Click
here to download the entire RFQ
Project Description
The University of Central Arkansas seeks an artist
or artist team to create a new site-specific, original,
outdoor public artwork for Alumni Circle Plaza.
Work in a variety of durable media and forms will
be considered. The goal of this installation is to
provide an aesthetically pleasing, interactive community
space that marks the university's centennial. The
theme of the artwork has not been pre-selected but
should reference the history and traditions of the
institution, highlight current achievements, and
articulate the centennial theme: “New Vision, New
Century.”
Project Goals
The goals for a successful public art project for
Alumni Circle include:
• Commemorating the university's centennial.
• Commissioning original site-specific
artwork and/or an installation that engages viewers,
that affirms the site as a memorable place for generations
of UCA graduates, and that provides a welcoming and
accessible setting for daily and significant events.
• Integrating the artwork with the architectural
styles of existing buildings surrounding the site.
• Involving the campus community in the
creative process.
• Developing a durable, low-maintenance
artwork, that meets the guidelines established by
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Artwork Location Description
The plaza site (approximately 240 x 250 feet) is
a highly visible and heavily traveled location at
the center of the campus. The site is framed on three
sides by existing redbrick, Georgian Revival-style
buildings. The fourth side is open to a tree-lined
roadway that visually connects the site to the president's
home. Currently, the site is accessible to vehicular
traffic as a drop-off and turn-around zone; however,
this project seeks to redesign Alumni Circle as a
pedestrian space. The completed site will require
limited vehicular access for fire and safety purposes.
Three buildings frame the plaza site. Main Hall (to
the west), designed in 1918 as the original Administration
Building, houses an auditorium, and administrative
and educational support offices. Harrin Hall (to the
south), completed in 1929, now provides student services.
Torreyson Library, built in 1963 and remodeled in
1992, is a circulating library that houses .5 million
volumes.
Site History
Alumni Circle was created in 1924 as part of a systematic
beautification initiative of the campus. Since that
date, Alumni Circle and the adjacent stairway entrance
to Main Hall (formerly the Administration Building
) have served as an important social and ceremonial
center of the campus. Providing not only an opportunity
for student interaction, recreation, and sociability,
Alumni circle has been used as the parading grounds
for WACS during World War II, a stage for the awarding
of the ‘Baby of Arts' degree during the baby boom
of the post-war era, and as a promenade for graduates
(until 1973) entering Main Hall along its parallel
sidewalks.
Project Budget
The budget is estimated at $500,000 (including all
costs for art and plaza renovation, artist's fee
and travel, materials, fabrication, transportation
and installation, landscaping, documentation of the
art, and signage).
Artists' Eligibility
This opportunity is open to all artists and artist
teams residing in the United States. Experience
with public projects, especially in relation to large
capital projects, is preferred. Artists/teams residing
in Arkansas will be given preference. The University
of Central Arkansas does not discriminate based on
sex, race or color, religion, national origin, age,
disability, or other factors irrelevant to participation.
Application Requirements
Artists interested in this project must prepare
and submit the following:
• A 1-2 page letter of interest, describing
your approach to creating public art, any past relevant
experience, and your insights regarding artwork for
this location.
• A current professional résumé/CV
(not to exceed three pages). Artists working collaboratively
must submit a résumé for each collaboration
member.
• Slides (35 mm in 2” x 2” mounts) or
CD-R with no more than 10 (ten) color JPEG digital
images @72 dpi of recent related previous work of
public art/public spaces. Maximum pixel dimension
is 600 x 800; maximum file size 500 KB.
• A numbered image list with the artist's
name, title of artwork, execution date, materials,
dimensions, location, project budget, client or commissioning
organization, and a brief description of each image.
• References: List of projects completed
within the past five years with the contact information
for commissioning organization. List the contact
name, name of firm, address, e-mail address, and
telephone number for each commissioning agency. Letters
of recommendation are not required.
• A self-addressed stamped envelope,
large enough to return slides or CD-R. Submissions
without the SASE will not be returned.
Click
here to download a submission form
Application Deadline
Application materials are due by 5:00 p.m., March
16, 2007 (postmarks not acceptable).
Mail/Deliver Applications to:
Public Art Committee
College of Fine Arts and Communications
222 Harrin Hall
University of Central Arkansas
Conway , AR 72035
Selection Process
An artist selection panel consisting of at least
two art professionals, two UCA Public Art Committee
members, one UCA faculty member, one UCA staff member,
one UCA administrator, one UCA student, and one UCA
alumnus will review all proposals and select up to
five finalists. The finalists will be invited to
make an initial site visit to discuss the project
with the selection committee. The finalists will
be awarded an honorarium ($2,000 each) to create
and deliver a site-specific design proposal (including
a project narrative, a scale model, an itemized budget,
a project timeline, and general maintenance guidelines).
Finalists will return to campus to present their
proposals in person to the selection panel and at
a public meeting. Travel and per diem reimbursements,
up to $500, will be awarded to out-of-area artists.
The selection panel will make a recommendation to
the university president regarding the artist awarded
the project. The University of Central Arkansas reserves
the right to reject any and all proposals submitted.
All finalists' design proposals will be exhibited
publicly at the university and on the Alumni Circle
website for a period of 2-3 weeks for community input.
Design proposals and their copyright will belong
to the artist(s). The University of Central Arkansas
reserves the right to use images of the concept designs,
written proposals, scale models, and the finished
work for educational and promotional purposes.
Selection Criteria
The artist(s) will be selected based on the following
criteria:
• Thematic relevance to the centennial
theme,
• Artistic quality of past work,
• Proven ability to complete public art
projects on time and on budget,
• Durability of materials that are easily
maintained in an outdoor setting,
• Desire to work with the campus community.
Project Timeline
(contingent upon the university's
project schedule and may be changed at any time)
March 16, 2007: Application deadline
April 2007:
Announcement of finalists
September 2007: Presentation
of finalists' designs
October 2007: Announcement
of project winner
To be
determined: Completion of project
Additional Information
Conway:
www.cityofconway.org
www.conwayarkcc.org
http://thecabin.net
UCA:
www.uca.edu
www.uca.edu/campaign
http://archives.uca.edu/uca_history.html
Campus
Master Plan
