The Comfort Women Justice Coalition, in partnership with the City of San Francisco, California, have released a Request for Proposals for the design of a memorial to the “Comfort Women," the victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army from 1932-1945, to be built in St. Mary’s Square in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown. This call is open globally to all artists and public place-makers and seeks proposals of the highest artistic caliber. A public art panel consisting of community leaders, arts and design professionals will review submissions. The public will be invited to review the submissions at an open exhibition of all entries.
The submission deadline is September 30, 2016, at which point three finalists will be selected, each of whom will receive a thousand dollar stipend to refine their final designs. The winning submissions will be announced December 5th, 2016. The proposed installation date is the spring/summer of 2017.
NOTE: This is a REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. Interested artists are asked to create designs without prior compensation. Artists should carefully review all requirements before deciding to apply.
Budget
A $140,000 budget shall be used for the design, materials, and installation of the public art, as well as the artist’s compensation.
Eligibility
This is an international competition open to all entries that meet the objectives outlined in the overview above. Professionals, practicing artists and collectives who have public art experience are strongly preferred.
Project Description
From 1931 through 1945, during World War II, hundreds of thousands of girls and women from 11 countries were sexually enslaved by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. The majority were from China, Korea, the Philippines, and Dutch Indonesia, with many from Burma, East Timor, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries. These girls and women, through coercion, deceit and brutal force, were subjected to exploitation and unspeakable pain and torture every day of their short lives. They were the “Comfort Women” for the Imperial Japanese army, a euphemism for sex slaves. For decades the survivors have been fighting the Japanese government, demanding it to own up to its past and offer official apology, legal compensation and ongoing education to protect the next generation from the same egregious crimes that they endured. When the former “Comfort Women” broke their silence they changed the human rights landscape forever. In 1993, sexual violence as a strategy of war was declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations. At the same time, people began to understand the horrors of sex trafficking and its relationship to militarism and violence against women.
Artwork Goals
The memorial is meant to honor and remember the suffering, struggle and courage of the so-called “Comfort Women." It will be a lesson in history, as a symbol of the on-going search for justice and peace and a call to advocate for the rights and safety of women and girls around the world.
How to Apply
Applications will NOT be accepted by postal mail or email! All applications must be uploaded through the project website. Application submissions will include the following, and only three files up to 6MB each may be attached:
1. Three 20 inch by 20 inch boards (300 dpi [12,600 pixels by 900 pixels], max. file size 6MB).
2. Project title and design concept statement on the boards should not exceed 300 words.
3. One site plan of park with monument in place (1 inch = 25 feet).
4. One site plan of the monument site (1 inch = 1 foot).
5. One front and rear elevation of the monument (1 inch = 1 foot).
6. One rendering or perspective view of the monument.
7. Conceptual drawings, including additional plans, sections, elevations as needed.
Questions? Contact Jocelyn Zanzot, Project Director, jezanzot@gmail.com or by phone 334-329-4047
