Request for Qualifications

Mineral Springs Park at Riverwalk East

1312 Second Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 11:59 pm MT

TOTAL BUDGET: Up to $96,000 for one piece of art and up to $350,000 for a comprehensive design with multiple pieces. 

ABOUT BRADENTON

Called “The Friendly City”, The City of Bradenton is a mid-size city with a small-town feel.  Characterized by its caring atmosphere, it is an “Old Florida” community where neighbors live, work, and have fun together. With a population of approximately 56,000, Bradenton is located on Florida's west coast between Tampa/St. Pete and Sarasota. The city boasts 12 miles of waterfront along the Manatee River and easy drives to famed Gulf Coast beaches, cultural activities, and historic landmarks.  Bradenton's award-winning Riverwalk currently stretches 1.5 miles, and the new east extension will double that length.   

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Bradenton (CRA) and its Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB) are seeking professional artists or artist teams to create permanent artwork to be installed at the new Mineral Springs Park at Riverwalk East that will be consistent to the themes of history and nature. 

The goal is to develop a comprehensive artwork package that unifies the park, distinguishes historic elements, and enhances local natural elements. Individual artists may be selected for individual pieces, or a team of artists may be selected to work together toward that goal.  In either case, a collaborative approach to all art pieces is required regardless of style, materials, and thematic considerations. 

Important history to consider contains information on the settlements of Native Americans and a population of escaped slaves called "Freedom Seekers" who eventually resettled in Red Bay Village of the Bahamas. Early pioneers also made use of the natural mineral spring on site near the founding of the historic Village of Manatee which has since been incorporated into the City of Bradenton. 

The north side of the park faces the Manatee River, which legend claims was a “Singing River”.  Scientists called the song a “natural phenomenon” and it is a part of Bradenton’s folklore that continues to intrigue.  A creative approach to this idea is encouraged for any piece located near the waterfront.

The PAAB is open to hearing ideas regarding other locations for artwork other than those proposed on the site plan.  Artwork should be located along accessible pathways and consider all people as part of the audience.  Power is available throughout the site if a work of art requires it.  Hands-on, interactive or kinetic pieces are encouraged but must be highly durable.

PUBLIC ART SITE

Mineral Springs at Riverwalk East is the newest addition on the Riverwalk, bordering the historic Village of Manatee and the Reflections of Manatee Museum. The park is filled with beautiful moss draped oaks, native grasses, palms, bio-swales and is adjacent to the Manatee River that flows into the Tampa Bay. It is hoped that adding public art to this area will entice more visitors and honor the history of the various settlers. 

To view historic information and site details: www.bradentonFL.gov/publicart 

Application Requirements

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is the first step in this public art process. Artists are not being asked to submit a specific proposal since this is an RFQ not a Request for Proposal (RFP).

The process outlined in this RFQ provides for a Question and Answer period prior to the due date for submittals. All questions will be answered by CRA staff in writing, with answers posted on the CRA's Public Art website at www.bradentonFL.gov/publicart.  Any inquiries, suggestions or requests concerning interpretation, clarification or additional information pertaining to the RFQ shall be made in writing to the Public Art Coordinator at Jean.Farmer@bradentonFL.gov.  Question submissions are due on or before December 1, 2022. 

Each application must be submitted via the CaFÉ website (www.callforentry.org) no later than Thursday, December 15, 2022 by 11:59 pm MT. Submittals received after this deadline will not be considered. To be considered complete, submittals must include the following:

• Name and contact information of artist and artist team.
• Artist’s Statement: Up to one page in length, describe your art, what  materials you use, and what influences your process.
• Statement of Interest: Up to one page in length, which explains your interest in this project and how your art will be able to contribute to it's success.
• Resume: Resume to include any commissions, tours, exhibitions, collaborations, and projects involving the community and work in the public sector. If submitting as a team, an individual resume should be submitted for each team member describing the individual or collective artistic accomplishments. Please combine all team member resumes and submit them as one document.
• References: List at least three professional references familiar with the artists’ work and working methods. The list must include telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. References provided as part of this application will be contacted prior to selection of the semi-finalists.
• Work Samples: At least one and up to six digital images of relevant artwork. Can be drawings, renderings, models, photographs or video.
• Support Materials (optional): Each artist may include up to three selections of support materials such as reviews, news articles, web links and other related information.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY 

This design competition is open to professional artists/artist teams who reside in the United States and/or the Bahamas. State and regional artists are encouraged to apply.

SELECTION PROCESS

This RFQ is issued by the City of Bradenton CRA.  The PAAB voting members will act as the selection committee and will narrow the applications down by inviting a selected number of qualified applicants to interview individually (virtually via ZOOM/Teams). After all interviews have been completed, the PAAB will select the semi-finalists.

Each semi-finalist will be given a stipend of US $1,500 to develop their concept(s) and proposals. If a team is selected as one of the semi-finalists, the stipend will be going to the entire team and not each individual person within the team. Travel expenses related to the presentation of concepts to the PAAB (flight, mileage, hotel) will be reimbursed to a maximum of $500 and will be arranged by the CRA staff once semi-finalists have been selected.

The semi-finalists will present their concept/proposal in person to the PAAB. The PAAB will then make a recommendation to the CRA Board, who will in turn select the finalist(s).

SELECTION CRITERIA

The PAAB will use the following evaluation criteria to select artists/artist team:

Excellence: Works of art in the artist's/artist team's portfolio are original, innovative, of exceptional quality, and enduring value. High artistic quality and suitability as indicated in the Statement of Interest in relation to the project description, goals and site descriptions.

Relevant/Prior Experience: The artist/artist team has created projects of a similar scale and budget and has experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders; or is jointly submitting the qualifications of a collaborator that has created such projects and that has such experience.

Appropriateness to site and project: Works of art in the portfolio indicate that the artist is likely to be sensitive to the social, economic cultural, historical and physical context of the site and the surrounding neighborhood and/or area.

Durability: Works of art in the artist's portfolio utilize materials and processes likely to contribute to the longevity of public works of art, especially for projects that that will be located outdoors, or is willing to adapt such practices by collaborating with a partner with relevant specialized experience.

Collaborative Spirit: Willingness and ability of the artist/artist team to consult with the City's employees, landscape architects, civil engineers, and general contractors to assure smooth integration of the artwork into the site and to make necessary adjustments in relation to building codes and other construction issues.

ESTIMATED TIMELINE:

RFQ Released:                     November 15, 2022
Questions Deadline:             December 1, 2022
Submittals Due:                    December 15, 2022
Review of Submittals:           January 2023
Initial Interviews:                   Jan -Feb 2023
Selection of Semi-Finalists:  March 2023
Semi-Finalist Interviews:       April-May 2023                                           Selection of Finalist(s):          May 2023

ABOUT THE CITY OF BRADENTON (CRA)

The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Bradenton (CRA) is a dependent special district of the City of Bradenton and is governed by the CRA Board that consists of the five elected officials of the City Council. The CRA’s main goals are to remove slum and blight conditions, and to improve deteriorating areas of the city through revitalization efforts that raise the area’s property values. The City of Bradenton CRA consists of three districts: The Bradenton CRA District, The 14th Street CRA District, and the Central CRA District.

PUBLIC ART ADVISORY BOARD (PAAB)

The Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB) is a volunteer board that was established in February 2022 with Resolution CRA 22-02. This advisory board makes recommendations to the CRA Board regarding the acquisition, placement, installation, maintenance, and/or removal of public art. It is comprised of five voting members and three alternate members.

The City of Bradenton does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, economic status, or gender identity.

For questions, contact Jean G. Farmer, Public Art Coordinator at 941-932-9443 or jean.farmer@BradentonFL.gov .