The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is accepting qualifications from professional artists or teams of artists in response to a public art opportunity for the City of Charlotte’s Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program (CNIP). CNIP makes strategic investments in larger, multi-neighborhood geographies to more comprehensively address a broad array of community needs, consistent with the goals of the City’s Community Investment Plan (CIP). What is unique about CNIP is its comprehensive or “complete” approach to placemaking by fostering vibrant, diverse, and economically strong communities with a highly connected network of streets around activity nodes that include a mix of office, retail, and residential land uses.

This specific Call for Artists focuses on the Prosperity Village CNIP area and specifically impacts the Craven Thomas Road/Robert Helms Road streetscape project. This project includes the design and installation of streetscape beautification of the frontage road: Craven Thomas Road and Robert Helms Road, off the I-485/Prosperity Church Road exit. The streetscape could include widening of the existing sidewalk to a multiuse trail, trees/shrubs, resting areas and lighting. The project could also include the development and construction of gateway identification monuments/signs/artwork to be installed on the I-485 entrance ramps and/or in some or all of the six roundabouts.

BUDGET: $102,000 USD, to cover all artist fees, design, testing, fabrication and installation, including but not limited to travel, public meeting presentations, administration, taxes and insurance relating to the development of the artwork.

ELIGIBILITY:  Professional artists over 18 working in the United States. Artists who have received a commission or purchase for over $25,000 from the Arts & Science Council cannot be considered for another commission or purchase for 3 years after the date of a signed contract or letter of agreement.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This RFQ represents an opportunity for an artist or team of artists to create artworks that will highlight the rich history and sense of place of Prosperity Village. Although Prosperity Village is a new name for this area, the community has been in existence since the late 1700’s. The original settlers named their church Prosperity, and over two centuries the community evolved from a primarily agrarian environment to an urban center with diverse populations. The last 5 years have brought dramatic growth and change.

Artistic approaches to this opportunity could focus on, but are not limited to, sculptural gateways, roundabout features, non-verbal forms of wayfinding, and artistically designed functional items such as benches, railing, hardscaping, signage, etc. The commissioned artist or artist team will be responsible for working with the project team to determine the appropriate approach and sites for the artwork within the overall project.

For the complete RFQ, please visit the ASC website.

SELECTION PROCESS

This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the Public Art Commission to identify the most highly qualified artist(s) for this opportunity. An artist selection panel of local and national arts professionals and community stakeholders appointed by the Public Art Commission will review eligible artists’ applications, determine a shortlist of finalists, interview three to five finalists and select one artist or team of artists. The selected artist or team of artists will be recommended to the Public Art Commission and the Board of the Arts & Science Council for final approval and to enter into contractual agreement for this project.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The artist will be selected on the basis of the following criteria, as evidenced in application materials and conversations with listed references:  artistic merit in concept and fabrication; experience incorporating artwork into the architectural elements of a construction project; demonstrated ability to collaborate in the early phases of a project with design teams and community stakeholders; demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget.

TIMELINE

February 27, 2017                           Artist applications released

March 24, 2017                                Artist application submission deadline

April 2017                                         Artist selection panel reviews applications and selects 3-5 finalists

May 2017                                          Artist selection panel interviews finalists and selects one artist/team

Summer 2017                                  Begin conceptual planning work with project team

Fall 2017                                           CNIP project community meeting/finalization of planning results

2020                                                  Substantial project construction completed

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be received via SlideRoom (https://asc.slideroom.com) by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 24, 2017. There is no application fee to apply or use the SlideRoom online application system. The following materials will be required to be uploaded to SlideRoom:

• A letter of interest (1000 character max) outlining the artist’s interest in this project, and addressing selection criteria with references to previous artworks in public places. Applicant(s) may apply as a single artist or team. If applying as a team, identify all team members and each proposed project role (i.e.: lead artist, technical consultant, fabricator, etc.) in the statement.
• A current professional resume or CV (two pages maximum). If applying as a team, submit a one‐to‐two page résumé for each team member.
• Three professional references who can speak to the artist’s ability to meet deadlines, work with community, and create innovative work as part of a design team.  Include name, organization, phone number, and email.
• Eight (8) images of related artwork completed within the past fifteen (15) years.  Please provide the following (if applicable) for each image: the name of the artist(s), title of work, date, media, dimensions of work, description of site, client, and budget.  This information may be submitted as a separate document or may be inserted into each image caption on SlideRoom.

For further information, please contact Todd Stewart, Program Director, Public Art, at (704) 335-3273 or email at todd.stewart@artsandscience.org