THIS CALL HAS CLOSED.

Budget: $70,000

Activated: 07/24/2024 Deadline: 08/20/2024

Call Summary This call is for an Artist-in-Residence program with the City of Austin’s Our Future 35 Cap & Stitch Program. The residency is anticipated to begin in October 2024 and conclude in June 2026.

Budget Description The project has a budget of $70,000. This includes an artist’s time, materials, and expenses, for example, supplies, mileage, etc. When the artist is selected, they will contract with the City. The artist will be paid according to contract milestones and deliverables over the course of 18-21 months. It is important to note this is not a full-time position. Artists can apply to other City funded opportunities. The number of hours worked, the work location, the number of events attended, and the volume of engagement pieces created will depend on many factors like the program’s progress, the artist’s skills, and rates.

Project Description The City of Austin is looking for an artist! Our Future 35 is hosting its first ever Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program. This is an 18–21-month program that is part of the effort to continue to engage Austin’s community on the Our Future 35 Caps and Stitches program. This program has 3 main aspects: 1. To engage community members that have historically been excluded from city planning 2. To highlight the voices of these members in designing the OF35 caps and stitches amenities 3. To utilize art as a tool to celebrate Austin’s culture and history The selected artist will work closely with the OF35 project team. The program will aim to create programming, activities, artwork, or installations that communicate an impactful message to the public.

Artwork Goals The AIR program has 3 main goals: 1. To use art as a method to foster connection among community 2. To integrate the rich cultural history of neighborhoods surrounding I-35 into the OF35 planning process 3. To benefit Austin’s local art community The selected artist will partner with city staff to create the program’s goals, scope, and deliverables. This will be a collaborative process between the artist and staff. At a minimum, the artist can expect to: 1. Engage with community to share and gather information about OF35, 2. Inform the OF35 design process, and 3. Generate excitement about OF35. This is a collaborative process.

Artwork Location Description N/A

Site History The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is reconstructing I-35 through central Austin. As a result, the City of Austin is leading Our Future 35, a once-in-a-generation effort to create new “caps” (decks covering the highway) over the redesigned freeway. Austin’s OF35 Program has grown from a grassroots advocacy effort into a set of intentional, interrelated projects to realize the community’s vision to claim public space in central Austin. It also aims to celebrate the history of communities that have historically lived around the project area and provide community benefits to those who have been historically underserved. The AIR program will improve OF35 community engagement efforts, especially within the communities who have been most directly affected by the highway.

Eligibility The AIR program defines an 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 arts. This program is open to professional artists who are: - At least 18 years old - Live in Williamson, Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Burnet, or Blanco County - From or experienced with East Austin - Has worked with and among community - Is aware of I-35's history and cultural context - Can demonstrate social practice in their art - Can product art that shares stories, preferable in multiple mediums. All City of Austin employees are ineligible to apply to this program. Applications not meeting the criteria above will not be considered by the City.

Application Requirements

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

Artists are NOT allowed to apply in teams.

Additional Requirements

Demographics Survey: Communities Demographics Survey: Gender Demographics Survey: Pronouns Demographics Survey: Race and Ethnicity Demographics Survey: Veteran Status OF35 AIR - Short Answer Question 1 Text OF35 AIR - Short Answer Question 2 Text OF35 AIR - Short Answer Question 3 Text OF35 AIR - Short Answer Question 4 Text

Selection Information

Selection Process A selection committee of 5 people will include representatives from the following departments within the City of Austin: • Economic Development Department, Cultural Arts Division • Transportation and Public Works, Strategic Projects Division • Arts Commission • Community Stakeholders and Partners The selection committee will review all applications. There will be one selection committee meeting before the top candidates are announced, then top candidate interviews. One final artist will be selected and one alternate. SAVE THE DATE: Top candidates will be strongly encouraged to attend Our Future 35’s Public Open House on Saturday, September 28th at Canopy Austin to observe the program and staff in action. Interviews after the Open House will ask about candidates’ experience at this event. If a top candidate cannot attend due to their schedule, different opportunities to shadow existing engagement will be provided on a case-by-case basis.

Selection Criteria Applications will be scored based on: • Ability to engage community and show previous experience (35%) • Experience with public art projects of similar size and type (30%) • Authenticity, creativity and innovation (20%) • Technical quality and aesthetic appeal of past work (15%)

Timeline Application opens – July 24, 2024 Virtual information meeting – August 1, 2024, at 6pm Application closes – August 20, 2024, at 11:59PM Finalists Announced – September 13, 2024 Our Future 35 Public Open House (finalists invited to observe)– September 28, 2024 Finalists Interviews – Week of September 30th Commission Awarded – Week of October 7th The residency will begin in October 2024 and end in June 2026. Tentative residency timeline is as follows: October 2024: Within 10 business days of the award, the City will hold a kick-off meeting with the selected artist to ensure understanding of the program and discuss mutual goals. Together the team will review and confirm the scope and specify how progress against goals will be measured. This meeting will also cover the general working relationship between the artist and the City and will include discussion of artist’s working environment, building access, schedule, communication methods, and any applicable City policies. November 2024: Artist begins attending community engagement events to develop a sense of future planning and coordination needs alongside OF35 Program staff. December 2024-March 2026: The artist produces and integrates their art in public engagement opportunities that align with the program goals and timeline (i.e., Open Houses, focus groups, tabling events, etc.), ideally at a regular cadence and in dynamic ways, the details of which will depend on the artist’s expertise and overall project status. March 2026 – May 2026: Artist and staff co-develop a residency showcase/exhibition/pop-up to document the preceding 1.5 years of OF35 Program engagement and the artist’s work. This event would also include information sharing on the reach of the program, at minimum, and possibly a temporary activation on or near a construction site (pending logistical constraints). Residency concluded no later than June 2026.

Additional Resources

https://www.ourfuture35.com/

RFQ - English (PDF)

RFQ - Spanish (PDF)

Contact Information

Lindsay Hutchens 5202 E Ben White Blvd., Suite 400 Austin TX 78741 United States 512-974-3788 lindsay.hutchens@austintexas.gov