The City of Peoria is seeking artist submittals for outdoor public artwork at the new North Community Park. There are multiple potential site locations for public artwork.

Peoria is a major suburb located northwest of Phoenix. The City limits consist of approximately 178 square miles of residential, commercial, industrial and municipal developments. The City has an estimated population of 150,000.

North Community Park will offer regional-level recreational services to the public. The attributes of the 450-acre site include areas that will remain in their natural, undisturbed condition. The habitat consists of the Upper Sonoran Desert ecology with majestic saguaro cacti and desert riparian vegetation along the natural drainage arroyos that flow through the site. Two prominent site features include Westwing Mountain, which defines the southern edge of the site, and the 30 foot tall linear levee along the west side of the site which serves as a component of the nearby New River Dam system.

The facilities programmed for this community park include lighted sports fields such as soccer and ball fields, court games, a skate park, an activity area that consists of a splash pad, and large play facility/plaza areas. The initial planning also proposes a dog park area and a lake that will be stocked for catch-and-release fishing. Hard and soft surface walks and trails will provide pedestrian connection throughout the site and into the adjacent desert and mountain ridge. Some features may be phased for future construction.

Budget
The total art budget for the project is $260,000 for up to three public art pieces. Artists may submit for one or multiple pieces.

Eligibility

All artists over 18 and working in the United States are eligible to apply.  Arizona artists are strongly encouraged to apply.  Artists are allowed to apply in teams. Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves.

Artwork goals

The following are considerations for the selected artwork, but not requirements:

• Reflect &/or complement the upper Sonoran Desert ecology & landscape
• Concepts that incorporate public involvement
• Reflect the design of the park and its usage
• Possible functional aspects and safe interaction by users of the park

Timeline

• Call to Artists Announcement: October 21 – December 1, 2016
• Deadline for Submissions: December 1st 2016
• Announcement of Semi Finalist(s): December 12, 2016
• Presentation by Semi-Finalist(s): January 26, 2017 [tentative]
• Announcement of Finalist(s): February 28, 2017 [tentative]
• Collaboration of art and park design: 4-6 months
• Fabrication and Installation of artwork: 4-6 months
• Grand Opening of Park: Fall 2018

Selection Process
A selection committee, with representation from the Peoria Arts Commission, will be established to review the submitted application materials and make a recommendation to the City. The selection committee will invite up to 10 semi-finalists to develop complete proposals. The Peoria Arts Commission will review the committee’s suggestions and then make its project recommendations to the full City Council for action.  Semi-finalists’ proposals should include drawings, model(s), plus specific information on scale, medium, installation, and complete budget. Semi-finalists are also required to make a presentation of their final proposals.  Each semi-finalist will receive a stipend to help compensate for out-of-pocket costs associated with the selection process. The stipend for materials to create a model will be reimbursed at a maximum of $500. Artists who live outside Maricopa County will also be reimbursed for travel related costs with the following stipulations:

• Round Trip Air Transportation – coach class fares
• One Day Car Rental – mid-size car (City assumes no liability regarding additional insurance costs).
• One Night of Lodging –Artists are encouraged to stay in hotels located within the City of Peoria.

Selection Criteria

• Artistic merit and quality of artwork.
• Artist’s past experience or “track record” of producing commissions of similar size, cost, artistic media, etc.
• Artist’s ideas for the project related to the park’s design/usage.
• Sensitivity and understanding of the proposed project site, surroundings, and Peoria’s image and cultural history.

How to apply

Apply only through CallforEntry.org .  There is no charge to use the CaFE site and no application fee. Applications will NOT be accepted by postal mail.  Do NOT send applications by email.

QUESTIONS?  Contact Manny Burruel, burruel.manuel@yahoo.com or by phone 623-826-9912.