REQUEST FOR ARTIST QUALIFICATIONS:  The Alley at Library Square Mural

Application deadline:  Sunday, June 13, 2021, 11:59 p.m. (upload time)

Apply here.

Summary

Artist qualifications are sought to design and paint two exterior doors, electrical conduit, and safety bollards as an artwork for The Alley at Library Square, a new outdoor performance and social space for The Cabaret and the Arts Council of Indianapolis. The project carries a commission fee of $5,000 for an original work of art.

COMMISSION FEE:  $5,000, all inclusive (design, materials, including a protective clearcoat, transportation, and labor)

ELIGIBILITY:  Professional artists over the age of 18 and living in central Indiana (Marion and surrounding counties: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Shelby, Johnson, and Morgan)

DEADLINE: Apply online by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 13, 2021

Project Overview

As part of a grant received from the Lilly Endowment’s Strengthening Indianapolis through Arts & Cultural Innovation program, the Buckingham Foundation and The Cabaret partnered to transform a historic brick alley located to the south of 924 N. Pennsylvania St., into a flexible outdoor performance and social space for the two arts and culture tenants of the building, The Cabaret and the Arts Council of Indianapolis. The venue, called The Alley at Library Square, will initially be used by The Cabaret for 2021 summer and early fall performances, and includes commissioned artwork by Owens & Crawley installed in spring 2021.

The space contains three exterior doors, an electrical conduit, and safety bollards that are excellent canvases for a work of art. The doors will receive a fresh coat of paint in early June (see attached images, prior to painting) and the base color should form an important element of the commissioned artist’s design.

The ideal artist will have expertise with brightly-colored, geometric-focused artwork with strong lines. Figurative imagery is not required.  No text or logos should be used as part of the design. The artist should have experience painting metal surfaces and the artwork will have an expected life of at least 5 years.

Please note that this is a project with an expedited timeline and a Historic Preservation approval process.  The commissioned artist should be prepared to quickly design the mural and quickly implement it upon approval.

Project Calendar

• Release Request for Qualifications:  Wednesday, May 19, 2021
• Application Deadline:  Sunday, June 11, 2021 11:59 p.m.
• Review of Applications:  June 14-18, 2021
• Artist notification:  by Monday, June 21, 2021
• Contracting:  by Friday, June 25, 2021
• Design development and approval: June 25-July 15, 2021
• IHPC permitting: July 15-August 4, 2021
• Onsite painting and clearcoating: August 7-20, 2021
• Cure time prior to use:  August 21-September 2, 2021
• Debut of finished artwork:  Friday, September 3, 2021

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following:

• Artistic quality:  artist’s past work shows creative and distinctive solutions to site and client opportunities
• Aesthetic sensibility:  artist’s past work has a style or approach that is desirable for this project, as described above
• Technical ability:  artist’s past work shows skill with materials and techniques similar to those that would be required for this project
• Experience:  artist has familiarity with the techniques needed for this project, or has demonstrated the ability on past projects to quickly acquire the skills needed to be successful on a similar project
• Process:  working with the artist will likely be pleasant, and the artist can successfully manage a project budget

Application Requirements

Artists can complete an application online here. If you are having trouble with the online form, please contact Kate Oberreich, koberreich@indyarts.org or call (317) 631-3301 x234.

1. Artist information: Provide basic contact information. Social media information is optional.
2. Tell us about you: In a few sentences, talk about your artistic experience: where or with whom you have studied (if applicable—being self-taught is perfectly OK!), how long you’ve been working, and who has purchased, collected, or commissioned your work. If you like, you can upload a formal resume.
3. Tell us about your work: In a few sentences, talk about the type of work you like to do and what you think you do best. If you like, you can upload a formal artist statement.
4. Work samples: You have the option of either uploading photographs of your past work (up to 10 total), or directing us to a place online (a website, a blog, etc.) where we can see examples of your work. You may provide an Instagram or other social media account ONLY if it is completely dedicated to your artwork (example: if it is @JaneSmithArt and not @JaneSmith) and the privacy settings are set to “public”.
5. Demographic information: You have the option to give us personal information about you: your race/ethnicity, age, LGBTQIA identification with your preferred personal pronouns, military veteran status, and whether you self-identify as a person with a disability. Providing this information is not required, but helps us ensure that our programs and services are engaging everyone equitably.

Tips for best results:

• Provide examples of projects similar in size, scale, and budget to this project
• Provide current examples (no more than 5 years old, if possible)
• Provide examples of the style you intend to use for this project
• If you decide to upload photographs, make sure they are no smaller than 3” x 5” and have a resolution of at least 72 dpi
• Make sure the photos are taken in good light, with accurate colors and from a frontal (not angled) view so the entire piece is in the photo. Tips on how to photograph your artwork are here, and if you need someone else to photograph your work, we have suggestions.
• Try to keep each uploaded photograph to 1MB or less in size.

How to Apply

All required materials must be received through the application form by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, June 13, 2021.  As long as you click the “submit” button by that time, we’ll get it! If your application is unfinished when the form automatically closes, we won’t see anything.

• You can start your application, save it, and return to it later.
• If you save and return to your work, any uploads you have started will have vanished when you come back to it (sorry, that’s a flaw in the form). It’s best to work on everything else first and only upload materials at the very end when you are ready to submit the form.
• Plan your uploads carefully! There is a maximum of 25MB (all uploads combined). The form will not submit properly if this limit is exceeded.
• You will receive a confirmation email indicating that your application has been received. If you do not receive this notification, please contact us immediately.
• We will review the applications with a panel of arts and community experts and let you know a decision by Monday, June 21.

QUESTIONS?  Contact Kate Oberreich, Artist Engagement Coordinator, koberreich@indyarts.org or (317) 631-3301 x234