213-202-5941
Los Angeles, CA, Unknown
The LA County Department of Arts and Culture’s Civic Art Program (Arts and Culture) seeks artist(s) or artist team(s) to design an indoor two-dimensional artwork for the entrance lobby of the Vermont Corridor Building, a new facility for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS).
Budget: $125,000
Eligibility: Professional artists residing in and working in the United States; prefer artists who do not already have artwork in the L.A. County Civic Art Collection
Deadline: 09/20/2019 7:00 PM Central Time
Project Description
The LA County Department of Arts and Culture’s Civic Art program strives to create artworks which reflect aesthetic and technical quality, innovation, site-specificity, and civic engagement. To ensure that the artwork meets the expectations of staff, neighborhood residents, and other stakeholders, the selected artist (or artist team) will be required to participate in a rigorous design process. This process includes place-based research through creative public engagement, regular site visits and design meetings, conservator review, structural engineering, budget tracking, and timeline management.
Site History
The mission of the LA County Department of Mental Health is to optimize the hope, wellbeing, and life trajectory of Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable through access to care and resources that promote not only independence and personal recovery, but also connectedness and community reintegration.
The mission of the Department of Workforce Development, Aging, and Community Services (WDACS) is to connect communities and improve the lives of all generations in LA County. We achieve our mission through effective, partnership-driven services and initiatives that:
The Vermont Corridor is a major project which spans 5 County-owned properties in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. The purpose of this project is to expedite the elimination of blight, provide DMH and WDACS with a new headquarters facility, offer job opportunities for residents, and provide expansion opportunities for local and/or small businesses. Project completion is anticipated for June 2021.
This civic art project coincides with a series of structural and architectural transformations of several County buildings and properties into modern facilities that will serve the public in ways that revitalize communities, improve services, and support a welcoming environment for a department whose core mission centers around hope, recovery, and well-being.
Artwork Location Description
The lobby will serve as both a lobby entrance with a hospitality feel and as a respite for persons experiencing homelessness by offering a resting place, access to resources and specialists, etc. The area will be equipped with tables and chairs, a small reception area, and adjacent rooms for some support services. Both visitors and staff will utilize the Vermont Avenue entrance, which is the main presence along Vermont Avenue.
The artwork will be located on the soffit wall at the Vermont Avenue entrance to the building, which measures measures 12’8” high x 54-0” wide.
Artwork Goals
The artwork should add to a safe and therapeutic environment—a welcoming harbor. The artwork design should be site-specific, informed by the nature of the neighborhood, the facility, and specifically with the services that this facility provides.
Timeline
*Potential applicants are invited to discuss the RFQ process with the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture’s Civic Art Program at the August 14 Artists’ Civic Art Application Process Workshop. This workshop will cover the application process and strategies for successful portfolio submissions for a range of upcoming Civic Art opportunities.
Selection Process
Up to four artists will be short-listed for interviews (and to develop paid proposals) based on the qualifications and criteria listed in this artist call. A finalist/artwork proposal will be selected from a short presentation and interview. A unique Project Coordination Committee (PCC) has been assembled for this civic art commission. The PCC reviews artist applications, conducts finalist interviews, selects the artist (or artist team), and reviews the project from design development through artwork installation. The PCC is composed of three to five representatives from applicable County departments and arts professionals. The Civic Art program staff serves as non-voting advisors to the PCC and facilitates the selection process. All artists who submit their materials for review will receive written notification of the results of the selection process, including identification of the selected artist(s).
Selection Criteria
Artists will be selected on the basis of their qualifications, as demonstrated by the quality of their past work and suitability of their artistic expression for this particular site. Artist applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
FORM
FUNCTION
ENVIRONMENT
TECHNOLOGY
PROCESS
What to Submit
Include in your application the following:
How to Submit
OPTION 1: Submit by mail to: Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Civic Art Program, ATTN: VERMONT CORRIDOR PROJECT/Caroline Lerch, 1055 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90017 OR
OPTION 2: Submit via DropBox filesharing LINK (not shared files or folders) to Clerch@arts.lacounty.gov no later than Friday, September 20, 2019 | 5PM PST. Any application materials received after this date and time will be rejected and considered non-responsive.
Filesharing Instructions:
QUESTIONS? Contact Caroline Lerch, 213-202-5941 or clerch@arts.lacounty.gov