Museum Bid
A museum bid should be a very precise proposal conforming to the exhibit designer's specifications and exhibit number. If the artist is proposing to paint the background of a diorama, for example, that background will have an exhibit graphic number which should always be refereed to, and following this identification, the artist should give a complete description of the work he or she will perform, for example:
FSD.2.2 DIORAMA PAINTING OF SCENE INCLUDING TWO HADROSAURS
I will prepare and submit two black and white, 1" = 1' drawings showing detail and composition of the background painting based on the full sized sculptures to be displayed in this diorama, and utilizing the expertise of the museum's paleontological staff. These pencil drawings will closely follow the exhibit designer's size specifications and the compositions will be based on the placement of the reconstructions. Following approval and acceptance of one of the preliminary sketches, I will complete a 1" = 1' full color sketch for museum approval. This sketch will show to scale, the diorama background exactly as it will appear in full scale and become a photo reference for enlarging to canvas. I will then paint the enlarged scenes directly on the primed canvas surface of the museum walls, and include a varnish finish over the completed painted surface.
FSD.2.3 GLASS DOOR TRANSOM GRAPHIC OF T. REX
I will provide a black and white line drawing of the head of Tyrannosaurus rex in reduced proportion to be scaled up to 4 ft. wide by 2 ft. high and silkscreened by the museum.
FSD.5.2s-b GRAPHIC FOOTPRINTS, TWO ILLUSTRATIONS
I will provide color footprint illustrations in the style of the hadrosaur diorama.
FSD.5.2.a ORNITHOPOD FOOTPRINT
FSD.5.2.b THERAPOD FOOTPRINT
It is important to be precise in your descriptions so the museum can compare what they're getting in your bid to their needs. Often, the exhibit designer will stipulate the museum's exact needs and procedure to be followed by the artist, and simply ask you to fill in a price. In either case, whether you have described the work you will do for the project, or the museum has described the work it would like you to bid on, once the descriptions are listed, you add a bid fee page.
BID FOR SIX GRAPHICS TOTALED:
FSD.2.2
$48,000.00
FSD.2.3
$500.00
FSD.5.2a-b
$950.00
FSD.6.1
$4,500.00
FSD.15.4
$350.00
FSD.18.9
$750.00
TOTAL BID FOR ARTWORK
$55,050.00
Follow your bid fees with this sentence:
Fees quoted are based on specifications of the items listed; if the items change, fees will be adjusted accordingly.
Just as a note:
Because bid proposals are likely to go through many hands; exhibits staff, board members, architects, etc., it's a good idea to number the pages in your proposal and have a cover and dated title page, like:
FOR THE MEDICI DINOSAUR MUSEUM
"HALL OF HADROSAURS EXHIBIT"
OCTOBER 18, 1996