Feb Call for Artists, Take One

Listed below are 9 opportunities for sculptors with deadlines in the first week of February. There are call for artists for sculpture commissions, art on loan opportunities as well as shows and festivals. Good luck, and happy sculpting

There are still a few active Call for Artists in our last post. Click here to see those calls and scroll to the bottom (we do our best to put them in chronological order within each post.)

South Loop Sculpture RFQ

Bloomington, Minnesota

Summary: The City of Bloomington’s Creative Placemaking Commission in partnership with Artistry invite experienced public artists to submit qualifications for the design and installation of a unique large-scale sculpture which will be strategically placed near a major entry point into Bloomington’s developing South Loop District. The installation and accompanying South Loop signage will create a more distinctive sense of place and identity.

Budget: The all inclusive budget for the final sculpture is $300,000

Deadline: February 1, 2019, 11:00 PM CST

How to apply: CaFÉ™

Eligibility Requirements: This RFQ is open to artists/teams from the contiguous United States who have completed at least one commissioned outdoor public art piece with a budget of $150,000 or more in the past ten years. Selected finalists will receive a $2,000 design stipend and must have the ability to attend an in-person interview and presentation in Bloomington, MN.

Special Notes: 3 finalists will be selected. Learn more about South Loop and the Creative Placemaking Plan by visiting blm.mn/placemaking.

Click here to read more about this call for artists or to apply


2019 Sculpture at the River Market

Little Rock, Arkansas

Summary: This is the annual Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale and there is a commission opportunity as well this year.

2019 Sculpture at the River Market Fine Art Sculpture Show & Sale will be the 11th annual event. Each year the attendance has increased, as have the artist’s sales. Every artist at the Sculpture at the River Market Fine Art Show & Sale will exhibit their work in a magnificent outdoor setting (but protected under permanent pavilions) overlooking the Arkansas River and First Security Amphitheater in Little Rock’s Riverfront Park. The venue boasts indoor restroom facilities and a hospitality room specifically for artists and their representatives. The Clinton Presidential Library is located just east of the River Market and brings tens of thousands of visitors to Little Rock each year. Sculpture at the River Market, through generous donations of its patrons, has placed over 85 large public art sculptures along the Riverfront Park. The Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, an intimate and beautiful garden is also located in Riverfront Park. This most unique Sculpture Garden showcases award-winning pieces. 

Budget: $60,000

Deadline: 2/1/19

How to apply: CaFÉ™

Eligibility Requirements: The Sculpture at the River Market Fine Art Sculpture Show & Sale is open to all fine art sculptors who are residents of and/or working in the United States.

Special Notes: It is free to apply, but if you participate there is a $50 booth fee when selected.
All sculpture sold at the show will be processed through the Sculpture at the River Market Treasury. Sculpture at the River Market’s commission is 33.33% of each sale

A Note about the COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY:  When the artists are selected through the jury process and accept the invitation, a prospectus of the commission will be emailed to the artist.

Click here to read more about this call for artists or to apply


St. Joseph Sculpture Walk 2019

St. Joseph, Missouri

Summary: The Allied Arts Council and the City of Saint Joseph, Missouri seek sculptures for a year-long exhibition in Downtown Saint Joseph. Sculptors are invited to submit work consideration. The 2019 St. Joseph Sculpture walk opens June 14, 2019, and closes May 17, 2020.

The Allied Arts Council will purchase a sculpture to become a permanent part of Saint Joseph’s public art collection. Only pieces priced $15,000 or less will be considered for purchase. The Allied Arts Council will receive a 25% commission on any sculpture sold and on any commissioned sculptures.

Budget: Selected sculptures will receive a $500 honorarium and all sculptures selected will be competing for up to $13,000 in cash prize awards

Deadline: 2/1/19

How to apply: CaFÉ™

Eligibility Requirements: no restrictions provided

Special Notes: There is a $15 fee to apply to this call.
Artists may submit up to four (4) sculptures for consideration, but each submission must have its own entry.

Click here to read more about this call for artists or to apply


Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility – Public Art Opportunity

Ottawa, Canada

Summary: The City of Ottawa invites professional artists or artist teams to submit qualifications for the opportunity of Artist on Design Team to work collaboratively with the Architectural Design Team of the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Joint Facility to design, fabricate and install a permanent, site-specific artwork integrated into the facility.

Budget: The total budget for the Artist on Design Team contract is approximately $600,000 in Canadian Dollars (CAD) plus Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). The public art budget is approximate and is subject to change.

Deadline: Feb. 4, 2019, 4:00 p.m. E.S.T.

How to apply: Ottawa’s website

Eligibility Requirements: This request for qualifications is an equal opportunity, open to local, national and international professional artists and artist teams with experience in creating permanent public art and working on multidisciplinary design teams. City of Ottawa employees are not eligible to apply.

The City of Ottawa supports cultural activities that are inclusive of Ottawa’s diverse communities including people from diverse ancestries, abilities, ages, countries of origin, cultures, genders, incomes, languages, races and sexual orientations. Applications from First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists are welcome and encouraged. The City of Ottawa recognizes both official languages (English and French) as having the same rights, status and privileges.

Special Notes: Public art for the OPL-LAC Joint Facility should add distinctive visual character to the facility, enhance user experience and be universal in appeal to the diverse patrons of the facility. The public art should elevate the OPL-LAC Joint Facility and the City of Ottawa Art Collection to an international level of design excellence, engaging in dialogue with the architecture and the site.  

Public art for the OPL-LAC Joint Facility should be original, site-specific, iconic, visually striking and representing the highest standards of contemporary artistic excellence. The artwork should create discussion and excitement attracting people to the new facility. The artwork should have a strong connection to place, be respectful of the site context and reflect OPL-LAC goals of creating a library and archives for the future that inspires learning, sparks curiosity and connects people.

Click here to read more about this call for artists or to apply


UNMC | Davis Global Center

Omaha, Nebraska

Summary: Serving as the headquarters for iEXCEL (the Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning), the Davis Global Center (DGC) will distinguish Nebraska by creating a new transformative model for health care education, training and research. This model will be built around, and incorporate, a wide range of simulation technology so health care professionals can learn and become proficient in taking care of patients in safe, simulated settings. The building contains five levels, each working together to create safe, innovative and experiential training environments. The National Center for Health Security and Biopreparedness will occupy the ground level, and benefit from the simulation and visualization resources throughout the building. DGC serves as the catalyst for an integrated statewide, national and global simulation initiative that aims to improve human performance and effectiveness

There are six site possibilities. Artists can submit their concept for any or all Sites as desired. The Sites are located throughout the building and may or may not be related to each other. The artwork must fit within the predetermined space, as seen in the renderings below. The proposed artwork may be in concept stage or already completed. Artwork should be durable, low maintenance, and safe.

Budget: $200,000 is the budget for the entire project, which includes 6 sites. The Selection Committee is responsible for determining how the money is allotted to all of the sites

Deadline: 02/07/2019 5:00 PM Central Time (recently extended)

How to apply: Slideroom

Eligibility Requirements: Any professional public artists or artist teams throughout the United State are eligible to submit an RFQ.

Special Notes: There is a $10 fee to apply to this call for artists.

Click here to read more about this call for artists at PublicArtist.org


Public Art Opportunity in Merriam

Merriam, Kansas

Summary: The City of Merriam, Kansas is seeking one or more professional public artist or artist teams for the design, fabrication, and installation of two permanent outdoor works as a part of the new Merriam Community Center project. The selected artist(s) for the commissions will conceptualize and develop appropriate designs for proposed project elements. The target date of completion is May 2020. 

Budget: The budget for the final commissioned artworks is $243,000.00
A project proposal fee of $1,000 will be provided to each of the finalists to develop proposals. The travel stipend of $500 will be alloted to each artist

Deadline: 11:59pm PST on Monday, February 4, 2019.

How to apply: Submissions will be made by emailing a single PDF as outlined in the RFQ to Lauren Crosby at Lauren@designinglocal.com .

Eligibility Requirements: Professional visual artists or artist teams, working in any and all media, who are at least 18 years of age, and who live and work in the United States are eligible to apply.

Special Notes: Please download the full RFQ here: http://merriam.org/bids.aspx?bidID=57

Click here to read more about this call for artists including details on how to apply


Beyond Walls Public Art Exhibition 2019

Cornelius, North Carolina

Summary: Beyond Walls is a celebration of art in public spaces. Organized by the Cornelius PARC Department and the Cornelius Public Art Committee, the selected works will be installed in a park setting or in the downtown arts district and will be on exhibit from May 2019 through January 2020.

This show is only open to freestanding art

Budget: Selected artists will receive a $1000 stipend for participating in the show. 

Deadline: 2/6/19, 5:00pm

How to apply: CaFÉ™

Eligibility Requirements: no restrictions provided

Special Notes: There is a $25 application fee for this call

Click here to read more about this call for artists or to apply


Coffey Neighborhood Park Public Art Project

Santa Rosa, California

Summary: The City of Santa Rosa Public Art Program is seeking an artist or team of artists to design, fabricate and install public art in Coffey Neighborhood Park, in conjunction with the redesign/rebuild of the park post-fire

Budget: $50,000

Deadline: February 7, 2019, 5pm Pacific

How to apply: see the link below

Eligibility Requirements: This commission is open to practicing, professional artists residing in California. 

Special Notes: The artist or artist team selected for this project will be required to undertake research and discussion with key stakeholders and thoughtfully engage the Coffey Park neighborhood to develop a concept proposal for the public art project.

Visit www.srcity.org/3021 to download the Request for Qualifications and an application.


Denver Arts Festival 2019

Denver, Colorado

Summary: We invite all artists, both Colorado and national, to apply to the 2019 festival. Now in its 21st year, the Denver Arts Festival will be held at the Conservatory Green Plaza area of Northfield in the Stapleton development. The Denver Arts Festival will hold its annual premier event on May 25 – 26, 2019. The fine art exhibition features over 145 visual artists with over 50,000 people expected to attend.

Budget: n/a

Deadline: 2/7/19 Midnight MST

How to apply: Zapplication

Eligibility Requirements: open

Special Notes: This is a selling opportunity for sculptors and other artists. There is a booth fee for this festival.

Click here to read more about this call for artists or to apply