City of Madison Public Arts Commission Seeks Sculptor for Public Art

Call for ARTISTS: Public Art Sculpture Project
Madison/Milton Bridge Gateway Madison, Indiana

Project Details:
The City of Madison Public Arts Commission and the Madison Area Arts Alliance is seeking qualified sculptor artists to create a unique piece of artwork to be displayed at the entrance to Madison, Indiana, a National Historic Landmark District community and the small town of Milton, Kentucky located on the Ohio River. This is a highly visible piece of work and will be the focal point at the foot-end of the Madison/Milton Bridge and located on the historic US 421 Michigan Road (Harrison Street) and is the southern-most entry into the State of Indiana.

ARTIST (OR A TEAM MEMBER) MUST BE AN INDIANA RESIDENT OR A NATIVE OF INDIANA

About the Project: 

• Seeking an original art sculpture suitable for all weather outdoor public space.
• The area designated for this public art sculpture has new lighting, a stone outline, and a concrete pad in place. The artist will be responsible for design, fabrication, and installation of the piece.

All pieces of artwork/sculpture must meet the following basic requirements:

• The piece must be structurally sound so as to stand-alone or to be secured to a concrete pad.
• The piece must be of a scale large enough to be clearly visible.
• The work must be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions, including hot summers, cold winters, rain, wind, and snow.
• The work must be suitable for pedestrian interaction with a low exposure to injury. The public must be protected from possible injury from materials, and the work must not include moving parts.
• The work must be original and preferably (but not necessarily) be relatable to features of Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana, the State of Indiana, the Ohio River. Themes may include architecture, agriculture, river heritage, industry, history, sport/recreational assets, or other appropriate themes.
• The piece may be abstract in design and be of multiple media, including electronics. Creativity is encouraged.

Project Budget:
The budget for the project is $175,000 including installation. This is a public/private partnership and will require proper financial reporting for all work and expenditures.

Timeline:
The time for the project RFQ to final installation is May 2023 – June 2024.

Phase 1: Request for Qualifications

All Artists must send a letter of interest and qualifications in digital form to tsteinhardt@madison-in.gov Attention: Tony Steinhardt III c/o The City of Madison-Office of Economic & Redevelopment/Attention Public Arts Commission. All artists and letters of interest must be received by 12:00pm noon (EST) Friday, May 19, 2023.
 Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with artist bio;
 Artist must include three professional references from clients/professional contacts phone/email;
 Photographs of similar work or evidence of artist’s ability to produce final product, showing examples, location of work, and detailed drawings of past work (minimum of 5) pieces/various views are encouraged.

Phase 2: Design Phase (Artist will receive compensation)

The selection team will contact up to three finalists to travel to Madison, Indiana on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, for a community tour and to visit the site.
 Finalists will be contacted via phone and email.
 Finalists will receive compensation of $5,000.
 Finalists are responsible for expenses associated with this visit and the final presentation including travel, lodging, and meals.

Phase 3: Presentation of Final Design

The finalists will return to Madison on Thursday, September 7, 2023, to make a final presentation to a seven-member selection committee and the Public Arts Commission at a public meeting.
Final Presentation requirements include:
 Model form or computer-generated presentation of proposed sculpture;
 Artist’s statement about the proposed sculpture;
 Detailed description of the proposed sculpture;
 Specification of medium, materials, weight, and dimensions;
 Detailed fabrication process;
 Installation details;
 Timeline for project including design, fabrication, and installation;
 Detailed budget-to include all associated costs for completion.

Phase 4: Final Selection/Announcement

The final selection of the winning artist will be made at the Public Arts Commission public meeting on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

For additional information

Contact: City of Madison Office of Economic and Redevelopment, 101 W. Main Street, Madison, IN 47250, tsteinhardt@madison-in.gov or Madison Area Arts Alliance, 326 Mulberry St, Madison, IN 47250 artsherenow@gmail.com