festival.
Individual artists or groups of artists may submit a proposal and LGBTQ+ artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Maximum compensation for this opportunity is $6,000. Proposals will be accepted from individual artists and groups of two more artists working together. Depending on the art project that is selected, the artist or group of artists may take the artwork with them after the festival, or the artwork may be temporarily displayed in the city.
Qualifications
Practicing visual and literary artists who have experience creating art projects with community members are welcome to submit a proposal. A competitive proposal will include:
- Examples of successfully completed community-driven artworks.
- Demonstration of the artist’s ability to create art with people of various artistic skill during a limited timeframe.
- A description and examples of art the artist(s) will create with event attendees during 2025 Rockville Pride and the materials needed to create the art.
- A budget including cost of materials and compensation for the artist’s time.
To Apply
In one pdf attachment, email the following to Anne O’Dell, arts and culture program manager, at [email protected] by close of business, March 28, 2025:
- A resume or CV of each artist involved in submitting the proposal.
- A written description of the proposed project and illustrations or visual examples to support the written description.
- A cover letter answering the following questions:
- What ideas inform how you create art with community members?
- How will you connect with and include people who participate in creating the art during 2025 Rockville Pride?
- Why is 2025 Rockville Pride a festival you want to participate in as an artist?
- A link to an online portfolio of work demonstrating the qualifications of the artist(s) and supporting the proposed project.
Proposals will be reviewed by members of the Human Rights Commission, Cultural Arts Commission, and city staff. Applicants will be notified of whether or not they receive the commission by April 30, 2025.
