Welcome Race Fans 2022: “Back Home Again” Seeks Artists
Call to Artists - Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Project Title: Welcome Race Fans 2022: "Back Home Again"
Budget (per artist): $2,000 total ($1,500 original artwork commission, $500 licensing fee.)
Deadline for Submissions: Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 at 5 p.m. (ET)
Program Specifics
With the wide-ranging success of the inaugural Welcome Race Fans collaboration between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Arts Council to incorporate Indiana artists and original artwork into the past six running’s of the Indy 500, the Indy Arts Council and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are pleased to announce Welcome Race Fans 2022: Back Home Again!
The original Welcome Race Fans concept called for the commission of 33 paintings by 33 Indiana artists to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime event, the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. In the second year of Welcome Race Fans, the field of artists was narrowed to 5, but the mission of the program was the same: to highlight one of the most visible and iconic visuals associated with May in Indianapolis – the blanketing of the city with “Welcome Race Fans” signs. The art program garnered attention from news media regionally and nationally as well as interest from other cities and racetracks around the country including Texas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Out of the 58 original artworks created over the last six years, 17 have been sold to new patrons with 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these artworks going directly to the artists.
NEW in 2022: In an effort to build on the success of the previous six years, we are announcing this year’s program will celebrate the pageantry of the Indianapolis 500. Selected artists will be asked to consider the theme of this year’s race in their artwork: “Back Home Again.” What does the return of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with full grandstands mean for our city and fans around the world?
This May, for the first time in three years, a crowd of more than 300,000 will fill the vast grandstands for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29, 2022. It’s time to unleash that anticipation for one of the biggest homecoming celebrations in all of sports. “Back Home Again” isn’t just a song. It’s an anthem for a community of millions that has turned the melody into its mantra. This May, it’s time to come Back to Together Again. It’s time to come Back to The Spectacle. It’s time to come Back Home Again.
This year’s program will consist of five artists creating a welcoming sign in their own unique materials, process, and style. As with previous years, racing imagery need NOT be included in the final artwork. However, if the artist chooses to include racing imagery, it should not be specific to a particular race, but rather, should reflect the overarching racing culture that is so prevalent in Indianapolis. That same culture that celebrates motorsports in general and its significant impact on our city can be incorporated into the artwork. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will provide the selected artists visual representations for this year’s marketing theme to support their efforts of connecting racing with the arts.
All participating artists will retain ownership and copyright in their work, however, during the months of May, June and early July 2022, original artworks will appear in key locations around the city and will be installed during key race events at the Racing Capital of the World. In addition, reproductions of artworks will be used to create various print media including but not limited to: larger-than-life vinyl installations on the Artsgarden, Central Indiana, Main Street in Speedway and other buildings, billboards, banners, and lastly, limited edition commemorative posters/items, which will be shared with the community as visual reminders of the highly visible collaboration of art & motorsports. Artists will be given credit on any reproductions of their artwork.
To learn more about the program and see the wide range of artworks commissioned, visit www.WelcomeRaceFansIndy.org.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for this program, artists must:
Artwork Considerations and Requirements
Artists will be asked to create an artwork with imagery and materials of their choosing. The imagery does not necessarily need to be racing related. This project is meant to showcase the original styles of Indiana artists while welcoming visitors to Indy for the citywide celebration of the 106th Running through the Brickyard Weekend. Though racing imagery is not a requirement, if you choose to include it, the Indy Arts Council and Indianapolis Motor Speedway will advise artists on how to properly use copyrighted photos and other material with required permissions.
Completed artwork should adhere to the following standards:
Selection Process
Once qualifications are received from interested artists, representatives from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will assist the Indy Arts Council Artist Services and Public Art team in reviewing artists’ qualifications and making artist selections. Selected artists will be notified shortly thereafter.
Budget
The artist fee for the project is a flat $2,000 per artist. ($1,500 for the commissioning of an original work of art, and $500 for the licensing of the artwork for reproduction purposes.)
Artists are expected to cover all expenses for materials, supplies, labor, photography, and equipment needed to complete and ship/deliver their artwork and a high-quality digital photograph of it for reproduction purposes. The fee also includes compensation for licensing the Indy Arts Council to reproduce the artwork as part of the project, including the aforementioned print media. Neither the Indy Arts Council nor the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will profit directly from any reproductions of the artist’s work.
All original “Back Home Again” artworks should be for sale. The Indy Arts Council staff will make every effort to try to sell the artwork during the program, and will not take a commission if artwork is sold. Artists will receive 100% of the sale price of the artwork. The Indy Arts Council and Indianapolis Motor Speedway will direct potential patrons to WelcomeRaceFansIndy.org to learn more about you and your work.
Project Timeline
The project will follow this timeline:
Dec. 17, 2022 – Request for Qualifications Released
January 18, 2022, 5 p.m. EST – Request for Qualifications Deadline
By Jan. 24, 2022 – Arts Council Notifies Artists of Selection
Thru Feb. 7, 2022 - Sketch Review. Artists will send in rough, preliminary sketches for approval. Turning in sketches earlier during this window is encouraged, as it will allow for more time for the artist to complete the final artwork.
By March 25, 2022 – Completed “Back Home Again” artworks are dropped off or shipped to the Indy Arts Council office to arrive by this date.
Late April – early July 2022 – “Back Home Again” artworks are displayed in key Indianapolis locations and beginning the last two weeks in May will be installed at selection locations around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Print media and other artwork reproduction materials will be distributed or installed around the city.
May 29, 2022 – 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge
July 31, 2022 – Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
Mid July 2022 – Anticipated return of original artworks to artists
Submission Process
Apply online at https://indyarts.formstack.com/forms/wrf_2022. You will be able to start your application and come back to it later if needed. The form will be able to be completed using a phone.
You will need to provide:
All images should be professional quality photographs of your work. If you need a referral to a professional photographer who specializes in working with artists, please view the Artist Resources Directory at http://indyarts.org/resources/category/vendors-list
Delivery of Submissions
All required materials must be received by Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (ET).
Contact Information
Kate Oberreich
koberreich@indyarts.org
317-631-3301
For more information about the Indy Arts Council, please visit www.indyarts.org.
