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THIS CALL HAS CLOSED. |
| Budget: $300,000 |
| Activated: 11/20/2014 Deadline: 02/09/2015 |
| Call Summary The City of Austin Art in Public Places (AIPP) program of the Cultural Arts Division, Economic Development Department (EDD) seeks exceptional emerging and established artists working in a variety of visual media and artistic approaches for its 2015-17 Pre-Qualified Artist Pool. Selected artists or artist teams from the Pool may be contracted to design and fabricate artwork for eligible Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) of various scopes, timelines, and budgets throughout the City of Austin. Artwork budgets are expected to range from $20,000 to $300,000, and artwork opportunities exist in a variety of public settings and facilities. Artists working in a variety of media will be considered. |
| Budget Description There will be multiple project/commission opportunities through this Pre-Qualified Artist Pool. The funds for public art are derived from 2% of the City of Austin’s contribution to the estimated construction budget for each capital improvement project. The total award for an artist contract must include design, fabrication and installation, including permitting fees, travel and shipping expenses, insurance and other project-related costs. The range of artwork budgets anticipated through the City of Austin’s 5-year CIP Plan (2012-2017) is approximately $20,000 - $300,000. |
| Project Description The purpose of the Pre-Qualified Artist Pool is to provide a streamlined application and selection process for artists interested in being commissioned for public art projects through Austin's Art in Public Places program. The process requires one application from interested artists, and the selection panel convenes once to consider all eligible applications for the Pool. The selection panel recommends artists for the Pool to the Art in Public Places Panel and Arts Commission, who would formally approve the artists selected for the Pool. Program staff and the Art in Public Places Panel are then able to utilize the Pre-Qualified Pool, in whole, or in part, for artwork opportunities. Selecting from the Pool is not an exclusive way for artists to be considered for artwork commission. More details listed under “Selection Process,” below. The list of artists selected for the Pool will also be made publicly available, for consideration by private developers or independent public art commissioning entities, as well. |
| Artwork Goals The Art in Public Places program seeks artists whose work advances public understanding of visual art and enhances the aesthetic quality of public places through innovative and thoughtful design. An artist, or artist team, is expected to design artwork that: » Supports the artwork goals set for the respective CIP project for which the artist or team is chosen; » Reflects a high level of aesthetic and technical quality; » Identifies and considers opportunities for innovation or enhanced civic engagement; » Transform a space or the user experience; » Contributes to a local, regional and national contemporary art dialogue; » Enriches or adds to the depth/breadth of the City of Austin’s public art collection. |
| Artwork Location Description The City of Austin’s 5-Year CIP Plan includes, but is not limited to, construction projects involving the following City departments: Austin Transportation Department (streetscapes, street improvements); Parks and Recreation Department (park and park facility improvements, renovations, and preservation); Public Safety (new facility construction and existing facility expansions and renovations); Health and Human Services Department (new facility construction and existing facility expansions and renovations); Austin Public Library (existing facility expansions and renovations); Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (new construction and expansion); and the Austin Convention Center (existing facility renovations). |
| Site History The Austin Art in Public Places program manages a diverse range of public art projects within the City of Austin. Since the inception of the program in 1985, nearly 200 public artworks have been created in City sites and facilities, including libraries, streetscapes, public safety facilities, parks, pools, recreation centers, trails and bikeways, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the Austin Convention Center. For additional information about the Austin Art in Public Places program, please visit www.austincreates.com. These projects are managed in coordination with City departments who are dedicated to facilitating innovative projects that add meaning and beauty to City facilities and deepen the community experience with civic spaces. The Austin Art in Public Places program anticipates approximately 15 new permanent public art projects to be initiated each year. |
| Eligibility Qualified applicants will have demonstrated experience working with five-figure budgets (at minimum), materials suitable for public indoor or outdoor settings; site-specific design, and collaboration with other artists, design professionals, or community members. Certain projects may also offer opportunities for an artist to work as part of a design team along with the project architect/designer. The City of Austin requests qualifications from professional artists or artist teams who live and work in the United States. Artists from the Austin metropolitan area are encouraged to apply. A professional artist is defined as “a practitioner in the visual arts with an original, self-conceptualized body of work, generally recognized by critics and peers as a professional possessing serious intent and ability.” Only applications submitted through PublicArtist.org will be accepted. |
| Application Requirements |
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Resume: 4 page(s) maximum Work examples: 10 Letter of Interest: 600 word maximum * If applying as a team who is sharing equal responsibility for the commission, please state all team member names in your introductory paragraph. * Describe your interest in working in public art, or what intrigues you about integrating your work into public spaces. * Please explain your previous experience creating public art, including your role(s), responsibilities, etc. • State what materials you most often work with (or are interested in working with) and how these materials might provide long-term (20 years at minimum) compatibility within interior or exterior settings. * Describe any experience in: collaborating with community members, commissioning entities, or other art or design professionals; research/input that might inform your work; or public process/siting of artwork in public spaces. * Additional note for applicants: Please only upload video of artwork which cannot be adequately evaluated through a still photo (i.e., kinetic, time-based, etc.). For all other work, please upload high-quality photos. 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. |
| Selection Information |
| Selection Process Applications must be received online via www.PublicArtist.org no later than 5 pm (CST) on January 30, 2015. Art in Public Places will convene a selection panel (TBD) to evaluate artist qualifications. The selection panel will review the applications, including letter of interest, images of recent and relevant work, resume(s), and other information submitted by applicants. The selection panel will compile a list of recommended artists for the Pool to be approved by the Art in Public Places Panel and Austin Arts Commission. For each individual CIP project artwork opportunity, the Art in Public Places Panel and Arts Commission has several options: They may choose to select an artist directly from the Pool; select a short-list to interview or pay to produce proposals; or invite the artists in the Pool to apply for a limited or open Call to Artists. The selected artist or team will be put under a contract to coordinate with the City and the project’s design team to develop a comprehensive design for artwork. The final design is subject to approval by the Art in Public Places Panel and the Austin Arts Commission and may be subject to review by other relevant City Boards and Commissions and stakeholder groups. The Austin City Council must authorize negotiation of any contract over the established administrative authority. Additional Policies: » The Austin Art in Public Places program has the discretion to disqualify artists whose applications are late or incomplete, and whose applications do not comply with all stated requirements. » The Austin Art in Public Places program reserves the right to decline all submissions, cancel any qualified list at any time, or commission an artist through another process. » Inclusion in the Pre-Qualified Pool does not guarantee a commission. » Additional eligibility criteria may be set for individual project selections. Artists will not be eligible for more than two AIPP projects at any given time. » The Pre-Qualified Pool will be shared with community members, developers, or entities desiring to commission an artist for a public artwork project, and limited information on artists in the Pool may be promoted on the City of Austin or PublicArtist.org websites. » The Austin Art in Public Places program may open the Pool for new applicants every two years or as needed. |
| Selection Criteria In addition to the standard project selection criteria found on the Art in Public Places website (www.austintexas.gov/department/aipp-policies), the selection panel will consider the following evaluation criteria: » Artistic merit and technical expertise; » Demonstrated ability to successfully execute innovative public art projects in a complex design environment; » Demonstrated ability to successfully execute a public art project on time and within budget; and » Expressed interest in creating public artwork. |
| Timeline November 20, 2014 Call to Apply for Pre-Qualified Artist Pool released February 09, 2015 (5 pm, CST) Extended Deadline for application February 2015 Selection panel review of qualifications and recommendation of Pool March 2015 Approval of Pool by AIPP Panel March 2015 Approval of Pool by Arts Commission |
| Additional Resources |
| Contact Information |
| Susan Lambe AIPP Program Administrator Austin TX United States susan.lambe@austintexas.gov 512.974.7852 |
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