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You will submit this application online using PublicArtist.org.
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| Budget: $90,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Activated: 06/22/2026 Deadline: 08/03/2026 |
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| Call Summary Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment's (ACME) Art in Public Places program (AIPP) seeks to commission one local mid-career professional visual artist or artist-led team to design, fabricate and install a two and/or three-dimensional exterior artwork at the Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754. |
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| Budget Description Funded by the 2018 General Obligation Bond, the Capital Improvement Project features a new pavilion and associated improvements within the AARC Great Lawn. As per City of Austin Ordinance, 2% of capital project costs are set aside to commission public art though the AIPP Program. The total award for the artist contract is $90,000 and is paid over the course of the commission with milestones at community engagement, design, fabrication, installation, and closing. Art in Public Places (AIPP) recommends that selected artists or artist-led teams budget 10% for contingency, and budget the remainder for all other project expenses including but not limited to: insurance, promotion, community engagement, design, all engineering, fabrication, materials, subcontractors, travel, transportation, shipping, permits and installation. |
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| Artwork Goals - A work of art of redeeming quality that advances public understanding of visual art and enhances the aesthetic quality of public places - Conceptualizes a strong overall artwork design approach that integrates with the site and surrounding natural environment - Speaks to and represents the Asian American experience in Austin, Texas, including -- Diaspora, migration -- Belonging, setting roots -- Identity making, Asian American History, and/or local community building - Is easily maintained and vandal resistant in an exterior environment - Is permanent with an expected life span of at least 20 years |
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| Artwork Location Description The final artwork site will be determined in collaboration between the selected artist, City staff, sponsor project design team and the community. Possible locations and/or considerations include: - visibility from the great lawn - open wall space underneath the existing ballroom balcony Placement of artwork must be ADA accessible, not restrict views of the new pavilion, not obstruct use of the lawn, and not impede with critical tree root zones or canopies. |
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| Site History The Asian American Resource Center Pavilion project centers around the development of a multipurpose pavilion that integrates with the existing great lawn. The pavilion is envisioned as a flexible, year-round venue designed to host a variety of small to medium-sized programs and events. Key planned features include a performance area, accessible amenities, and supporting infrastructure for diverse community activities. This project is designed to provide a high-quality, versatile space that meets the diverse needs of its users and emphasizes sustainability. Other nearby and future projects include: Watershed Protection Department’s (WPD) AARC/Rutherford Campus Stormwater Improvement Project which includes two pedestrian bridges, nature trails, nature play area, boardwalk over the pond; and The Little Walnut Creek Urban Trail, a portion of which will be constructed with the WPD project. The Asian American Resource Center does include one existing AIPP artwork: Lotus, 2013, ceramic tile and granite; by Sunyong Chung and Philippe Klinefelter. |
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| Eligibility The City of Austin's AIPP program strives to commission a broad range of artworks which contribute to the current dialogue in the field of visual art. AIPP defines “artist” as an individual recognized by critics and peers as a professional practitioner of serious intent and substantial ability. QUALIFICATIONS: - Austin-based: Visual artists who reside in the seven counties bounding the Austin metro area (Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, and Blanco counties). - Mid-career: Public artists recognized in their field and have a track record of exhibits, engaging communities, and completed projects in the public art realm. Minimum of five relevant completed projects with budgets up to $100,000. - at least 18 years of age. INELIGIBILITY: Artists who have three or more permanent commissions represented in the AIPP public art collection; artists who are currently under an active contract for a permanent AIPP project; and artists who have completed a permanent AIPP project within the past year are not eligible to apply. City of Austin full-time employees, or contractors hired by the sponsor project, are not eligible. |
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| Application Requirements | ||||||||||||||||||
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Resume: 3 page(s) maximum Work examples: 1 - 10 References: 3 |
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Artists are allowed to apply in teams.
Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves. |
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| Additional Requirements | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Selection Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Selection Process A selection panel will review qualifications using evaluation criteria from all artists who met the minimum eligibility requirements. Three voting panelists who are working visual arts professionals provide scores to determine a short-list of applicants to discuss as a group and make the final vote for one artist or artist-led team and one alternate to be recommended for the commission. Additional community representatives and City staff advise the selection process by providing their respective knowledge and expertise about the site, the community, the neighborhood, and the sponsor project, to help select the best candidate for this opportunity. The contracted artist must be able to work with English language speaking staff and documents. |
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| Selection Criteria - Artistic merit, creative capacity, and technical expertise of past work (30%) - Enthusiasm and ability in creating site-specific public artwork and working with local communities (40%) - Demonstrated experience in the field of public art (30%) |
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| Timeline Late Fall 2026 - Selected Artist under contract ETA Late 2028 - Installation complete ETA Artist Information Meetings - Every Tuesday; 10:00am-12:00pm – Virtual Open Office Hours - Friday, July 3, 2026; 6:00-9:00pm – Tabling at Lockhart First Fridays at Spellerberg Projects Gallery: 103 S Main St, Lockhart, TX 78644 - Monday, July 6, 2026; 6:00pm – Presentation at AIPP Panel - Thursday, July 9, 2026; 6:00-8:30pm – Hybrid Workshop at Asian American Resource Center: 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754 - Monday, July 20, 2026; 6:00pm – Presentation at Arts Commission - Tuesday, July 21, 2026; 6:00pm – Presentation at Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission - Saturday, August 1, 2026; 12:00-4:00pm – Tabling at Canopy First Saturday at Almost Real Things: 916 Springdale Rd, Bldg 2 #101, Austin, TX 78702 - Monday, August 3, 2026; 10:00am-4:00pm – Virtual Open Office Hours AIPP staff will present information on the project and answer questions from interested artists. AIPP staff will also review the application procedures. The presented materials, along with Q&A, will be posted to City’s website. Language interpretation may be requested for all Artist Information Meetings at least two business days before the scheduled event. |
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| Additional Resources | ||||||||||||||||||
| www.austintexas.gov/aipp | ||||||||||||||||||
| RFQ - English (PDF) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Contact Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lindsay Hutchens AIPP Coordinator 5202 E Ben White Blvd. Suite 400 Austin TX 78741 United States Lindsay.Hutchens@austintexas.gov 512-974-3788 |
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