The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture

Request for qualifications to design metal fences and gates for several prominent city projects

Project Sites

Matthew A. Henson/HOPE VI Housing Project

An artist or designer will be contracted to design fences and gates for community gardens at the Matthew A. Henson/HOPE VI Housing Project site. The artist will work with the Office of Arts and Culture, the Housing Department, and the HOPE VI team. The project design budget is expected to be approximately $20,000. Once the design for the artwork is approved by the City of Phoenix, the artist would be contracted to fabricate or oversee the fence fabrication. The total construction budget is expected to be approximately $200,000, including expenses for construction, fabrication, installation, permitting approvals and City of Phoenix costs to coordinate the project.

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

An artist or designer will be contracted to design a fence and gates at the museum. The location along 7th Street in the heart of downtown Phoenix is highly visible. The artist will work with the Children’s Museum, the Office of Arts and Culture, Historic Preservation Office and other city departments. The work will bolster the City’s efforts to improve pedestrian amenities throughout downtown. The design budget for this project is expected to be approximately $25,000. Once the design for the artwork is approved by the City of Phoenix the artist will be issued a contract for fabrication or fabrication oversight. The total construction budget is approximately $300,000 including expenses for construction, fabrication, installation, permitting approvals and City of Phoenix costs to coordinate the project.

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Additional Projects

Artists who respond to this call may be considered for other future City of Phoenix public art projects.

Who Can Apply

Artists, designers, metalsmiths, graphic artists and industrial designers residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, or Utah are encouraged to apply. Artists new to public art are encouraged to apply if they feel that their work can be translated into designs for gates and fences.

Capability Guidelines Applicants must have the ability to collaborate effectively with design professionals, community residents and city officials. Artists new to public art may provide examples of how they have worked collaboratively on professional projects such as exhibitions, teaching or studio collaborations.

Selection Process

The primary criteria for selection will be previous artistic accomplishments as demonstrated in images submitted to the selection panel. Other considerations will be design team experience and the preliminary statement describing the artist’s project approach. Up to six semi-finalists will be selected to develop site-specific proposals for either site. Semifinalists will be given 4 to 6 weeks to produce proposals for final consideration.

Selection Panel

A selection panel will be convened by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. Panel members will include artists, arts professionals, community members and staff of the funding department. Non-voting advisors to the panel may include project consultants, such as architects or engineers, and additional city staff. The role of the Public Art Program staff is to facilitate the selection process. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be reviewed by the Public Art Committee; the Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission; a subcommittee of the City Council; and the full City Council prior to the award of a contract.

Application Guidelines & Format

Submission Requirements: To be considered for these public art projects, artists must submit the following:
1. Ten digital images of previously completed artwork, presented in a PowerPoint on a PC compatible CD-ROM formatted as follows:

* PowerPoint Slide background should be black
* Slide 1: Applicant’s name or team names only.
* Slide 2 thru 11: One image per PowerPoint Slide, and no other descriptive text.

* Do not group images on one slide.

2. One copy of an annotated, typewritten image list identifying images by number and listing media, size of the work (H x W x D), title, date, construction costs and a brief description of the artwork if necessary. If the work involves a design team, please indicate which part of the project you were responsible for completing.

3. One copy of a current resume or curriculum vitae. The resume should be no more than three pages and printed on white paper in no less than 10-point font.

4. One copy of a written preliminary statement, not to exceed one page, which addresses your interest in this project and describes how you would consider and approach the project (please note this is not intended to be a description of a specific proposal/idea). The statement must be submitted on white paper and in no less than a 10-point font.

5. Application materials and CD’s will NOT be returned upon completion of the selection process. If you strongly feel you need the CD back please include a stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient postage for the return of CD.

DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL ARTWORK OR DUPLICATE MATERIALS. Late applications will not be considered. Do not bind materials. Every effort will be made to ensure the safe handling of materials submitted, however, the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and the City of Phoenix will not be responsible for any loss or damage.

Mail or deliver applications to:

Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture
Public Art Program
ATTN: Fences & Gates
200 W. Washington Street. 10th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1611

Submission Deadline: Applications must be received at the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture by 5:00 p.m. M.S.T. on, Friday, July 10, 2009.

Initial Selection Meeting: TBD
Finalist Interviews and Panel Recommendation: TBD
City approval process and Award of Contract: TBD

Presubmission Meeting: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
An optional pre-submission meeting to learn about the Phoenix Public Art Program and to obtain additional information about this and other upcoming projects will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 200 West Washington Street, Assembly Room A. Attendance is not required but may be useful in preparing a submission, especially for artists new to public art. Attendance is free but e-mail or call at 602-534-5084(or via City of Phoenix TTY Relay at 602-534-5500) to confirm attendance and make any requests for reasonable accommodations.

Rules and Guidelines: The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture reserves the right, as its best interests may appear, to reject any or all applications or proposals, to reject any finalist, to waive informalities in applications or proposals, or to terminate the selection process for any project without prior notice. The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture reserves the right to make selections from the Juried Slide Registry in addition to submitted applications or in the event that insufficient or inappropriate applications are received or to terminate any project at any time. Application to any project advertised by the Phoenix Office of Art and Culture constitutes agreement to all applicable rules and guidelines. A complete copy of the rules and guidelines is available at phoenix.gov/arts. To receive a printed copy, call the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture at (602) 262-4637.

Additional Information: For additional information on this project, or for a copy of this publication in an alternate format, contact:

Elizabeth Grajales
Public Art Project Manager
(602) 534.7230

OR Through City of Phoenix TTY Relay at (602) 534-5500.