To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, ArtsConnect, in collaboration with the City of Topeka, Visit Topeka, Inc. and other local partners, is issuing a call for RFQs for “the creation of collaborative and meaningful artwork centered on critical discussion of both the historic and contemporary heritage of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.”
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) are due by December 5, 2022. Three (3) artists/artist collectives will be selected by a jury of project stakeholders to develop full project proposals, which will be due in January of 2023.
BUDGET
The expected budget for this project will range from $200,000-$350,000.
RFQ APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
All artists/art collectives applying must post the following:
- Six (6) to Ten (10) Images for review with all pertinent information (artist name, artwork title, medium, dimensions, price/value, year completed and commissioning agency if applicable). Inclusion of up to four (4) videos no longer than three (3) minutes is optional.
- Artist(s) Resume(s), placing emphasis on public art projects or other related art experiences. Please include total budgets for each project and indicate each artist’s role, if the project is a design collaboration.
- Letter of Interest no longer than two (2) pages describing why the applicant is excited about this project and how they would fulfill and commit to the project’s scope and goals. Art collectives will post a collective statement about their team’s work. Specific proposals are not requested at this stage in the process.
- Professional References for up to three (3) past installations, exhibitions or public commissions. Include phone numbers and email addresses.
PROPOSAL COMPENSATION
Chosen artists/art collectives will be paid $2,500 for proposal development in two payments:
- $1,250 upon return of the signed agreement
- $1,250 upon delivery of a complete proposal containing all the items listed in the Proposal Requirements section of this document
Open to all artists and/or artist collaboratives based in the US who are (or have been) engaged in the creation of socially-engaged original cross-disciplinary works of public art at a scale and material suitable for outdoor display. Artists based in the Midwest are encouraged to apply. Previous years of experience in outdoor installation of public work is preferred but not necessary.
