The Broward Cultural Division’s Public Art & Design Program is seeking to commission one artist or artist team (Artist), to create a fully integrated artwork that enhances the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center expansion located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This artistic intervention shall create a sense of place for Convention Center visitors. Artist shall design an artistic treatment for the terrazzo floors in the two Pre-Function areas, located at the building North and East entrances. Artwork design concept could be abstract or representational in nature. The artwork shall make a visual statement and be impactful to Convention Center visitors.

BUDGET:  $650,000

ELIGIBILITY: Professional artists over 18 who have completed a minimum of five (5) public art projects with a budget of $25,000 or more

DEADLINE:  May 13, 2020

About Broward County, Florida

Broward County was established in 1915. By the 1960s, Broward County was considered a leader in agriculture products and services within the State of Florida. The region, which stretches across 409.8 square miles of developable area, was transformed in the 1970s when mid-rise and high-rise development replaced farmland. Today, over 1.8 million people live in the County’s 31 municipalities and municipal service districts, as well as the Seminole Tribe of Florida reservation. Broward is one of six counties in Florida where minorities constitute the majority. The undeveloped, protected western two-thirds of the county consists of wetlands and the Everglades. Among Broward County’s unusual characteristics are 246 miles of canals; highest point is 25 feet above mean sea level; numerous seasonal residents; 7.5 million annual tourists and a major cruise ship terminal. The climate is sub-tropical (75.4F average annual temperature) with wet summer and fall, and dry spring and winter seasons. For more information, visit www.sunny.org.

About the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center

The 600,000 square foot Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center is home to numerous conventions, trade shows, meetings, consumer shows, sporting competitions and large events. The Convention Center consistently exceeds guest and meeting planner expectations for five-star food service, e-of the-art technology, and outstanding service in a modern, eco-friendly facility in a spectacular location. The venue’s flexible space can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of any group size and of events. It contains 4 Exhibit Halls, 2 Ballrooms and 31 Meeting rooms.

The new expansion of the Convention Center consists of the addition of a new headquarters hotel. The new Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center will almost double in size once the project is completed. The expansion plan includes:

• An extension of the main Exhibit Hall by 150,000 sq. ft. to create 350,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space;
• A new 65,000 sq.-ft. ballroom facing the Intracoastal Waterway;
• An additional 50,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space to accommodate multiple events or convenient break outs;
• Multiple upgrades including forward-thinking technologies, innovative dining concepts, versatile pre-function space and modern décor that complements Greater Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront destination;
• Convenient skywalks connecting the event space, headquarters hotel and parking structure.

Artwork Scope 

The selected Artist shall design, fabricate and install unique, functionally integrated artwork for the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Opportunities for artwork exist at the New Convention Center East building.

Artist shall design an artistic treatment for the terrazzo floors in the two Pre-Function areas, located at the building North and East entrances. Artwork design concept could be abstract or representational in nature. The artwork shall make a visual statement and be impactful to Convention Center visitors.  The artwork must be highly durable. Long-term maintenance must be minimal and assured by the proper selection and installation of materials.

Shortlisted artists shall coordinate proposed artwork locations, with major architectural, electrical or engineering, interface with the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center Design Team. All elements of the artwork must comply to the current Florida Building Code.

Prior to working on the design proposal, an information meeting will be scheduled by the County for the shortlisted artists to discuss possible artwork opportunities in consultation with the Design Team. The shortlisted Artists will receive additional information about the project including architectural drawings of the New Convention Center.

Artist Services

Interaction with community, agency, design team and general contractor will be required. Other activities include:

• Design development of approved conceptual design
• Fabrication and delivery of artwork components, as needed
• Community engagement and outreach
• Artwork installation oversight

Timeline

• Selection of Finalists for Call to Artists: May 2020
• Finalist Interviews and Conceptual Design Proposal Selection: June 2020
• Artwork Completion and Installation: TBD

Selection Process

The Broward Cultural Division manages the application process. An Artist Selection Panel (Panel) shall review the applications to this Call to Artists. This Panel includes a member of the Public Art & Design Committee, arts professionals, and an agency and community representative. The Panel shall review the applicants and select a shortlist of finalists.

All finalists are required to attend an information meeting prior to submitting a design proposal for this project. They will receive additional information about the project during that meeting and discuss opportunities for artwork within the site with the Design Team and Cultural Division staff. Subsequently, the shortlisted artists will be invited to develop conceptual design proposals to present in-person to the Artist Selection Panel. They will have a minimum of one (1) month to prepare a conceptual design proposal for review by the Artist Selection Panel. Finalists will be paid a $2,500.00 honorarium for the proposal, presentation and travel expenses. Finalists’ proposals must include a written narrative, visual materials (drawings and optional models) necessary to convey the initial concept or approach to the project, estimated project budget, schematic project schedule, and future maintenance schedule. Proposals, including models/maquettes, become property of Broward County and will not be returned. Finalists must submit digital files of their full presentation five (5) business days prior to the scheduled date of the finalist interviews.

The County reserves the right to re-issue this Call to Artists, to reject any and all responses to this Call to Artists, and to negotiate with any qualified artist selected for this project. Artist may also be selected based on the strength of their design proposal, but County reserves the right to ask for a new design once the selection process is complete.

Selection Criteria

Finalists will be identified on the basis of the excellence of their past work, as demonstrated by the visuals and other submission materials. The Panel shall also consider the versatility and appropriateness of the media in which the shortlisted Artists have demonstrated proficiency, as it relates to the scope of this project.

What to Submit

1. Cover Letter – Artist shall describe interest in the project, including a short biographical statement.
2. Professional Résumé – Artist (Part 1) shall include public art commissions with contact information for Project Manager or Program Director and budget size of past projects.
3. Electronic Images – Artist and Professional Visual Artist must submit 10 digital images of most recent relevant work. All images must be saved using a file name and number that corresponds to the Annotated Image List (see below). Each digital image must feature a single work.  Composites of various artworks in a single image will not be considered.
4. Annotated Image List – Include name of artist, title of work, year, media, size, and location of artwork and/or project, project budget, image number and any other relevant information.

How to Submit

Applications must be submitted via the Submittable website. Hard copy materials will not be accepted for this Call to Artists. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, May 13, 2020 at 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).

QUESTIONS? Contact Dominique Denis, Public Art & Design Project Manager, (954) 357-7236 or ddenis@broward.org OR Fraser Poorman, Public Art & Design Art Assistant, (954) 357-4795 or fpoorman@broward.org.