The Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (ASC), is accepting qualifications from professional artists or teams of artists in response to a public art opportunity for Mecklenburg County’s American Legion Memorial Stadium renovation. ASC is seeking artists or teams of artists with a demonstrated record of creating memorial sculpture. The selected artist/s will be asked to create an artwork that memorializes the American Legion and its service to military service members, veterans, and their families.
Budget: $221,000 USD
Eligibility: US-based professional artists
Deadline: October 7, 2019 at 11:59 EDT
PROJECT BACKGROUND
American Legion Memorial Stadium is a 17,000-seat stadium located on 7th Street in the Elizabeth community of Charlotte, North Carolina. It is located on a complex with the Grady Cole Center and adjacent to both Independence Park and Central Piedmont Community College. Ground was broken on the stadium, a Works Progress Administration project, in 1934 and the gates were officially opened two years later in 1936. The stadium was built with the strong support of the Hornet’s Nest Post Number 9 of the American Legion. The American Legion requested that the stadium serve as a memorial to soldiers from Mecklenburg County who served in World War I. The City Council agreed on June 13th, 1934 to name the facility the American Legion Memorial Stadium.
Primarily a sporting events facility, American Legion Memorial Stadium has hosted events of all sizes, producing millions of memories in Charlotte. The stadium hosted the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas from 1937-2000; was home to Charlotte’s first professional football team, the Charlotte Hornets, from 1974-75; and has served as a prominent site for high school football, soccer, and lacrosse through generations. Currently, the Charlotte Hounds of the MLL, the Carolinas’ premier lacrosse team, call the stadium home. In addition to sporting events, the stadium has hosted musical performers such as Christina Aguilera, Jimmy Buffett, Hootie and the Blowfish, Pearl Jam, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Memorial Stadium has hosted a multitude of local civic events for the community throughout its almost 90-year history.
The goal of the renovation is to enhance functionality while maintaining the historic character of the stadium. Jenkins Peer Architects have been selected as the prime consultants with LandDesign serving as landscape architects. Renovation to the stadium will expand the field to accommodate a variety of sports including soccer, football, and lacrosse. Improvements to the stadium’s concourse will allow for greater accessibility and circulation around the field. Additional buildings will be provided on the concourse – including bathrooms and concessions. The ticketing booths will be restored to their original design, and a new memorial honoring the American Legion and the organization’s service to military service members and veterans is anticipated for the stadium entrance.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The desired artwork will include, but is not limited to, representations of the human figure. This artwork will become a signature feature of American Legion Memorial Stadium and should create an atmosphere of reverence that persuades visitors and passers-by to pause and reflect on the service and history of the American Legion.
The memorial will be proudly sited at the front entrance of the stadium along Charlottetown Ave. – adjacent to Independent Park and connected via the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Positioned along the stadium security fence, the memorial is accessible from both outside and inside the stadium.
The artwork for the memorial will be integrated into a terraced slope. This terrace will include signage for American Legion Memorial Stadium and insignia representing the five branches of the military. Finalists will have the opportunity to meet with stakeholders from Mecklenburg County American Legion posts, Park and Recreation staff, and the project design consultants in order to learn more about the site and scope for the memorial.
Each finalist will be tasked with creating a conceptual proposal for the memorial artwork, and the commissioned artist will be selected based on their proposal and qualifications.
Artwork created for this project should be constructed of durable materials and designed in coordination with staff from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and Asset and Facility Management, the Historic Landmarks Commission, Jenkins Peer Architects and LandDesign, and representatives from various Mecklenburg County American Legion posts.
ARTWORK GOALS
This opportunity should achieve a cohesive aesthetic experience that is distinguished from, yet sensitive to, the site and architecture of the American Legion Memorial Stadium renovation.
PROJECTED TIMELINE
SELECTION PROCESS
This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the Public Art Commission (PAC) to identify the most highly qualified artist(s) for this opportunity. A panel of local and national arts professionals and community stakeholders appointed by the Public Art Commission will review eligible artists’ applications and determine a shortlist of finalists. Each finalist will be paid $3,000 to develop a conceptual proposal for the artwork. The selection panel will interview each finalist and select 1 artist or team of artists based on their proposal and qualifications. The selected artist or team of artists will be recommended to PAC and the ASC Board of Directors to enter into agreement for this project.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
The following materials will be required to be uploaded:
References will be requested from the finalists.
HOW TO SUBMIT
To view/begin the application, go to https://asc.slideroom.com and sign up for an account. Applications must be received via SlideRoom by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on October 7, 2019. There is no application fee to apply or use the SlideRoom online application system.
QUESTIONS? Contact Todd Stewart, Senior Program Director, Public Art, at (704) 335-3273 or by email at todd.stewart@artsandscience.org
