Call Detail
City of Mountlake Terrace: Pedestrian Plaza Welcoming Art
Visit Organization Website
Contact Email: rnorton@mltwa.gov

Entry Deadline: 12/20/22
Application Closed
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 3, Maximum:Max. 10
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 3, Maximum:Max. 10
Call Type: Public Art
Eligibility: Regional
State: Washington
Budget: $96,000 all inclusive

The City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington invites Regional/Pacific Northwest artists to submit letters of interest (LOI) or audio/video statements of interests (VASOI) and Statements of Qualifications (SOQ), along with a resume and project renderings/examples of work from qualified individuals (or teams) interested in working with the Arts Advisory Commission, City Staff, and landscape architect OTAK related to the commissioning of public art.  

The call is open to all professional artists or teams of artists residing regionally or within the U.S. Pacific Northwest.  The City of Mountlake Terrace will commission one artist or team of artists to design, fabricate and install an artwork or artworks in the center of the Pedestrian Plaza (future naming process will be undertaken for the new park) located at the corner of southwest corner of 236th Street SW and VanRy Blvd (adjacent to future light rail station).

Once selected by the City, an artist or team of artists may propose a single installation or a series. The successful artist or team of artists will work with the City and OTAK on the development and installation of the art piece.  Artworks will be maintained and owned by the City of Mountlake Terrace.

Click here to view the design plans for the plaza that was determined through community meetings in 2018 and 2019. The location of the artwork shall be in the “twig” bench structure shown here with a star. This is area is approximately 350 sq feet, with the larger plaza area totaling around 2,000 sq feet.

Construction is planned to commence mid 2023 with completion occurring late 2023.  OTAK will be providing design services for the plaza. Overall design services include structural, civil, mechanical, electrical engineering and landscape architecture.   Additionally, a portion of this project will include paving and lighting of pathways in Veterans Memorial Park located across the street to the northeast. 

Scope of Work:

The City seeks an artist or team of artists to develop a permanent public artwork that is relevant to the community and site specific. The city is committed to excellence in environmental stewardship and in sustainable building practices.

  • The selected artist or team of artists will work with a selection panel in addition to the City’s Arts Advisory Commission, City staff, and OTAK to develop site specific artwork.
  • The artwork should contribute to place-making and take into consideration the different audiences and community that will engage with the work. 
  • Create a thematic or visual connection to Mountlake Terrace with its past and its future via interaction with the adjacent light rail station. How will this piece interact with the public? Will it be a kinetic or stationary piece of art that evokes Mountains/Water/Terrace (Mountlake Terrace)?
  • Ability to participate in community outreach and actively engage with the City and OTAK representatives.

Budget:

The estimated cost of construction for the plaza and the Veterans Park trail system is $5,000,000. For the purpose of creating a public work of art meeting the criteria established within Mountlake Terrace Municipal Code, the overall project budget has been determined to be $100,000The selected artist/team of artists will receive a commission of $96,000 to design, fabricate and install the artwork. Up to $4,000 total will be shared and available to pay stipends for selected finalists to participate and prepare/submit proposals for Part 2 of the Call for Artists process. The overall project budget is all inclusive of travel expenses, Washington State Sales/Use Tax and other project costs.

Project Timeline:

An artist/team of artists will be selected and contracted with in 2023. The artist will participate in design development with project design team, project stakeholders, and community members in 2023. Project construction documents will be completed in the spring of 2023.

Call Posted: Friday, October 21, 2022

Application Deadline:  Sunday, December 18, 2022, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)
Artist Selected and Applicants Notified:  End of January/early February 2023
100% Design and Documents:  May 2023
Construction and Fabrication of Art:  early to mid-2023
Installation of Art:  late-2023

Application Requirements

All Letters of Interest/Statements of Qualifications deadline must be submitted on-line. Your response must include:

1. Letter of Interest or Video/Audio Statement of Interest - Responses that do not include a Project Letter of Interest or Video/Audio Statement of Interest will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified. Please only submit either a letter or recorded statement, not both.

  •  Letter of Interest (not to exceed 2,000 characters). Please provide a statement describing why you are interested in this project.

               OR

  • Video/Audio Statement of Interest (not to exceed 1.5 minutes in length). Please provide a short video/audio statement speaking directly to why you are interested in this project. A video/audio statement of interest can be uploaded into the Call for Entry (CaFE) system. 

 Please note that this should not be a highly produced/edited video; a short recording that speaks directly to your interest in this project will suffice. The intent of this option is to provide an opportunity for individuals who feel they can represent themselves better verbally versus in writing through the letter of interest (for example applicants for whom English is a second language and/or other considerations). 

2. Résumé
3. Letter/Statement of Qualifications (a narrative discussion of the knowledge, skills, and abilities an applicant possesses in relation to the desirable qualifications of the call for artists).
4. Three references with contact information.
5. Up to 10 images. Where possible, submit examples of projects completed that include multi-element works and/or work that relates in some way to this project.
6. Work Sample Identification List (not to exceed 500 characters for each image). Please explain the artwork shown in your work samples/examples and/or their relevance to this project.

Project proposals are not requested at this time. Once artists/teams of artists are chosen (see selection process Part 1 below), the Selection Panel will request the submittal of proposals which shall include a description of the conceptual approach to the artwork and an illustration or physical representation of the design (see selection process Part 2 below).  Proposals shall include a description of materials that will be used, estimated costs, timeline for completion and installation requirements. 

Selection Process:

The selection process will take place in two parts.

Part 1: During the first round, the Selection Panel consisting of three Arts Advisory Commission Members, City Administration representative, two community members and one project design team member, will review the applicants’ responses (Letters of Interest or Statements of Interest), statement of qualifications, resumes, images, and other materials. The panelists will identify up to six finalists to interview/present at a second panel meeting approximately a few weeks later.

Part 2: The Selection Panel will request proposals from the finalists - Artists selected to make presentations, may use physical representations, power point, slides or other visual means for illustration purposes, in addition to verbal presentation.  Presentations will be made to the Selection Panel and will be limited to thirty minutes with additional time for questions.  Presentations will be evaluated on the criteria below, with the addition of 0-10 points for presentation skills and 0-10 points for references.

Selection Criteria:

The selection panel will review all proposals submitted.  Incomplete or responses submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed.  The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.  Designs not selected will remain the property of artists or team of artists.

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria (scored out of 100 total): 

  • The creativity of approach and theme/spirit of the artwork and how it relates to the Pedestrian Plaza, the City of Mountlake Terrace and light rail. (0-20 points)
  • The function of the artwork in relationship to the plaza and more specifically, a welcoming focal point for visitors on the train. (0-20 points)
  • Ability to complete the artwork within given budget and time schedule (0-20 points).
  • Good planning and communication skills - proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with project managers, design professionals, and community stakeholders (0-10 points).
  • Ability to produce durable outdoor art that is low maintenance and vandal resistant (0-10 points).
  • Presentation skills (0-10) and References (0-10) will also be evaluated.

Past work(s): The Selection Panel will also take into consideration the quality of concept, design, and craftsmanship of past works.

The panel will select one artist or team of artists to be recommended for award of the commission.  The Mountlake Terrace Arts Advisory Commission encourages diversity in its collection. Artists whose work is well represented in the city’s collection are eligible to apply, but the artist selection panel will consider artistic diversity as one factor in the selection process.

Notification of Results:

Applicants will be notified of the panel’s decision/recommendation within approximately one month of final presentations. The City of Mountlake Terrace reserves the right not to select any of the applicants.

Eligibility Criteria

The City of Mountlake Terrace is seeking Regional/Pacific Northwest artists within the United States.  The City encourages diversity of styles and materials in its collection. Artists whose work is well represented in the city’s collection are eligible to apply, but the City will consider artistic diversity as one factor in the selection process.