R.I. Government Agencies | Privacy Policy |
RFQ submission deadline:
January 15, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. (EST)
Budget: $85,000
Deadline: January 15, 2011
Artwork for the Block Island Airport will be commissioned through Rhode Island’s Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to the purchase and maintenance of public art. Through this program the State recognizes that “public art creates a more humane environment: one of distinction, enjoyment, and pride for all citizens”.
ABOUT THE AIRPORT
Block Island State Airport is one of six airports operated by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. It provides essential access to this beautiful offshore vacation retreat. Visitors from around the country are able to reach the island via New England Airlines. The airport is somewhat quiet in the off-season but can be quite busy during summer and weekends in spring and autumn.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
The Rhode Island Airport Corporation, (RIAC), operates T.F. Green Airport and the five other general aviation airports in Rhode Island. A long-time supporter of public art in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation has worked with the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts on a number of public art commissions.
Established in 1967, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) is charged by the state legislature to stimulate public interest and participation in the arts and to serve as the liaison to the state arts community.
ABOUT THE SITE
There are 2 possible sites for artwork:
1. Artwork could be suspended in the semi-hexagonal center cupola area, which is approximately 30’ high and 19’ across. Steel trusses cross back and forth in the space and there is a central rotating fan. Artists installing kinetic work would need to ensure that their piece was above the level of detection by the security system, as the building closes and is alarmed in the evening. Natural lighting comes in through the cupola windows.
2. Artwork could be installed on the strip that wraps around the bottom of the central cupola. This strip is 24” high. It measures 100 linear feet. It is 12’ off the floor. This section might be a good place for a ceramic or painted mural, or other artwork.
An aspect of low maintenance will be very important for this commission. Although a maintenance fee is built into the project, it is difficult and expensive to get people out to the island for cleaning or repairs.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
In accordance with the guidelines of Rhode Island's 1% for Public Art Law, a five member public art selection panel has been appointed by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA). It is composed of one representative of the RI Airport Corporation, a representative of the community, two artists selected by RISCA, and the project architect. The panel has met to discuss aesthetic and thematic concerns for the project. Artist applicants are asked to consider the following in planning their proposals:
Artists are encouraged to think about life on Block Island in all seasons. The diner located at the airport serves breakfast and lunch to residents year round. There is no pharmacy on the island, so residents also go there to pick up prescribed medications from the ticket counter.
Panelists used words like ‘nautical’,‘elemental’, ‘meteorological’. Some mentioned that living on the island is like living on a ship. You are out on the ocean. Artwork could address elements of water and/or air. It could address the vulnerability and the toughness of life on the island. It is sometimes difficult to get there and to live there in the elements. Block Islanders are adventurous.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please note: This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is the first step in the public art selection process.
RISCA will conduct the Block Island Airport Public Art application process online, with all materials submitted in digital format through CaFÉ (see below). There is no charge to the artist for applying or for submitting digital images. At this preliminary selection stage, we are requesting submissions from artists or art teams consisting of six (6) images representing current work (completed within the past five years), resumes, and very brief descriptions of potential site-specific proposals.
If an artist wants to apply as an individual as well as part of a team, two separate CaFÉ profiles and two separate CaFÉ applications must be completed (i.e., one application submission for you and one application submission for your team).
Applications consisting of six images, answers to designated questions, and resumes will be reviewed by the Block Island Airport Public Art Selection Panel to assess the quality and appropriateness of the artist's work, interest in their proposal idea, and the artist’s ability to carry out a substantial public art commission.
Applicants are asked only to provide a short description of their proposal for artwork at the site along with a rough outline of expenses totaling no more than $85,000. Three finalists will be selected from the pool of RFQ applicants and those finalists will craft detailed proposals including an itemized budget, scale models and renderings, and an in-depth project description.
No slides or hard copy materials will be accepted for this call. First time CaFÉ applicants must allow enough time to prepare their CaFÉ formatted digital images and electronic submission prior to the deadline. CaFÉ surveys have shown that it takes approximately 1.5 hours to prepare images and submit an online application, dependent on a variety of factors.
Each application must be submitted via the CaFÉ(tm) web site (www.callforentry.org) and must include:
1. A current resume for each artist. If you are applying as a team, include all team member resumes within one document.
2. Six digital images of relevant artwork. In the Description of Image, accompanying image annotation must list media, size, title, date of completion and a brief description of the artwork if necessary. Please do not present more than one view of artwork per image. If you wish to show a detail, include it within the six (6) artwork images.
3. A written statement, not to exceed 3000 characters, that addresses the artist's/team's preliminary concept or potential approach for creating site-specific public art for Block Island Airport as well as the total budget amount.
ESTIMATED TIMELINE
January 15, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. (MST) - Deadline for submissions
Early February – panel chooses 3 finalists; artists notified
Late February - finalist site visits
Late March – finalist presentations to selection panel; final selection; artists notified
April, 2012 - final approval by RISCA Council
According to law, final recommendations of the selection panel will be presented to the governing council of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts who will have final approval of the public art selection.
BUDGET
$85,000 is available for the acquisition of artwork. This amount must cover all costs of the artwork including artist fees, engineering fees, fabrication, installation, and transportation of the art, as well as all site work required before and after installation. If a proposal includes multiple components that spread beyond the building or incorporate landscape or media elements, those expenses must be included within the allotted budget.
SELECTION PROCESS
The Request for Qualifications is the first stage of the selection process. Visual artists are invited to submit samples of their work and their CV/resumes for consideration. Six (6) images must be included with your CaFE application. The panel will select between three finalists from the pool of applicants. These finalists will be invited to submit specific proposals, in person, to the Art Selection Panel based upon the goals and descriptions of the Request for Qualifications.
Finalist’s site-specific proposals should convey artist’s ideas and plans through designs, renderings and/or scale models with a statement that describes the project's intent, proposed materials, fabrication and installation methods, and an itemized budget. Artists chosen as finalists are also asked to explain how their artwork will be sourced and fabricated. The finalists will be supplied with plans, photographs, and specific information about the airport. A site visit as well as a meeting with the architect and the Block Island Airport administration will be scheduled for the finalists.
An honorarium of $2,500 will be awarded to the finalists following presentation of their proposals. This stipend includes all travel expenses: hotel, transportation, mileage, etc., for both the site visit and the subsequent presentation meeting. Finalists will not be reimbursed separately for any travel costs.
The proposals will remain the property of the artist. However, RISCA reserves the right to retain proposals for up to one year for display purposes and the right to reproduce final proposals for documentation and public information purposes.
The Public Art Selection Panel reserves the right to determine which proposal will be funded and the extent of funding. The panel also reserves the right to not accept any final proposal submitted. If the recommendations of the Public Art Selection Panel are approved by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, the selected artist/s will enter into a contract with the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts for the selected commission. The accepted artwork will be owned and maintained by the State of Rhode Island.
The commission process can be lengthy. It is within the purview of RISCA and the other commissioning agencies to request changes to the original proposal.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The panel will select the artist based on the following criteria:
1. Artistic Quality: Quality and suitability of the final proposal in relation to the project description, program goals and site descriptions.
2. Ability of the Artist/Artist Team: The artist's ability to carry out the commission, to keep the project within budget and to complete and install the work on schedule.
3. Value: The quality and scope of the proposed completed work in relation to the commission and fees paid to the artist/artist’s team.
4. Durability of the Work: Permanence and durability of materials for this heavily used public facility. It is the artist’s responsibility to ensure that all artwork meets safety standards, adheres to building codes and other state regulations. Artworks must be durable and require minimal maintenance.
5.Collaborative Spirit: Willingness of the artist to consult with community members, the architects, landscape architects, civil engineers, general contractor and building staff (or designated representatives) to assure smooth integration of the artwork into the site and to make necessary adjustments in relation to building codes and other construction issues.
ARTIST ELIGIBILITY
This call is open to all artists. Applications may be submitted individually or in collaboration with others. The panel will not discriminate against any applicant artist on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or physical challenges.
Excluded from participation are RISCA Council members, staff and their family members as well as Public Art Selection Panel members and their families.
If you have questions about the RFQ, email Elizabeth Keithline: Elizabeth.Keithline@arts.ri.gov. If you require technical support for CAFÉ, please email cafe@westaf.org
