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You will submit this application online using PublicArtist.org.
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| Budget: $625,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Activated: 09/24/2024 Deadline: 10/22/2024 |
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| Call Summary The City of Austin Art in Public Places program (AIPP) of the Cultural Arts Division, Economic Development Department (EDD) seeks to commission one professional visual artist or artist-led team to design, fabricate and install an exterior artwork at Red Bud Isle at 3401 Redbud Trail, Austin, TX 78746. |
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| Budget Description Funded by 2018 voter-approved bonds, the Capital Improvement Project features the replacement of the existing bridge at Redbud Trail over Lady Bird Lake. As per City of Austin Ordinance 2% of the estimated construction budget is set aside for the commissioning of public art though the AIPP Program. The total award for the artist contract is $625,000, and is paid over the course of the commission with milestones at community engagement, design, fabrication, installation, and closing. AIPP recommends that selected artists or artist-led teams budget 20% for their artist design fee, 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 • Links together the varied historical stories about the island including the nearby dam, the flooding, and the current use of the site as a dog park • Creates a peaceful, calm and serene setting for visitors of all ages and species • Integrates with surrounding rocks, trees, water, foliage, fish, biodiversity and all the beautiful natural surroundings • Is accessible physically and conceptually by visitors of all ages and abilities to the park • 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 community stated a preference for artwork inspired by the history and nature of the site. Artists familiar with local ecology and/or the Red Bud Isle user community are highly encouraged to apply. Artwork may be considered for the bridge itself, however artwork may not pose any obstructions that block views of the water, impacts sight distance, interferes with pedestrian and vehicle activity, or the utility grate. The final artwork site will be determined in collaboration between the selected artist, City staff, and the community. |
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| Site History Red Bud Isle is located off Redbud Trail between Lake Austin Blvd. and Stratford Dr. Red Bud Isle was?formed in 1900 by the catastrophic collapse of the Great Granite Dam that contained Lake McDonald (now known as Lake Austin), killing several dozen people. Nearby is Tom Miller Dam that forms Lake Austin, the city’s primary source for drinking water. In 1940, the LCRA completed the dam as part of the Highland Lakes system, designed to manage floodwaters and bring electricity to the Texas Hill Country. Previous attempts to control the extreme flows of the Colorado had failed. In both 1900 and 1915 previous dams were devastated by floods. Granite boulders from those structures can still be found on Red Bud Isle. The Redbud Trail Bridge Project has been years in the making and is the result of increasing strains on the bridge due to flooding, population growth, the number of vehicles on the road and heightened use. The bridge, built in 1948, does not meet current roadway standards for traffic volume, bicycle and pedestrian amenities. The bridge is also nearing the end of its operational life. The new bridge will handle current traffic requirements, and provide enhanced multi-modal transportation options such as bicycle and pedestrian access. Construction of the new bridge is designed to handle current-day loading conditions, increasing vehicular traffic, and increased safety and multi-modal transportation options for bicyclists and pedestrians. |
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| 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. AIPP defines artist as an individual recognized by critics and peers as a professional practitioner of serious intent and substantial ability. Additional requirements include • Experience creating 3-dimensional permanent artwork in materials suitable for exterior environments • Austin-based visual artists must reside in the seven counties bounding the Austin metro area (Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, and Blanco counties) • at least 18 years of age / 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 AIPP public art collection; artists who currently are under an active contract for a permanent AIPP project; and artists who have completed an AIPP project within the past year are ineligible to apply. City of Austin full-time employees, or contractors hired by the sponsor project, are ineligible. |
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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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| Selection Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Selection Process A five-member selection panel composed of visual arts professionals and community representatives will review all eligible submissions. Three artists or artist-led teams will be shortlisted, invited to interview and present a preliminary design concept for a fee of $2,000. Only one artist or artist-led team and one alternate will be recommended for the commission. |
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| Selection 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 • Ability and enthusiasm to engage the community in which the artwork will be installed • Experience with public art projects of a relatively similar size and scope |
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| Timeline Selected Artist under contract Winter 2025 Sponsor Project Design Phase end Fall 2025 Construction begins Summer 2026 Target Installation Fall 2029 |
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| Additional Resources | ||||||||||||||||||
| https://www.austintexas.gov/aipp | ||||||||||||||||||
| RFQ - English (PDF) | ||||||||||||||||||
| RFQ - Spanish (PDF) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Contact Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lindsay Hutchens Coordinator 5202 E Ben White Blvd. Suite 400 Austin TX 78741 United States Lindsay.Hutchens@austintexas.gov 512-974-3788 |
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