RFQ for Plough Blvd. Sculpture - Design Phase

Request for Qualifications for Plough Blvd. Sculpture - Design Phase

Site and Project Descriptions:
UrbanArt and the City of Memphis are commissioning an artist or artist team to design a single sculptural art piece or series of sculptural works to be installed along Plough Boulevard between Winchester and Democrat Road.  The first phase of the commission will be for the design phase of the project.

Artists will be selected based on previous experience with the production of exterior public art sculptures. Artists are also expected to have the technical capabilities to design and install such projects, including providing maintenance instructions. The finished project must require little to no regular maintenance. The selection committee is also interested in artists who have experience with vandalism deterring methods and applications. Final artwork should compliment the characteristics and identity of the site. The selection committee is interested in submissions that propose works of art that will function as an iconic gateway for visitors and citizens, alike, as they enter and leave Memphis. The artist selected shall be expected to conduct community workshops with the general public for education purposes.

The selection committee will select 3 finalists based on their qualifications, and interview each individually before selecting 1 artist (or artist team). Finalists will receive $1,500 for a design proposal, which will be discussed in the interview.  The selected artist will design the public art plan for this site in coordination with UrbanArt Commission staff and project Landscape Architect, including budget remit for production.  The production budget will be proposed to City Council for funding.

Budget:               $65,500 for design phase only
Deadline:             4:00 PM, Friday, 3 December 2010
Eligibility:             Local, Regional, National, and International Artists

Guidelines:
Please see http://www.urbanartcommission.org/sampledocuments.html, particularly the UrbanArt Artist Handbook, for more information about applying to UrbanArt projects and how the selection process works.

Please submit the following:

• Typed, one-page letter of interest noting the project for which you are applying.  Explain you interest and your general approach to its design and production.  Note: this should not take the form of a formal design proposal, but rather a description of your methods for producing a design and finished project if selected.
• A sketch is not required, but may be included. Sketches must be no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches. Please do not send original artwork.
• Résumé, not to exceed 2 pages.
• Recent DIGITAL images of your work that are relevant to this project and are good representations of your style of work. Send up to 10 digital images in JPEG format, 1920 pixels maximum on the longest side, 72 dpi, with compression settings resulting in the best image quality under 2MB file size.
• Image identification sheet with location, brief description, and budget of each project
• List of three professional references, including current phone numbers and email addresses
• Self-addressed, stamped envelope with postage sufficient for the return of your materials. Materials will not be returned without one.Materials may also be submitted in PDF format via email to: info@urbanartcommission.org

Send applications to: 
UrbanArt Commission
Attn: Plough Boulevard - Design Phase
2549 Broad Avenue
Memphis, TN 38112

For more information contact:

Rodney Coleman, Projects Manager
(901) 454-0472 / rcoleman@urbanartcommission.org

All proposals must be received by 4:00 PM, Friday, 03 December 2010.

To ensure fairness to all, there are no extensions or waivers of deadlines.

Applicants will be notified by letter as to the status of their application.

Commissioning of artists by UrbanArt and the pursuit of all UrbanArt activities are
implemented without preference to racial or ethnic origins, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability or age.

UrbanArt reserves the right to modify this solicitation and to request additional information or proposals from any or all participating artists.

UrbanArt reserves the right to accept or reject, at any time prior to the commissioning of a work, any or all proposals when the acceptance, rejection, waiver or advertisement would be in the best interest of the project. In addition, UrbanArt may solicit proposals from artists not responding to this call and reserves the right to select an artist outside of the pool of artists responding to this call.

The staff of UrbanArt shall be responsible for all correspondence and communication by and between applicants and members of selection panels. Discussion regarding these projects by and between any applicant and any member of a selection panel outside of regularly scheduled meetings during the selection process may be grounds for the disqualification of the applicant. Such determination shall be in the sole discretion of UrbanArt.

UrbanArt's mission is to enhance the cultural vibrancy of our community through the development of public art.