A Call for Artist Participation – Alley Beautification in Grants Pass

Greetings Artists and Community Members,

The City of Grants Pass and the Committee on Public Art (CoPA) is seeking an artist to work with the CoPA Sub-Committee to transform one of the Historical Downtown Alleyways.

        Alley Beautification Call for Artist Participation

Prospectus:

The City of Grants Pass is investing in the transformation of select alleyways downtown into usable and enjoyed public spaces. The Alley Beautification project furthers the City’s goal of creating a vibrant commercial district by enhancing downtown activities and safe spaces. In this project, the selected artist will have the support of the City’s Committee on Public Arts (CoPA) to survey key stakeholders and design site-specific art installation(s) for the selected alleyway. The artist will be asked to create work(s) that create a sense of play and invoke interaction from the public, while also respecting placement within the City’s Historic District.  The Alley Beautification project is commissioned by the City of Grants Pass with a budget of $20K. Deadline for this Call for Artist is March 6, 2020. While local creators may be given preference, there is no geographic eligibility requirement to apply.

Project Description: 

The Alley Beautification project is a commission of new work(s), where the artist is the creator.  The artist will have the support of the City’s Committee on Public Art (CoPA) to survey interests of key stakeholders to design and create one or more works of public art for the Osprey Alley. The project will be overseen by CoPA with final authority given to City Council. Key stakeholders include business owners adjacent to the alley and the City’s Historic Building & Sites Commission. The Osprey Alley is the first in a series of alleyways to be developed. 

Location: 

The Osprey Alley is located between 6^th and 5^th streets and parallel to H and I streets. As this site is within the City’s Historic District, no permanent changes can be made to surrounding buildings, and color palette may be limited (i.e. No neon colors).  There is some existing landscaping in the alley, as well as one existing lamppost and temporary hanging lights. Vehicles bringing supplies to adjacent businesses intermittently need access to a portion of the alley.  Additional engineering and architectural information available as needed. There have been no decisions other than details listed above on the use of the space.

The Osprey Alley is open to the public and can be used as a corridor between 6^th street and the Osprey parking lot, a public parking lot which itself features a public art work of a nested osprey.  This alley, most central of alleys under consideration for the Alley Beautification project, is adjacent to many trendy restaurants, bars and venues that draw heavy foot traffic. While the alley is lightly landscaped, the City has found the landscaping insufficient to draw the attention and use of the space by the public.  The Alley can be described as made of two sections: 1) a non-vehicle accessible portion (closer to 6^th Street) containing light landscaping and insulated on either side by the brick siding of neighboring businesses, 2) a vehicle accessible portion (closer to 5^th Street) with business on one side and open on the other. 

Criteria:

For the Osprey Alley we are looking for work(s) that create a sense of play and cause the public to interact with the space and/or others, while also respecting placement within the City’s Historic District.  Specifically, we are looking for work(s) that cause the public to: 1) pause, enter and look deeply at the space, 2) engage and/or play in the space, and 3) record their presence in the space with a unique image (selfie).

This is a call for artist qualifications. This is not a Request for Proposals. Please do not submit specific proposals for the Osprey Alley or the Alley Beautification project.  Please ensure full contact information is included with application.

Budget:

The budget for this project is $20K and includes artist’s fees, engineering, materials, fabrication, transportation, and installation. Budget does not include travel, insurance, taxes, studio overhead, and miscellaneous items.

Artist Eligibility:

Local artist, artist teams, as well as students are encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements:

Please email or mail all the following with your application:

1. Statement of Interest: In 800 words or less, introduce yourself and describe your specific interest in the project, your potential approach to the project or creating public art, and any past relevant experience.
2. Resume or short biography
3. Visuals Support Materials: 3-10 images depicting previous work. Visual support materials can include digital images, slides, videos, CDs, or prints.
4. Annotated List: The annotated list allows you to describe the visual support material and should include description, material, location, budget, client or commissioning organization, and any other relevant project information.

Deadline:

All applications must be received by 3:00 P.M. on March 6, 2020. Applications received after this date cannot be guaranteed review.  Please submit all required application materials by emailing [email protected], with the subject line Alley Beautification Application, or mail to:

C/O Susan Seereiter, Business Advocate

City of Grants Pass

101 NW A Street

Grants Pass, OR 97526

Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed by the City’s Committee on Public Arts (CoPA). CoPA was formed in 2002 to promote and develop visual arts, performing arts and art education in Grants Pass. The Committee is made of community members volunteering to advise the City Council of the development of partnerships and coordination of themes and approaches to the arts, along with recommendations to the City Council for methods to induce investments in public arts.

After initial review of applications Up to four finalists will be selected and may be requested to interview with the Committee or a subset of members. Travel expenses are not covered for finalists selected to interview, and a teleconference can be provided. Final selection will receive approval by the City Council upon CoPA’s recommendation.

Interviews will start after March 10, 2020. You will be contacted after this date.

Selection Criteria:

• evidence of innovative thinking in designing spaces for public art
• ability to work with community members and respond to their concerns
• ability to work within the constraints of city codes and requirements

For questions, contact Susan Seereiter, Business Advocate City of Grants Pass at (541) 450-6014 [email protected]. 

Kind Regards,

Susan

Susan Seereiter

Business Advocate

www.grantspassoregon.gov

(541) 450-6014 (Direct)