The Public Art Committee of Johnson City, TN is seeking pieces of leasable outdoor sculpture to be installed for two years in and around Founders Park in downtown Johnson City.

BUDGET:  $2,000 lease fee (2-year lease period) PLUS hotel accommodations for one night

ELIGIBILITY: Sculptors age 18 or over and living in the United States

DEADLINE: February 28, 2021

Download full Request for Proposals here.

The program seeks original art works that may be functional or nonfunctional, temporary or permanent work in any media suitable for outdoor public space.

This sculpture exhibition, primarily located in Founders Park, is part of a larger greenway vision for the city. The greenway includes areas of pollinator plants and sites for public art, in addition to functional items such as benches, planters, educational kiosks, an outdoor events facility used by various vendors like the local farmers market, and bike racks. The greenway plan is visualized as both symbolic and practical: feeding culture and commerce between the community and university, as well as physically nurturing the environment by  providing a habitat that is beneficial to all.

All sculpture must meet the following basic requirements:

1. The work must be structurally sound so as to stand alone, or must be able to be secured to a concrete pad.
2. The project must be of a scale large enough to be clearly visible.
3. The work must be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions, including hot summers, cold winters, rain, wind, and snow. Founders Park may occasionally flood; sculptures should be able to withstand brief and occasional periods of water around the base.
4. The work must be suitable for pedestrian interaction with a low exposure to injury. The public must be protected from possible injury from materials and the work must not include moving parts.
5. The work must be original and preferably (but not required) be relatable to features of Johnson City and the greenway vision plan.

Installation dates are May 15-30, 2021. Installation must stay in place until May 2023. Johnson City will prepare the site and provide staff and heavy equipment (i.e. crane or forklift) for installation.

Selected artists are responsible for transportation of their work to and from the site and are encouraged to be on site to oversee installation.

Artist has full legal title and copyrights to the sculpture while on temporary loan to the City.

• Artist shall be responsible for maintaining their sculpture.
• Artist shall provide insurance for their sculpture while it is installed.

Artist shall pay the Johnson City Parks & Recreation Foundation a fee of twenty percent (20%) of the sale of their work while on exhibit or within six (6) months thereafter. At the conclusion of the exhibition, the Public Art Committee may recommend one or more works be purchased by the City for inclusion in Johnson City’s permanent collection.

WHAT TO PROVIDE

• Artist information
• Letter of intent
• Resume
• Two images each of up to 5 sculptures for consideration (maximum 10 images)
• Names and contact information for 3 professional references

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online here.

QUESTIONS? Contact Nancy Fischman, nancyfischman@gmail.com or (for City information) Phil Pindzola, Director of Public Works, City of Johnson City, ppindzola@johnsoncitytn.org or 423.434.6080