CALL FOR ARTISTS
 
Keys to Chelsea: A Chick Corea Mural Project under the Tobin Bridge 

Issued by the City of Chelsea Department of Housing and Community Development 
In Partnership with the 2025-2026 Making it Public Program 
Supported in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) 

Release Date: January 28, 2026

Application Deadline: March 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM 
 
PURPOSE

The City of Chelsea seeks proposals from artists or teams to design and install a vibrant mural beneath the Tobin Bridge. This project honors jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea—a Chelsea native—and launches a broader initiative to revitalize underused public spaces. The mural aims to transform the Everett Avenue underpass into an engaging civic gateway, celebrate community identity, and foster pride grounded in Chelsea’s rich cultural and immigrant history.

Public Purpose: This artwork will support and stimulate community engagement, belonging, and creative activity among Chelsea’s residents and visitors. The City’s goal is to use public art to strengthen local identity, foster cross-cultural exchange, and help residents feel connected to their public spaces.

THEME
 
Chick Corea: A Chelsea Legend 

The mural will celebrate the life and legacy of Chick Corea, the internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and composer who was born and raised in Chelsea. Corea grew up in a home that once stood directly beside the current mural site, now a surface parking lot, making this location especially meaningful for honoring his memory. Proposed murals should express themes of innovation, excellence, diversity, and pride, reflecting both Corea’s story and Chelsea’s vibrant character.

 

BACKGROUND 

 

Chelsea is a small but dynamic city located just across the Mystic River from Boston. Despite its modest size, it is one of the most densely populated communities in Massachusetts, known for its cultural richness and resilience. More than two-thirds of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, with strong roots from Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, alongside immigrant communities from around the world. This diversity is reflected in Chelsea’s languages, traditions, food, and daily life. 

The City has a long history as a gateway city, welcoming generations of newcomers who contribute to the workforce, build businesses, and shape the community. Its industrial and working-class heritage continues to influence the built environment, with warehouses, factories, and infrastructure corridors forming much of the city’s landscape. At the same time, Chelsea has invested in reclaiming and transforming these spaces for public use, with new parks, walking trails, and public art projects helping residents feel more connected to their city. 

 

The arts have played an important role in Chelsea’s civic and community life. Public murals, cultural festivals, and creative placemaking projects bring people together to celebrate local identity and history. In recent years, the city has expanded opportunities for artists and community members to collaborate on projects that transform underutilized spaces into places of beauty, creativity, and welcome. 

 

ABOUT THE WALL 

 

The mural will be installed on a large retaining wall under the Tobin Bridge on Everett Avenue, between Chestnut Street and Walnut Street. This site serves as a key gateway with significant pedestrian and vehicular traffic connecting Chelsea to Boston and neighboring communities. 

 

The wall measures approximately 50 feet wide by 13 feet high and was recently repaired by MassDOT. The previously featured mural was damaged during the repair work and will now be replaced with this new artwork honoring Chick Corea.
 

Note: For a detailed view of the mural site and wall dimensions, please see the site images on page 7. 
 

 

WHO CAN APPLY 

All U.S.-based artists or teams, 18+ years old, are eligible.

Preference to those with demonstrated connection to Chelsea or similar immigrant, working-class, or environmental justice communities. Diverse and emerging artists are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

SELECTION 

A committee of City staff, community members, and arts professionals will review all applications. Outside expertise may be consulted to ensure breadth of perspective.

Selection criteria emphasize the public purpose and community benefit:

• Artistic vision: A clear, creative approach

• Public purpose: Does the proposal support or stimulate civic engagement, cultural pride, and/or cross-cultural exchange for Chelsea?

• Community relevance: Honors Chick Corea’s legacy and Chelsea’s identities and cultures

• Feasibility: Demonstrated ability to complete the project by June 30, 2026, within a $12,000 budget

• Experience: Large-scale/community-based art preferred, but emerging artists are welcome

 

AWARD
 

A single artist or artist team will receive $12,000, which must cover all project-related costs including artist fees, materials, insurance, travel, and installation.
 

The City of Chelsea will enter into a grant agreement with the selected applicant. Final design and execution are contingent upon MassDOT review and approval. Please refer to the copyright and ownership agreement detailed in the Copyright section on page 6 for important legal information regarding intellectual property rights. 

 
TIMELINE

• Call Released: January 26, 2026

• Info Sessions:

  • Virtual on Thursday, February 12 at 6 PM (Join here)

  • In-person on Tuesday, February 17 at 6 PM at Mural Site

• Deadline for Questions: February 19, 2026

• Application Due: March 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM  

• Selection Announced: March 2026

• Grant Agreement Finalized: April 2026

• Project Kick Off Meeting: TBD

• Start Date: Pending MassDOT approval of design 

• Mural Completed By: June 30, 2026  

 

HOW TO APPLY

Deadline: March 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET

Submit your application via:  

https://tinyurl.com/Bridge2Chelsea

Or get a printed copy and submit completed application at 

Chelsea City Hall

Housing & Community Development Department 

500 Broadway 
Rm 101 
Chelsea MA, 02150
 

 
REQUIRED MATERIALS
 

Artist information 
 

• Contact information: Artist name and contact information—phone number, email address and mailing address. Team applications should identify primary contact for the team.
   

• Artist/Artist Team Experience. The following materials should speak to artist/artist team’s experience with 

• painting large-scale murals of similar dimensions and

• working with site-specific themes to create visually impactful murals that reflect the characteristics of a place. 
   

• Resume/CV (2 page max) and/or short bio (two paragraphs). Team applications should provide brief bios of team members. 
   

• Work samples. Attach 3-5 images of applicant’s related work with descriptions that include: title, year, medium and size. (Digital Portfolio can be used)  
   

• Optional: Letter of Support. Particularly from someone who can speak to artist/artist team’s experience and readiness to execute this project 
   

• Optional: Artist(s)’ digital portfolio. If available, provide links to the artist's website, portfolio, Instagram, or social media platform. 
   

PROJECT CONCEPT
 

Project Description (no more than 2 pages): 
 

Be sure to include information regarding medium and dimensions, and describe how your design concept will meet the following selection criteria: 
 

1. Theme: Reflects the community and place of Chelsea, MA, and highlights Jazz musician Chick Corea’s, and connection to Chelsea. 
    

2. Conceptual Rendering: Sketch or conceptual drawing of your project concept. 
    

3. Project Budget: Please provide a preliminary project budget and budget description for the proposed concepts.   
    
   Note: Mural may interpret Chick Corea’s legacy in abstract or symbolic form; a literal portrait is not required.
    

If selected, final design will be developed in collaboration with City staff and subject to MassDOT approval. 

COPYRIGHT 
 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) requires that all murals or other artworks installed on MassDOT-owned property be treated as works-for-hire, meaning the artist or sponsoring organization must transfer full ownership and copyright of the completed work to MassDOT. Upon approval of a State Highway Access Permit (SHAP), the artist formally waives all intellectual property rights, including those protected by the Massachusetts Art Preservation Act (M.G.L. c.231 § 85S) and the federal Visual Artists Rights Act (17 U.S.C. § 106A). Although MassDOT assumes exclusive ownership, it will provide proper credit to the artist and grant them a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license to use images or reproductions of the mural for any purpose. This policy ensures that MassDOT retains full control over the display, maintenance, modification, relocation, or removal of the artwork, with no guarantee of permanence or preservation. 
 

LEARN MORE 
 

You can contact: 

• Omar Miranda – Civic Design Strategist 
  omiranda@chelseama.gov 
  617-466-4198 
   

• Delia Harrington – Manager of Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy
  dharrington@chelseama.gov
  617-466-4103

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SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
 

• Site images and mural dimensions 

• The current mural has been damaged/removed due to repairs to the bridge. Images are pre-MassDOT work as they are still working on the site.  

• Permitting resources:

  • Visit https://www.chelseama.gov/community/online_services.php 

• Background on Chick Corea 
   

Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea (1941–2021) was a groundbreaking jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader whose creativity reshaped the trajectory of modern music. He began playing piano at the age of four, drawing inspiration from both jazz pioneers such as Horace Silver and Bud Powell and classical composers like Mozart and Beethoven. 

Corea distinguished himself early in his career by performing with legends including Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Blue Mitchell, Herbie Mann, and Stan Getz, before establishing his voice with the landmark album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (1968). His collaboration with Miles Davis was a pivotal moment in jazz history, helping define the sound of the fusion era. As the founder of influential ensembles such as Return to Forever and the Elektric Band, Corea’s music transcended boundaries, spanning acoustic jazz, electric fusion, Latin, classical, and experimental forms. 

Throughout his career, Chick Corea earned 27 Grammy Awards, cementing his place as one of the most celebrated musicians of his generation. Beloved compositions such as Spain, 500 Miles High, La Fiesta, and Windows continue to inspire audiences worldwide. Until his passing in 2021, Corea remained a tireless creator, mentor, and innovator — leaving behind a legacy that continues to uplift musicians and communities across the globe.