Public Art Sought for Civic Campus

The City of Raleigh seeks an artist or artist-led team to design artwork for Raleigh's new Civic Campus East Tower.

Budget: $1,030,000 ($30,000 for Stage I engagement/design and $1M for Stage II construction documentation/fabrication/installation)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents over 18 who are artists or designers with at least a 5-year history of professional work, and are not enrolled in an undergraduate program
Deadline: 03/01/2020 11:59 PM Central Time

Download full artist call here.

About Civic Campus
The City of Raleigh is starting work on a project to build a new Civic Campus, including a new city hall, called the East Civic Tower. This is the first building of the new campus and will provide office space and conference facilities for approximately 1,400 staff, public-facing functions and Council Chambers, as well as potential ground floor retail, and parking. The new building will enable the City to consolidate most of its currently fragmented downtown workforce from multiple offices. It will take roughly five years to complete and the goal is to have all employees moved into the building by 2025.

Redevelopment of the four-acre parcel presents a generational opportunity to rethink a key property and critical public asset in the heart of the city. The site is exceptionally located on the block immediately north of Nash Square, one of Raleigh’s four original public squares. Today, the property accommodates the Raleigh Municipal Building (RMB), the vacant Police Headquarters Building, and a parking deck. The future Raleigh Civic Campus will be a mixed-use, walkable destination consisting of a new city hall with public-facing government functions, expanded municipal departmental space, and pedestrian-connected public spaces. Other land uses may be arranged around the campus, including urban retail, commercial office, housing, and a combination of below-grade and structured parking. The total potential of the Civic Campus is approximately 2.2 million gross square feet, excluding underground parking and services. A full overview of the site context, vision for the campus and opportunities identified for the site are included in the Civic Campus Master Plan.

Artwork Goals

• The public art can be an iconic artwork or a series of interventions
• The artwork can be stand alone or integrated into the building and grounds
• The art should enhance the experience of Raleigh residents and City staff

Timeline

Stage I:

• RFQ Application Deadline: March 1, 2020 (11:59pm EST)
• Semi-Finalists Selected and Notified: Early March 2020
• Semi- Finalists Interviewed: Late March 2020
• Project Awarded: Early April 2020
• Design Team collaboration: April-July 2020
• Final Design for Integrated Designs: August, 2020
• Final Design for Stand Alone Artworks: TBD - dependent upon construction timeline.

Stage II:

• Construction Documents - TBD (dependent on construction timeline and artwork proposed)
• Fabrication - TBD (dependent on construction timeline and artwork proposed)
• Installation - Anticipated between 2022-2024

Artist Scope of Work

In Stage I Public Art, the selected artist or artist team will receive $30,000 to collaborate with the project design team and develop conceptual designs and related budgets. There is potential for public art concepts to be integrated as a part of the building or site, or created as stand alone artwork(s). There is also the potential for the selected artist / artist team to work as a curator and establish a plan for artwork placement by various artists within the building / campus. The selected artist will be expected to come up with a final design plan and related budgets for implementation in Stage II of the project.

In Stage II Public Art, pending final approval by the Public Art and Design Board of the public art final designs, the artist or artist team will then work with the design team to submit Construction Documents and determine what components will be fabricated and installed by the artist or the construction contractor.

The artist or artist team will be under a separate subsequent contract for elements fabricated and installed by the artist or artist team. Stage II of the public art project is for up to $1 Million for the fabrication and installation of the team’s final designs into the facility.

Selection Process

Applications submitted in response to this RFQ will be reviewed by the City of Raleigh Public Art Director, who will then forward all complete and eligible applications received by the deadline to the Artist Selection Panel, appointed by the Public Art and Design Board. The Panel may include: a member of the Public Art and Design Board, professional artists and arts professionals, stakeholders from community groups, and representatives from city departments.

The selection process will consist of two stages: During the first stage, the Artist Selection Panel will evaluate qualifications of artists based on three criteria: artistic merit; appropriateness for the project; and how the applicants work engages the site on a social, physical, and cultural level. The Artist Selection Panel will identify up to three finalists to invite to Raleigh for interviews.

Finalists selected for the Stage 2 interviews will receive a $1,000 stipend to cover travel and related expenses associated with the interview. In addition to reviewing qualifications, panelists will discuss with finalists their prospective approaches to the project. They will also respond to questions. A specific proposal is not expected at this interview.

The Artist Selection Panel will choose the artist for the project and forward that recommendation to the Public Art and Design Board. Upon approval by the Public Art and Design Board, a scope of services and budget will be developed based on the artist’s or artist team’s approach to the project.

Selection Criteria

The Artist Selection Panel will evaluate qualifications of artists based on the following criteria: artistic merit; appropriateness for the project; technical expertise; project management experience; and how the applicants' work engages its site(s) on a social, physical, and cultural level.

What to Submit

1. Statement of Interest: A 1000 word (or less) statement outlining your interest in this project and your experience working on public art projects, or relevant art experience. Include how your work and experience will complement this project.
2. Professional Résumé:  A résumé of no more than two pages that includes information regarding public art commissions, exhibitions, and installations, awards, special projects, community engagement, grants and education. If applying as a team, submit a single file containing separate résumés for each team member.
3. Three Professional References: Contact information for three references: including name, title and affiliation, phone number and email address. References should be able to speak to your ability to provide services for a public art project or artwork of a similar scope.
4. Previous Work, Digital Images: Ten digital images of recent previous work (created within the past ten years). Each image should include: title, year, media, location, project budget, dimensions, commissioning agency, and collaborators or design professionals (if applicable). File titled Lastname Firstname__list

Do not provide or submit any other materials with your application. They will not be reviewed by the panel and will not be returned.

How to Submit

Qualifications must be submitted by Sunday, March 1st (by 11:59pm EST). There is no fee to submit qualifications.  Submit online at https://raleigharts.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/53745  If you have trouble with the online form, you may email your documents to jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov.

QUESTIONS?  Contact Kelly McChesney, Public Art Director, kelly.mcchesney@raleighnc.gov or 919-996-5657