An artist is sought to create a gateway sculpture for Six Forks Road, Raleigh’s major midtown corridor, or a series of episodic interventions along the corridor.

Budget: $90,000
Eligibility: Professional artists over 18, who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents (no undergraduate students)
Deadline: 09/14/2020

Project Description
Six Forks Road is the heart of Raleigh’s evolving Midtown. It is home to many churches, schools, businesses and shopping centers, and provides
access to many established neighborhoods. Six Forks Road is also a major transportation corridor connecting I-440 and I-540 through central and north
Raleigh, providing an important route for commuters.

Midtown Raleigh contains a vibrant and thriving business district of start ups, long established employers, financial and accounting powerhouses, hospitality venues, and an array of retail and dining. It is a destination, and the attractive shopping and mixed-use districts that are evolving along its length are bringing people from around the city to Six Forks Road to shop and to enjoy entertainment.

The Six Forks Road project stretches between Rowan Street and Lynn Road and involves:

• Widening road to accommodate three lanes of travel in each direction with a planted median;
• Separated bike lane and sidewalks on each side of the road;
• Signal improvements and protected intersections for cyclists and pedestrians;
• Transit stops;
• Green stormwater infrastructure;
• Landscaping and other amenities.

To learn more about the project visit: https://raleighnc.gov/projects/six-forks-road-improvements

Artwork Goals

• The public art can be stand-alone or integrated into the site. The artist is being brought into the project early to allow for greater site integration
  and the possibility of including some infrastructure in the project construction (rather than public art) budget.
• Potential opportunities include stand alone sculptures, and/or artwork integrated into green stormwater features, transit stops, street lighting,
  benches/bike racks or other site elements.
• The streetscape project will enhance both vehicular, pedestrian and cycling connectivity, and the artwork should take into account interactions from both vehicular and pedestrian scale.
• A successful artwork and public art process will discover and reinforce a sense of place, neighborhood/district identity and community.
• The artist will work closely with the City or Raleigh Roadway and Design Services, the City of Raleigh Arts Office, RK&K Civil Enginering, project
  stakeholders, and the community.

Timeline

• RFQ Application Deadline: Monday September 14, 10am
• Semi-Finalists Selected and Notified: October 1, 2020
• Semi- Finalists Interviewed: October 30, 2020
• Project Awarded: November 2020

Selection Process and Criteria
Applications submitted in response to this RFQ will be reviewed by the City of Raleigh Public Art Director, who will then forward all complete and eligible applications received by the deadline to the Artist Selection Panel, appointed by the Public Art and Design Board. The Panel may include: a member of the Public Art and Design Board, professional artists and arts professionals, stakeholders from community groups, and representatives from city departments.

The selection process will consist of two stages: During the first stage, the Artist Selection Panel will evaluate qualifications of artists based on three criteria: artistic merit; appropriateness for the project; and how the applicants work engates the site on a social, physical, and cultural level. The Artist Selection Panel will identify up to three finalists to invite to Raleigh for interviews. Finalists selected for the Stage 2 interviews will receive a $250 stipend to interview via video conference. In addition to reviewing qualifications, panelists will discuss with finalists their prospective approaches to the project. They will also respond to questions. A specific proposal is not expected at this interview.

The Artist Selection Panel will choose the artist for the project and forward that recommendation to the Public Art and Design Board. Upon approval by the Public Art and Design Board, a scope of services and budget will be developed based on the artist’s or artist team’s approach to the project.

What to Submit

1. Artist contact information
2. Statement of Interest: A 1000 word (or less) statement outlining your interest in this project and your experience working on public art projects, or relevant art experience. Include how your work and experience will complement this project.
3. Artist Resume: A résumé of no more than two pages that includes information regarding public art commissions, exhibitions, and installations, awards, special projects, community engagement, grants and education. If applying as a team, submit a single file containing separate résumés for each team member.
4. Three Professional References: Contact information for three references: including name, title and affiliation, phone number and email address. References should be able to speak to your ability to provide services for a public art project or artwork of a similar scope.
5. Portfolio: Provide 10 images (up to 5 MB each) or videos (up to 250 MB each; may link to media from YouTube or Vimeo).  In your description please include the location, commissioning agency, and any collaborators or design professionals.

How to Submit

Submit ONLINE ONLY via Slideroom.

QUESTIONS? Contact Kelly McChesney, Public Art Director, kelly.mcchesney@raleighnc.gov or by phone, 919-996-5657