THIS CALL HAS CLOSED.

Budget: $70,000

Activated: 11/06/2023 Deadline: 12/19/2023

Call Summary The City of Austin Art in Public Places program (AIPP) seeks to commission a professional visual artist or artist-led team, to design and fabricate an exterior installation as a place for reflection, peace and restoration integrated within the secured lawn area of the site.

Budget Description The total budget allocated for this opportunity is approximately $70,000. This amount is inclusive of all artists’ design fees, engineering, permitting, machining and fabrication, transportation, installation, travel, shipping expenses, insurance, and other artwork project-related costs.

Project Description The goal of the City of Austin Family Violence Shelter and Protection Center project is to integrate the visions of the key project stakeholders into a functional and well-designed facility that meets the urgent need to provide additional shelter for women and children experiencing family violence in Central Texas. The design for the building will integrate principles of Trauma-informed Design to foster healing and improve the overall well-being of the individuals being served.

Artwork Goals One or more Austin-based artists will have the opportunity to create an artwork installation situated within the exterior lawn area inside the secure perimeter of the site. The ultimate artwork experience could be a graceful statement that informs or reflects the landscape as an intentionally designed calming space. Aesthetic elements should contribute to feelings of emotional safety, hope and comfort. Functional elements may include a walkable and ADA compliant pathway, spaces to sit and to lie down, with access to shade and open sky. The final installation must be accessible and inviting to diverse users presenting multiple perspectives with unobstructed views of nature, varied lighting (natural and artificial), visual simplicity, safety, security and privacy.

Artwork Location Description The site of the Shelter & Center is a former Super 8 Motel located in central Austin. Renovations consist of repairs and retrofits addressing various existing building and site deficiencies as well as enhancements of spaces that facilitate the conversion of the hotel-to-shelter for women and children experiencing family violence. According to statistics provided by the SAFE Alliance, there were 2,105 confirmed cases of child abuse in Travis County in 2015-2016. While these statics are not current as of 2023, statistics available from other resources such as National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) stating that on average nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, indicating that the cycle of violence continues to be an urgent issue.

Eligibility ELIGIBILITY The City of Austin AIPP program strives to commission a broad range of artworks which contribute to the current dialogue in the field of visual art by broadly awarding commissions among local, state and national artists. AIPP defines artist as an individual recognized by critics and peers as a professional practitioner of serious intent and substantial ability in the visual, performing, or literary art. Austin-area artists and makers skilled in creating sculptural work encouraged to apply. Experience creating 3-dimensional permanent artwork in materials suitable for exterior environments is a requirement. Only one commission will be awarded for this opportunity. This opportunity is limited to Austin-based visual artists who reside in the seven counties bounding the Austin metro area (Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, and Blanco counties) and who are at least 18 years of age. Applicants not meeting these eligibility requirements will be withdrawn from consideration. INELIGIBILITY Design professionals, including architects who do not have a consistent visual art practice are ineligible to apply as team leads, but may be a part of an artist-led team. Artists who have more than three permanent artworks represented in the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places public art collection; artists who currently are under contract with the City of Austin for a permanent Art in Public Places project; and artists who have completed an AIPP project within the past year are ineligible to apply. Artists living outside of the Austin-area as defined above are ineligible for this opportunity. City of Austin full-time employees, architects, designers or contractors employed by the project’s consulting firm are ineligible.

Application Requirements

Resume: 2 page(s) maximum Work examples: 1 - 10 References: 3

Artists are allowed to apply in teams. Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves.

Additional Requirements

Demographics Survey: Communities Demographics Survey: Gender Demographics Survey: Pronouns Demographics Survey: Race and Ethnicity Demographics Survey: Veteran Status Short Answer Question 1 Text Short Answer Question 2 Text Short Answer Question 3 Text

Selection Information

Selection Process A five-member selection panel comprised of visual arts professionals and community representatives will review all eligible submissions. Three artist(s) or artist-led teams may be shortlisted, invited to interview and submit a proposal for a fee of $500. The selection panel reserves the right to recommend one or more artists and one or more alternate artists at the time of the initial review.

Selection Criteria The panel will evaluate applications based on the following criteria: - Technical quality and aesthetic appeal of past work - Dedicated and consistent artistic practice - Authenticity, creativity and innovation of work as presented - Communication of ideas and intentions - Experience with public art projects of a similar size and scope

Timeline Virtual Information Meeting - November 15, 2023; 6:00pm Submission deadline - December 19, 2023

Additional Resources

https://www.austintexas.gov/aipp

Request For Qualifications - English (PDF)

Convocatoria de Artistas - Español (PDF)

Contact Information

Lindsay Hutchens Project Manager 5202 E Ben White Blvd. Suite 400 Austin TX 78741 United States Lindsay.Hutchens@austintexas.gov 5129748706