The Louisiana Percent for Art Program is seeking artists or artist teams to submit qualifications to design and implement an exterior site-specific sculpture or installation of original design at the site of the Barnes and Noble university bookstore and adjoining parking garage on the campus of Louisiana State University (LSU) located in Baton Rouge, LA.

Budget: $170,000 (total for 2 commissions)
Eligibility:  Professional artists over 18 (special consideration for Louisiana artists)
Deadline: 11/15/2019 10:59 PM Central Time

Site History
As the Flagship institution of the state, the vision of Louisiana State University is to be a leading research-extensive university, challenging undergraduate and graduate students to achieve the highest levels of intellectual and personal development.

LSU Union Square features the area of the campus bonded by Dalrymple Drive, East Campus Drive and South Campus Drive, and includes the Barnes & Noble university bookstore; the Club at LSU Union Square (formerly the LSU Faculty Club); the parking garage; the LSU Student Union and Union Theater; and connecting outdoor spaces. The Women’s Center, African American Cultural Center and the William A. Brookshire Military & Veterans Student Center are also located in the garage complex.

Project Description
Artist(s) are expected to create a work of permanent art that will serve as the focal point of this space, and provide an artistic element to the gathering space.

The artwork will be subject to direct sunlight (UV radiation) and must be unique, permanent, and require very minimal long-term maintenance. More detailed specifications will be given to artists selected to develop a proposal.

Artwork Location Description
Located at the Barnes and Noble university bookstore and parking garage site, the project has a place of prominence at the center of the campus. Adjoining the LSU Union Square, the site serves as a gathering that is frequented by students, faculty, and staff throughout the school year, as well as large numbers of visitors during special events.

Artwork Goals
The project should be consistent with the University’s commitment to the generation, preservation, dissemination, and application of knowledge and cultivation of the arts. The development and design for the artwork should:

• Consider the elements of the site as a source of design ideas
• Consider the area surrounding the artwork and its intended uses as described in this call.
• Reflect the university’s/community’s history, diversity and cultural profile
• Be durable, sturdy, stable, and suitable for the climate conditions, resistant to UV damage, and safe for public interaction.

Timeline
Application materials must be received by November 15, 2019 at 10:59PM CT via the Call for Entry (CAFE) system. Notifications will be issued no later than February 2020.

Selection Process
This is a call for submission of samples of previous work and qualifications only. If selected to develop a proposal for one of the commissions, you will be contacted by Percent for Art program staff with further details about the site, concept, and scope. An Art Selection Committee (the Committee) includes representatives from the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning & Control, the architectural firm that designed the facility, representatives from Louisiana State University, and the State Arts Council. The Committee will review all eligible artist submissions.

Finalists will be invited to attend two (2) meetings: a mandatory site visit to view the space and meet the committee, and an optional in-person presentation of the artist’s proposal before the committee. An honorarium/proposal fee of up to $1,500 will be paid to finalists to offset expenses associated with development of proposals and travel. The proposal must include the concept, materials, size, weight, installations requirements, details of maintenance, and budget. The proposal must also include a maquette or digital renderings as appropriate, which shows the physical volume of the space and allows for multiple perspectives of the artwork within the space. All proposal documents, including the maquette and renderings, will become property of the State of Louisiana and will be used for educational and/or promotional purposes of the program. Each finalist’s proposal and/or maquette may be exhibited for Committee and community consideration.

NOTE: The Percent for Art Program and the Artist Selection Committee reserve the right to reject any or all applications or proposals, to reject any finalist, or to terminate the selection process for any project within prior notice.

Selection Criteria
Submissions are evaluated by the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence and originality as evidenced by the representations of past work images and other supporting materials
• Appropriateness of artist’s medium, style, and previous experiences as they relate to the project goals and setting
• Experience with projects of a similar scale and scope
• Ability to create site-specific or site-reactive works
• Availability to participate in the design and implementation of the project as required
• Special consideration will be given to Louisiana artists, as defined by La. R.S.25:9000.1(E)
• The Committee may also take into consideration when selecting artists whether or not an artist is already represented in the state’s collection

What to Submit
Application materials must be received by November 15, 2019 at 10:59PM CT via the Call for Entry (CAFE) system. Incomplete or late submissions will NOT be accepted for any reason. Items required include:

1. A chronological resume/CV, demonstrating 5 years of professional visual art experience. No student work, please. If submitting as a team, a current resume should be submitted for each team member. 4 pages max per team member.
2. A letter of interest and artist statement.
3. Three professional references. Include the names and contact information for three individuals with whom you have worked, collaborated, or who have commissioned your work in the past. References will be contacted for artists invited to develop a proposal for the commission.
4. Upload 6 images of your original completed commissions that demonstrate your qualifications for the project, NO PROPOSALS. 3-D models, sketches, or drawings will not be accepted. You must include the title, medium, dimensions, project budget, year completed, location, and a description. The value must be indicated in US dollars. Each image must contain only one view of the work. Multiple views per image or unexecuted conceptual projects will not be considered and may disqualify your submission. Maximum size per image: 5 MB.

How to Submit
Submit online via the Call for Entry (CaFE) system ONLY.

QUESTIONS? Contact sfinch@crt.la.gov