|
THIS CALL HAS CLOSED. |
| Budget: $105,000 |
| Activated: 03/19/2015 Deadline: 05/21/2015 |
| Call Summary The City of Austin Art in Public Places (AIPP) program of the Cultural Arts Division, Economic Development Department, seeks to commission a professional visual artist or artist team to design and create a permanent exterior public artwork for Republic Square Park. The City of Austin will request qualifications from professional visual artists who live and work in Texas. One artist, or artist team, and one alternate will be recommended for the project. The selected artist or artist team will be awarded a design/commission contract. The total design, fabrication and installation budget available for artwork is $105,000. |
| Budget Description The funds for this project are derived from the 2% for public art portion of eligible construction budgets. The total award for an artist contract is $105,000, inclusive of design, fabrication, and installation, including permitting fees, travel and shipping expenses, insurance, and other project related costs. |
| Project Description Beginning in early 2012, the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) contracted with the design firm Design Workshop for the development of a Master Plan for Republic Square. The planning process included extensive public and stakeholder engagement, which include the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA), the Austin Parks Foundation (APF), and representative from the Republic Square Partners Group. Upon the adoption of the Master Plan, the City of Austin began the process of negotiating a Parkland Improvement, Management, and Operations Agreement with APF and DAA. The agreement outlines the operation and management roles of APF, DAA, and PARD. APF is responsible for design and construction of the park and for helping to raise the remaining funds needed to build the park. Once the park is complete, DAA will be responsible for the day to day maintenance, operations and programming of the park. PARD will provide baseline services such as mowing and trash removal, and continue to oversee the partnership agreement in the public interest. More information on the Master Plan can be found at http://www.austintexas.gov/department/parks-and-recreation/projects. |
| Artwork Goals The AIPP program seeks to commis¬sion works of art of redeeming quality that advance public understanding of visual art and enhance the aesthetic quality of public places through the selection of a qualified artist who can creatively and thoughtfully design with the context of this project. For the Republic Square project, the AIPP program seeks to commission contemporary works of art that exemplifies the objectives of the Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Austin through the following goals: » Responds to the historical and cultural significance of Republic Square Park; » Complements the goals of the Republic Square Master Plan; » Contributes to a family-friendly experience of the park; » Creates a vibrant and contemporary artwork that lends identity to the park; » Presents low maintenance needs through the use of appropriate and durable materials. |
| Artwork Location Description The historical context of Republic Square Park, which was the center of a thriving Mexican community for fifty years beginning in 1880, may influence the artwork with attention given to identifying and collecting local history, oral histories, and stories of the park. The artist may work with archives at the Austin History Center that reveal significant Mexican and Mexican-American sites and events that took place along this portion of 5th Street. Permanent physical objects cannot infringe upon the main lawn area, market area, deck area or arc promenade, which are intended to remain open and flexible to accommodate everyday use, events and programs. Consideration must be given to not encroach on the critical root zones of trees. Artwork could enhance planned design elements in the park (such as benches, walls, paving, etc.) or could be proposed as a separate work or series of works that meet the goals of the project and tie in with the overall plan of the park. The diverse uses of the park allow for a large variety of Austin residents and visitors to enjoy the various aspects of the park. Community events, programming, farmers’ markets, neighborhood dog walking, socializing, recreation, and other activities draw participants from a range of backgrounds including individuals of all ages. The artist must consider how the artwork will be integrated into this context and how stakeholders’ input might inform his or her design process. |
| Site History The area around what is now called Republic Square was a hub of the Mexican American community in the early 20th century. Previous names for Republic Square have been: “Public Square” (1840’s), Hemphill Square” (1910’s), “Chili Park” (1920’s), and “Mexican Park” (1930’s). The park fell into disrepair and was used as a parking lot from 1950 to 1974. It was restored and re-dedicated as Republic Square during the 1976 American Bicentennial as a community park. Now, the use of the park includes community events, farmers market, movies in the park, and annual historical events. More information on the park can be found at http://www.austintexas.gov/blog/june-park-month-republic-square-park. |
| Eligibility Professional visual artists at least 18 years of age who live and work in Texas are eligible to apply. Full-time, permanent City of Austin employees including employees of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Economic Development Department, and project consultants and their employees and sub-consultants are ineligible to apply. Artists who currently have one active contract with the Art in Public Places program or who have more than two permanent works in the AIPP Collection are ineligible to apply. |
| Application Requirements |
|
Resume: 3 page(s) maximum Work examples: 10 Letter of Interest: 600 word maximum In your letter of interest, please describe what excites you about this project; any relevant creative experience which makes you a successful candidate; and your preliminary thoughts (not a proposal) on how you might approach this opportunity within the stated parameters, budget, and goals. If you are applying as an artist team, please name all members in your introductory paragraph. References: 3 |
|
Artists are allowed to apply in teams.
Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves. |
| Selection Information |
| Selection Process A Request for Qualifications will be solicited from eligible professional visual artists. Applications must be submitted through www.PublicArtist.org by the deadline. The City of Austin Art in Public Places Panel will convene a Selection Panel to evaluate the submissions. The selection panel and advisors shall review qualifications and may select three finalists for interviews. The selection panel and advisors shall convene for interviews and select one artist/artist team and one alternate. This recommendation will be presented to the Art in Public Places Panel and Arts Commission for approval. City Council must authorize negotiation of the contract. The approved artist(s) will be put under a design and commission contract to coordinate with the City and project team to develop a final design, which is subject to approval by the AIPP Panel and the Austin Arts Commission prior to fabrication and installation. |
| Selection Criteria The selection of an artist or art team shall be based on whose qualifications best meet the requirements contained in this Project Outline. In addition to the standard AIPP project selection criteria found on the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places website, (http://www.austintexas.gov/aipp/selectioncriteria.htm), the Selection Panel will review and consider the following evaluation criteria: » Artistic merit and technical expertise; » Demonstrated successful, innovative and effective approach to public art projects of a similar scope; » Ability to successfully execute a public art project; and » A willingness, interest and ability to design a work of art in the context of a public park. |
| Timeline Tentative Schedule (subject to change) March 2, 2015 Presented to AIPP Panel for approval March 16, 2015 Presented to Arts Commission for approval March 19, 2015 Request for Qualifications (RFQ) released April 16, 2015 Artist Information Meeting May 21, 2015 Deadline for RFQ submission Design Development starts June 2015 Selection Committee review of submissions and selection of finalist and alternate July 6, 2015 Approval of Artist and Alternate by AIPP Panel July 20, 2015 Approval of Artist and Alternate by Arts Commission August 2015 Approval of Artist and Alternate by City Council Artist under contract November 2015 Mid-Design review March 2016 Final-Design approval May 2016 Construction begins Fall 2016 to spring 2017 Artwork installation |
| Additional Resources |
| www.austincreates.com |
| Unnamed Resource (PDF) |
| Contact Information |
| Bryana Iglesias Art in Public Places Coordinator P. O. Box 1088 Austin TX 78767 United States Bryana.Iglesias@austintexas.gov 512-974-7841 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
