Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Call to Artists: Outdoor Work of Art for downtown Florence



Request for Proposals:
Public Art in Downtown Florence

Design Vision and Goal:

The Florence Downtown Development Corporation (FDDC) seeks to commission a free-standing or wall-mounted outdoor work of art to add to the beautification, redevelopment and regeneration of downtown Florence. The artwork chosen for 2013 will be the first piece in what will become the Florence Downtown Sculpture Garden/Courtyard.

The project must integrate well with the location and be constructed of weather-resistant materials. The work selected must be fully installed by April 30th, 2013.

Eligibility:

This opportunity is open to visual artists, ages 18 and older. Proposals from all geographic areas of the United States are welcome, however, preference will be given to artists who live, work or create in the Pee Dee (defined by FDDC as Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg Counties).

The Site:

The planned Florence Downtown Sculpture Garden/Courtyard is located at 113-119 South Dargan Street in downtown Florence, SC. In late 2012, the three buildings currently at this address will be demolished, leaving a breezeway through to the Hotel Florence and Victor's Restaurant which are scheduled to open May, 2013. The courtyard/walkway area is approximately 47 feet wide and 130 feet long. The area will connect to an outdoor dining area and water feature that will be at the west end of the walk/courtyard.

This project is part of a major revitalization project in downtown Florence. The Hotel Florence, Victor's Restaurant, the Clay Pot Cafe, Railroad Junction Art Gallery and Da Massimo's Italian Restaurant represent recent major private investments in downtown Florence. Adding to these, the governmental and non-profit efforts have resulted in the construction of a new Florence Museum which will open in late 2013, the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center which opened in November, 2011, as well as the Florence Little Theater, Library and the Art Trail Gallery which have opened in recent years and started the creation of an Arts Corridor appropriate for the placement of public art.

The Artist Selection Process:

Semi-finalists will be selected by a panel consisting of representatives from the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, Florence Museum, Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau and private businesses. Semifinalists will be invited to submit more detailed applications, including scale drawings for review by the
aforementioned panel. The panel will make a recommendation to the Florence DowntownDevelopment Board of Directors and Florence City Council as to which proposal should be selected.

Final Selection Criteria will be based on:

Artistic merit
Appropriateness to the site
Feasibility
Durability (appropriate for heavily used, outdoor site)

Required Application Materials:

In response to this RFP, applicants must submit the following no later than October 31, 2012:

Completed and signed coversheet/certification form
• Digital portfolio:
Note:  A link to a professional website or a jump drive with 10 digital images and title list. Artwork must be clearly labeled with the artist's name, date of completion, materials and dimensions.
         Written description of the proposed work (no more than one page)
         Preliminary drawing of the proposed work 
          (dimensions not to exceed 18" x 24")
         Proposed budget
         Timeline for the project.
Note: The artist will be selected no later than November 30, 2012 and the art must be delivered by April 30, 2013.
Current biography and curriculum vitae (CV)
Names and contact information of two references (email and phone)
List of commissioned and installed work in public or private collections completed within the last ten years

Budget:

$25,000 for the total project including artist's commission, design, materials, fabrication, and
transportation. Assistance may be required by artist during the installation process.

Additional Information:

The work of art will be in place for a period of up to ten years. Thereafter, the Florence
Downtown Development Corporation will retain possession of the work, at its discretion.

Deadline for Submission:

All submissions must be postmarked on October 31, 2012 or hand-delivered by 5:30 pm to the Florence Downtown Development Offices at 218 West Evans, Florence, SC. Please note that applications will not be accepted by fax or email. All artists will be notified of the selection results by November 30, 2012.

Installation: April 2013

Submissions must be delivered to:

Florence Downtown Development Corporation
PO Box 467
Florence, SC 29503

Express/UPS delivery address:

Florence Downtown Development Corporation
218 West Evans St. Florence, SC 29501



For more information:

Ray Reich
Executive Director
Florence Downtown Development Corporation
843-678-5913

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