Public Art for CMPD Central Division Station

Public Art for CMPD Central Division Station

Website: https://asc.slideroom.com/

 Charlotte, NC, Unknown

The Arts & Science Council is accepting qualifications from artists for a public art opportunity at the upcoming CMPD Central Division Station.

DEADLINE:  December 29, 2017 by 11:59 p.m. E.S.T.

BUDGET:  $132,600 USD

ELIGIBILITY:  Professional artists, or teams of professional artists

Project Background

The City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department are building a new station for Central Division officers. The three-story facility will sit on a 1.27-acre site at 725 W. Sixth St. in Uptown Charlotte. The Central Division covers approximately four square miles, and serves approximately 26,000 residents and 100,000 daily workers.  Currently there are 1,849 sworn officers and 452 civilian personnel serving a jurisdiction of 438 square miles and a population of 847,700. CMPD has a major focus on neighborhood policing, and these geographic units have in-depth knowledge of residents and businesses in their areas. The new CMPD Central Division Station will be located at 725 West Sixth St. Please refer to http://www.cmpd.org for additional information.

Project Description and Scope of Work

The selected artist will work with ASC, staff from the City of Charlotte’s Engineering and Property Management Department, ADW Architects, CMPD representatives, and local communities to create an impactful artwork that responds to the parameters of the site, the aesthetics of the architecture, and the character of Uptown Charlotte, NC. The artwork should highlight the relationship between the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and the community they serve. The selected artist will be expected to engage with both police department staff and area residents to develop the concept for their work.

The CMPD Central Division Station includes a pedestrian plaza featuring a hardscaped communal space, two low, curvilinear, masonry walls, and block seating. The hardscaped plaza will be approximately 505 SF and is an excellent site for a sculpture or sculptures. Each masonry wall is approximately 4’ high, with one wall stretching 51’ long and the other is 93’-8” long. The selected artist will have the opportunity to integrate artwork into some or all of these features. The desired outcome is a seamless integration of the aesthetics of the artwork and the plaza to create a welcoming and visually engaging space.

Please review the images in the full RFQ for a better understanding of the project location and scope before applying.

Art Goals and Criteria

  • This opportunity should achieve a cohesive and unique aesthetic experience that is distinguished from, yet sensitive to, the architecture of the CMPD Central Division architecture.
  • The artwork must be sited within the areas designated for the opportunity. These include the low walls, block seating, plaza hardscaping, and sculptures designed for the hardscaped plaza.
  • The artwork should emphasize the relationship between the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and the Charlotte neighborhoods they serve.
  • The artwork should be designed for viewing by pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
  • The artwork must conform to all safety restrictions outlined by the City Project Manager, Project Architects, and/or Project General Contractor.
  • The artwork must be designed for permanence, with a lifespan of at least 20 years.

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 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.

Projected Timeline

  • November 27, 2017: Artist applications released
  • December 29, 2017: Artist application submission deadline
  • January, 2018: Artist selection panel reviews applications and selects 3 finalists
  • February, 2018: Artist selection panel interviews finalists and selects one artist/team
  • Winter/Spring 2018: Artwork design development
  • Winter 2019: Substantial project construction completed

To Apply

Applications must be received via SlideRoom (https://asc.slideroom.com) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 29, 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 their proposed project role (i.e.: lead artist, technical consultant, programmer, 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.

Questions?

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

About the Arts and Science Council

Since 1995, the Arts and Science Council has managed the public art programs for the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The Public Art Commission is responsible for the community-based artist selection and design review process for each public artwork. The commission is an appointed board of volunteer citizens from the arts, education and business sectors. In 2003, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners and the Charlotte City Council adopted ordinances that appropriate one percent of eligible capital improvement project funds for public art. The ordinance helps ensure that artworks enhance our public spaces and become an integral part of urban and economic development efforts. See more at: http://www.artsandscience.org/

About the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is one of the 25 largest cities in the U.S. and the largest city in North Carolina. Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte and its resident county are named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of British King George III during the time of the city’s founding. Nearly 800,000 live and work in the Charlotte community and the City provides services to much of this population. The City’s focus areas are Housing and Neighborhood Development, Community Safety, Transportation, Economic Development and the Environment. Charlotte consistently ranks as one of the top growing cities and is the home to more than 10 Fortune 1000 companies, including household names such as Bank of America, Lowe’s and Wachovia Corp.

Charlotte is also home to the Carolina Panthers of the NFL, the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Other amenities that make Charlotte a great place to live and work include numerous higher learning organizations, cultural centers, and health care facilities.

See more at: http://charlottenc.gov/Pages/Home.aspx