Request for Proposals
Released December 8, 2009
The Art Gallery of Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts are pleased to announce a limited, two-stage competition for a public art commission on the City of Edmonton Terrace at the new Art Gallery of Alberta.
1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Art Gallery of Alberta is working in partnership with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts to undertake a limited, two-stage competition to commission a new work of art for temporary public display on the third floor, outdoor terrace of the new Art Gallery of Alberta.
Designed by Los Angeles architect Randall Stout, the 85,000 square foot building, designed by celebrates the duality of Edmonton’s urban grid layout and the winding contours of the North Saskatchewan River. The building’s square design components are accented by the 190 meter (625 feet) swirling ribbon of a steel Aurora Borealis that weaves in-between the interior to exterior of the structure.
The commissioned art work will become part of the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and will be displayed at the Art Gallery of Alberta for a minimum of 5 years. Re-location or removal at that time will be at the discretion of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in consultation with the Art Gallery of Alberta.
2. SITE DESCRIPTION
This competition is for a work of art that will animate the third floor, outdoor terrace of the new Art Gallery of Alberta.
The site is a 4-sided, irregular space with exterior, perimeter dimensions as follows:
West side: 30′ 4 ½”
South side: 27′ ½”
East side: 24′ 8″
North side: 27′ 7″
The ground surface of the site is covered with rubber “gravel.”
3. DESIGN OBJECTIVES OF THE SITE
Proposals should keep in mind the following design objectives:
- sensitivity to the scale and materials of the surrounding architecture;
- relationship to the overall architectural design vocabulary;
- architectural specifics of the site and technical considerations
- public safety, maintenance and exposure to vandalism and damage
- ability to withstand exterior weather conditions in all seasons
4. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The following technical considerations must be respected in all design proposals:
Weight Load
Allowable weigh t weight = 4.8 kPa (100 psf).
Lighting Availability
General lighting of artwork is provided by movable lights situated at ground level. Specialized lighting or lighting that is integral to an artwork must form part of the artwork proposal and installation budget and should be described in detail in the Stage One proposal.
Security Requirements
The works will be located in an outdoor area with multi-functional use. Artists should address security and protection of the works of art as part of their design proposal and budget.
Installation
The installation of the artwork must be coordinated with the Art Gallery of Alberta. As the facility is open and available for bookings and public use, scheduled activities may impact the dates and times during which artwork assembly and installation can occur. This may limit installation activities to after-hour time periods or specific days.
The Art Gallery of Alberta facilities will not be available for artwork construction or production activities.
Physical Access
Access to the site is limited to the size of the door leading from the interior of the building on the 3rd floor foyer level or by crane lifted from street level over the 3rd floor terrace railing.
5. PRE-SUBMISSION SITE ACCESS
Artists wishing to view the competition site can do so during regular public hours of the Art Gallery of Alberta as of February 2, 2010.
Images of the site are posted on the Art Gallery of Alberta’s web-site: www.youraga.ca
6. COMPETITION CONDITIONS
6.1. General Selection Criteria
A jury appointed by the Art Gallery of Alberta will make recommendations on the final selection of proposals. General criteria established by the Art Gallery of Alberta will serve as a guideline for the jury in making a selection recommendation. In addition to technical considerations, the basic criteria in reviewing proposals will include:
- The aesthetic and technical quality of the artist’s work;
- The artist’s previous experience in working on comparable projects of scope, scale and setting;
- The artist’s ability to communicate ideas verbally and visually;
- The aesthetic, technical and conceptual strength of the artist’s proposal as it relates to the site and potential audiences;
- The proposed artwork’s compatibility with the overall goals for public art at the Art Gallery of Alberta.
- An assessment of the proposed artwork’s value compatibility given the scope of the competition budget.
The goal of this project will be to choose the best artist and artwork for the site. The mission of the jury will be to nominate and review artists based on the criteria listed above. Jurists will be specifically asked not to base their selections on the artist’s gender, ethnicity or race. They will also be asked not to eliminate from consideration artists who have received past commissions or who have completed other public art projects within the Edmonton region.
6.2. Budget
In preparing a budget for the proposal, competitors should formulate their proposals based on an overall project budget of $100,000.
The budget for the project should include the following components: a commission fee and the allowance for all production costs. The production budget is inclusive of all materials, fabrication, shipping, and supply expenses, installation, commissions and all disbursements including consultant’s fees and applicable taxes. (Note: 10% of the total project budget equal to $10,000 will be withheld until the completion of the project.)
7. COMPETITION STRUCTURE
7.1. Stage One
The first stage of the competition is open to all artists who are currently full-time residents of the province of Alberta.
The jury will review all Stage One proposals and will recommend a short list of the most promising submissions for the site. Successful Stage-One finalists will be notified by phone and mail, while unsuccessful proposals will be notified by mail only.
Stage One proposals should include the following material:
- A written description of the proposed concept(s) not to exceed 500 words, describing the artist’s approach to the project, conceptual intention of the overall proposal;
- A maximum of four (4) sketches, drawings or computer renderings of the proposed concept, not to exceed 11” x 17” in dimension each;
- A current curriculum vitae;
- A maximum of 20 images of current and/or related works. These can be submitted as a CD with a power point presentation or jpgs;
- The total production budget for the proposed artwork. Including all fees and dispersements.
- Information on the time required for the installation of the artwork. This should include a provisional timeline detailing the stages of artwork production from start to finish, with the duration of each stage indicated.
No additional visual presentation material is required or is to be provided. The review of supplementary materials submitted in addition to those listed above will be at the discretion of the jury.
Failure to meet any or all of the above requirements may result in disqualification.
Stage One submissions should be sent to the Competition Coordinator at the address below.
Stage One submissions will be accepted no later than 2 pm on Friday, February 19, 2010.
Postage, shipping and return shipping are the responsibility of the artist.
Stage Two Finalists will be announced on Friday March 12, 2010.
7.2. Stage Two
Stage Two finalists will be asked to submit more detailed information and descriptions of their concepts. In this respect, Stage Two finalists should submit:
- A maximum of four (4) presentation boards no larger than 2’ x 3’ (600mm x 900mm);
- A detailed production and installation budget;
- A detailed production and installation schedule;
- A model / maquette and/or digital rendering are desirable but not required.
No additional presentation material other than as listed above is required or is to be provided. Failure to meet any or all of the above requirements may result in disqualification.
Stage Two submissions should be sent to the Art Gallery of Alberta at the address below.
Stage Two submissions will be accepted no later than 2 pm on Friday, May 1, 2010
Postage, shipping and insurance of Stage Two proposals are the responsibility of the Stage Two finalists.
Stage Two finalists will receive a fee of $3,000 upon submission of Stage Two material in accordance with the foregoing.
Stage Two finalists may also be invited to make a presentation to the jury. These presentations will be organized at a date to be determined that is suitable to the finalists and jury members.
Following the Stage Two adjudication, the jury will make a recommendation of a proposal for final approval.
The jury reserves the right, however, to reject any or all Stage Two proposals if it feels that they do not meet the desire project requirements or scope of the budget of the competition.
The implementation of selected proposals will be subject to approval by the Art Gallery of Alberta for budgetary considerations, operational and maintenance review, and architect consultation.
8. OWNERSHIP AND USE OF MATERIALS SUBMITTED
The Art Gallery of Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts reserve the right to exhibit and/or reproduce any and all submissions.
The finalists will be deemed to have granted an exclusive license to the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts to use, reproduce and permit others to use and reproduce the selected work in photographs for celebratory materials, objects, postcards, posters, advertising materials, internet, brochures and promotional materials without payment of any license fee or commission.
The successful artist(s) will be required to enter into a formal contract with the Art Gallery of Alberta for the production and sale of the artwork.
Submissions that are not accepted may be retrieved in person for a period of 30 days following the jury review and notification. All entries not claimed within this period may be destroyed to minimize the possibility of future unauthorized use or submission. Except in cases of gross negligence or willful default, the Authority shall not be responsible for any unauthorized use. No provisions will be made to ship or mail any submissions back to applicants.
The Competition Coordinator is not responsible for any damage or loss that may occur to submission materials.
The final commissioned art work will be owned in totality by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and will be displayed at the Art Gallery of Alberta for a minimum of 5 years. Re-location or removal at that time will be at the discretion of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in consultation with the Art Gallery of Alberta.
The selected artist will agree to grant an exclusive license to the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts to use, reproduce images of the final work in photographs for celebratory materials, objects, postcards, posters, advertising materials, internet, brochures and promotional materials without payment of any license fee or commission. The artist also acknowledges that images of the work may appear in the background of photographs taken on and from the terrace by AGA staff or guests and will waive copyright and licensing for such occurrences.
9. COMPETITION COORDINATOR
Catherine Crowston
Deputy Director / Chief Curator
Art Gallery of Alberta
2 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 2C1
Related Materials
Tie-down details (PDF 220KB)
3rd floor layout (PDF 324KB)
Sculpture area detail (PDF 512KB)
