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You will submit this application online using PublicArtist.org.
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| Budget: $15,000 | ||||||||
| Activated: 01/20/2025 Deadline: 02/19/2025 |
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| Call Summary Ion, Rice Real Estate Company and Ion Prototyping Lab (IPL) invite artists to submit qualifications and preliminary installation proposals for the Eye On Art x IPL collaboration. This is an opportunity for artists to partner on ideating, fabricating, and realizing a concept through mentorship with the prototyping lab onsite at the Ion. Our goal is to provide artists with the support and resources to develop new skills that help them take their practice to the next level. The collaborative installations will be displayed in windows located at the Ion, the renovated historic Sears building that is the hub of Houston’s innovation community. Two artists/teams will be selected to work directly with IPL to conceptualize and realize site-specific installations in each of the display window banks to be exhibited for six months. |
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| Budget Description The commission budget is $15,000.00 per window display inclusive of all work including, but not limited to, artists’ fees, final design, insurance costs for the project, lighting (if necessary), software, studio and project administration, fabrication, all materials, installation, de-installation, and maintenance. The artist will not be responsible for IPL’s consultation or use of equipment. |
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| Project Description We are seeking two artists or artist teams to partner with IPL to concept and create site-specific art installations for two showcase display windows at Ion, facing Fannin and Main Streets, respectively. The displays are highly visible from the streets and will ideally engage and attract visitors from the community and beyond. Each installation will be on display for six months according to the following exhibition schedule and is subject to change: Fannin Window Installation 1: September 2025 – April 2026 Main Street Window Installation 1: September 2025 – April 2026 Interdisciplinary teams, innovative partnerships, new media, digital art, and interactive installation concepts are all encouraged and welcome. Each art installation must be site-specific and created in partnership with IPL for the context of Ion District. Power and lighting are available in the displays. Elevations, dimensions, and site images can be found here. *Note: While the mentorship and resources from IPL are intended to be valuable, the core concept and execution of the installation or project should stand on its own. IPL’s support is meant to enhance the artist’s vision, and integrating IPL's resources in meaningful ways is encouraged. However, the artist should remain the primary creator and leader of the work. The project should be self-sufficient and not reliant on this partnership to succeed. This ensures the work remains authentic, sustainable, and capable of thriving beyond IPL’s involvement. |
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| Artwork Goals Artwork should consider Ion and Ion District’s vision and mission of accelerating innovation, connecting communities, and facilitating partnerships to create growth and opportunity in Houston. Artworks should be sensitive and/or responsive to the diverse history, culture, and identity of the surrounding community. Artworks should invite passersby to pause, reflect, play, and engage in unexpected and innovative ways. Thinking outside the box (figuratively and literally) is encouraged. Artworks must be family-friendly, suitable for public display, and free of safety hazards. Artworks should require minimal maintenance. |
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| Artwork Location Description Ion Prototyping Lab is where ideas meet the designers, engineers, and fabricators that can make it a reality. Located at Ion, IPL’s 6,500 sq ft site offers access to equipment, engineers, and technical training–a must for every inventor, innovator, and creator. In the IPL, artists will work with an experienced team that is excited to guide you through materials and techniques, ensuring low-cost solutions within your commission needs. Ion District is a new kind of urban district to Houston initiated by Rice Real Estate Company that prioritizes street life, public space, and a mix of uses that embrace technology, community, and sustainability. It is centrally located at the heart of innovation activity in Houston, encompassing over 16 acres in the Midtown. At the center of the district is the Ion, a 266,000-square foot structure designed to bring Houston’s entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities together into collaborative spaces and programs. The “Eye On Art” program pays homage to the original department window store displays of the beloved Sears building on which Ion was built by engaging local artists to create site-specific art installations. Strategically placed as the entry points and eyes of the building, the two highly visible display windows facing Fannin and Main Streets serve as beacons to draw the community in. The display windows are a unique opportunity to reimagine Sears' store windows and build on the collective memory of the space’s past, present, and future through the lens of artistic and creative expression. Ion is committed to creating opportunities for Houston-based artists by providing long-term platforms to create, innovate, and collaborate. |
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| Eligibility Open to artists and artist teams over 18 years of age residing and working in the Greater Houston Area, which encompasses Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, Chambers, and Austin counties. Ion District is committed to providing opportunities that advance Houston’s economy by not only seeking to involve local businesses but also those who are racially and ethnically underrepresented. Creatives and artists are a vital part of a complete community, and it is our goal to foster inclusivity and diversity with all our partners. We encourage non-local applicants to team with local partners whenever possible. |
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| Application Requirements | ||||||||
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Resume: 2 page(s) maximum Work examples: 1 - 10 Artist Statement: 300 word maximum Letter of Interest The letter of intent should describe a method of approach, how you envision partnering with IPL, what skills you hope to learn from collaborating with IPL, a brief narrative, suggested materials, installation details, and any other relevant information. References: 2 |
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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 Ion Prototyping Lab, Piper Faust Public Art, Rice Real Estate Company, and Ion District Art Advisory Council, consisting of art experts, community members, and stakeholders, will review the applications. Two artists will be awarded the commission. |
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| Timeline All dates are subject to change. RFP release: Monday, January 20, 2025 RFP deadline: Wednesday, February 19 at 5:00pm CST Selected artists notified: Early March 2025 Contract finalized: March 2025 Project design, fabrication, and installation: April – August 2025 Final Completion: Late August 2025 Eye On Art Opening: September 2025 |
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| Additional Resources | ||||||||
| https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-lAMu6LyC8C7LJbCc48aIfDI0m7iD1I2 | ||||||||
| RFP Document (PDF) | ||||||||
| Contact Information | Piper Faust piper@piperfaustpublicart.com |
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