The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, in partnership with Montgomery County, Maryland, announces a new public art mural project located at the intersection of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda, MD. 

Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is currently seeking qualifications from artists who are 18 years of age or older and residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland or Virginia. Artists must have prior experience with large-scale design work and preparing digital files for the vendor who will install the mural. 

Complete Request for Qualifications with Arlington Road specs, project deadlines, requirements, etc.

The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards is a visual art prize produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District that honors artists from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. The annual juried competition awards $14,000 in prize monies to selected artists and features the work of the finalists in a group exhibition.

Carol Trawick established The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards in 2003. Ms. Trawick has served as a community activist for more than 25 years in downtown Bethesda. She is past Chair of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, past Chair of the Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc. and Founder of The Trawick Prize. Additionally, the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation was established in 2007 after the Trawicks sold their successful information technology company.  Awards Best in Show - $10,000 Second Place - $2,000 Third Place - $1,000 Young Artist* - $1,000 *Young Artist whose birthday is after April 30, 1995 may be awarded this prize.   The Jurors will select up to 10 finalists who will be invited to display their work in a group exhibition at Gallery B in downtown Bethesda in September 2025. 

Judges 

The competition will be juried by Shannon Leah Collis, Professor of Art at University of Maryland; Andy Holtin, Department Chair and Professor of Art, American University; and Dr. Massa Lemu, Associate Professor of Art, Sculpture + Extended Media at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Eligibility

• Artwork must have been completed within the last two years.
• Work must be available for the duration of the Awards exhibition in September 2025. Finalists must deliver and pick up artwork to and from Gallery B.
• Artists must be 18 years of age or older and permanent, full-time residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.
• All original 2-D and 3-D fine art including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, fiber art, digital, mixed media and video will be accepted.
• The maximum dimensions should not exceed 96 inches in any direction.
• No reproductions.  All works on paper must be framed to full conservation standards.
• The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District will take 50% commission on pieces sold during the exhibit. Artwork is not required to be for sale at the exhibition.

Application

• Artists will submit images of up to five pieces of original work. 
• An alternative view of each piece is allowed. 
• Artists selected as a semi-finalist will be asked to submit more recent work to be considered.
• Application closes Wednesday, April 30, 2025