Fulton County Arts & Culture (FCAC) Public Arts Program invites experienced professional artists or artist teams to submit qualifications to create original and site-responsive public artworks using the theme of ‘Light and Enlightenment’ for the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library Branch, part of the Atlanta Fulton Public Library System’ (AFPLS).

Budget: $246,000 total for 2 artworks (each $100,000-$150,000)
Eligibility: Artists/teams legally residing in the U.S., with at least 5 years professional public art experience
Deadline: 09/20/2018 10:59 PM Central Time

Site History
The Atlanta Central Library building opened to the public under the leadership of Ella Gaines Yates, the first African-American director of the library system, in May 1980. The building was designed by prominent Bauhaus-movement architect Marcel Breuer, with support from his associate Hamilton Smith. Breuer is considered to have been an extremely influential modernist designer and this commission became the last building he ever designed following his death one year after opening. The building reflects a brutalist architectural style, with a façade consisting of precast concrete panels that were bush-hammered for texture. In 2002, a major renovation of the Central Library was completed and the library system celebrated the centennial of the year in which public library service in Atlanta began.

Project Description
The following spaces are being considered for the commission – building façade, lobby, lobby staircase, central lightwell and the children’s space on level 4. Any proposal, particularly for the façade, should be respectful of the building’s style, context, and social value.

Selection Process

After a Community Public Art Selection panel reviews qualifications, up to six finalists will be invited to attend an information session and site visit in November 2018, where necessary, travel stipends will be provided. Complete full proposals will be due in January 2019 and shortly after the finalists will present their proposal in person to the Selection Panel. Each finalist (artist or artist team) will receive a $1,500 honorarium to complete the full proposal. The final selected artist(s) will enter into a contract with Fulton County to refine the design and implement the proposed commission.

Timeline

• October 2018 – Finalists shortlisted
• November 2018 – information session and site visit
• January 2019 – Complete full proposals due
• January 2019 – Face-to-face artist presentation
• January 2019 – Appoint successful artist
• April 2020 – Work installed for Central Library opening

How to Apply

All materials must be submitted through PublicArtist.org by Thursday, September 20th, 2018, 11:59 pm EST. Submissions that are incomplete, late or received by unauthorized means will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to submit in advance of the deadline so that unforeseen problems with materials can be addressed. Staff are available during office hours Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm to answer questions. There is no fee to submit qualifications.

Application Requirements

1. Biography
2. Resume: 1 page(s) maximum. Artists must demonstrate at least 5 years of professional public art experience as a lead artist.
3. Work examples: 3 – 10  Image dimensions: 1200 x 1200 pixels; video dimensions: 720 x 480 (width x height) pixels in formats (AVI,MOV,MP4,WMV)
4. Artist Statement: 200 word maximum
5. Letter of Interest: 400 word maximum
6. References: 3

QUESTIONS?  Contact Alex Frankcombe, 404-612-5780 or alex.frankcombe@fultoncountyga.gov