The Bernalillo County Arts Board solicits a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists and artists’ teams for a site-specific outdoor public art project that will be installed at the new Route 66 Visitor Center located at “Nine Mile Hill,” near Atrisco Vista and I-40 in Albuquerque. The established budget for the project is $22,500. Artists working in a variety of media including sculpture, murals, and mosaics are invited to apply.  The call is open to New Mexico-based artists. The winning artist or team will be responsible for all aspects of design and installation. When it opens this year the Visitor Center will have a national presence and locally will further advance economic development on the West Central corridor. The center is expected to open in summer of 2022. More information and renderings of the building can be found at https://www.wccdg.org/route-66-visitors-center. 

The design of the artwork must have a strong visual impact for both motorists on Central Avenue and visitors to the facility who will be able to view the art piece up close. The call is open only to New Mexico-based artists. 

Site Details:

The Route 66 Visitor Center is located atop of Nine Mile Hill, near Atrisco Vista and I-40 in Albuquerque with an approximate address of 12200 Central Ave SW ABQ NM 87121. The facility will be a 21,000 square foot multipurpose center with a banquet/event hall, outdoor amphitheater, Route 66 museum, taproom, gift shop, and administrative offices. The outdoor areas will be used for all manner of events such as a popup drive-in theater, car shows, and other events. 

Albuquerque has the longest stretch of the historic mother road in the country, and when operational, the visitor center will have a national presence and locally will further advance economic development on the West Central corridor. The center will be a catalyst for tourism-related business along West Central. It will help stimulate private and public investment, create jobs and bring greater prosperity to the West Side, and all of Albuquerque.

The Route 66 Visitor Center is a community driven project led by the Southwest Alliance of Neighbors and the West Central Community Development Group who over the last 28 years advocated and secured public financing from state, county and city government to make the center a reality. 

Location/Context/History:

Route 66 or "The Mother Road" was as series of roadways that connected urban areas across the United States starting in the late 1920s. Today, long stretches of Route 66 remain in the Albuquerque Area and form a beloved part of Albuquerque and New Mexico culture. https://www.newmexico.org/route66/route-66-history/

About Bernalillo County: Bernalillo County offers a broad range of public services from excellent parks to economic development to more than 642,000 people in New Mexico’s most populous county. Located in central New Mexico, Bernalillo County is home to Albuquerque and serves as a major economic and cultural crossroads in the American Southwest. The county consists of an area of nearly 1200 square miles. Bernalillo County offers outstanding Open Space properties, business incentives and historic cultural connections to serve its citizens and visitors from all over the world. https://www.newmexico.org

About the Bernalillo Country Arts Board:

The Arts Board is guided by the following mission: Public art has the power to inspire curiosity, encourage contemplation, facilitate dialogue, foster community engagement, and create a sense of place.  Located throughout the country, the Bernalillo County public art collection enhances quality of life through the acquisition of exceptional works of art by artists at various career stages.

Project Intent/Theme:

The artwork will be culturally relevant and represent the history, heritage, and landscapes of Route 66 in New Mexico. The goals of the project are to 1) create a landmark public artwork; 2) explore the past, present and future identities of the communities along Route 66.

Media/Style/Size:

The Board seeks artists or artists’ teams who are proficient in the creation of outdoor public artworks including but not limited to sculpture, mosaic, and murals.  Durability and low maintenance of all materials is required. The artist must ensure that the artwork is protected against graffiti and ultraviolet rays. See the attached site design images for complete details.

Project Funds:

$22,500.00 is available to commission the artwork from 1% for the Arts, from voter approved general obligation bonds. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, equipment, labor, permits, travel, installation, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.

Timeframe (Subject to Change): The call is open for 30 days, at which point three finalists will be selected. The three finalists will receive a stipend to develop a detailed, final design of the artwork to present to the Selection Committee and the community in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Bernalillo County Arts Board will select an artist to complete the project based on the presentations and designs submitted by the top three artists. 

·       RFQ announced: March 7 2022

·       RFQ closes: April 7 2022

·      Committee Jurying of Proposals: April – May 2022

·       Three finalists announced: May 2022

·       Artist selected: July 2022

·       Planning and Design: September - October 2022

·       Project Implementation starts: November 2022

·      Project Completion by August 2023

Application Requirements

Submission Requirements

Please review and follow the printable image preparation guide on the CaFÉ website. Digital media on-line submissions must follow the CaFÉ image uploading requirements. 

Submit from two (2) to seven (7) images of previous work. Digital images should include the artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, date of creation, and cost, in addition to any in-kind consideration. Submit from one (1) to three (3) digital images of an initial conceptual design for artwork. Optional: artists may submit a video of previous work (not required).

Images - Minimum: 3, Maximum: 10

Video - Minimum: 0, Maximum: 1

Artist name and address must be on every page of any documents that are submitted. All word and quantity limits must be followed for submission materials. 

• Artist Statement
• Artist Résumé
• Questionnaire
• A correspondingly numbered image key of each image must also be submitted including artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, and date of creation.
• References

This online process requires that all application images and materials be submitted in digital format. For digital image requirements please visit the “Image Prep” section at CaFÉ, (www.callforentry.org). 

Artists must demonstrate: • Cultural competency • An understanding of Bernalillo County and its history and population

Eligibility Criteria

This is a local call open to New Mexico based artists.