OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

The Peekskill Arts Alliance (PAA), with funding from the Peekskill Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), seeks proposals from professional artists or artist collectives interested in creating site-specific art installations as part of the PAA’s project “Making Connections.” Artwork will be installed at 13 locations in Peekskill, 1 of which is included in this RFP, and may be printed and/or painted on aluminum sign writing panels, walls, or vinyl banners. The 1 site for which proposals are requested is listed below and on the CAFÉ application site. The timeline for installation of these  projects will be staggered, with a “grand opening” of this and other DRI projects to take place in Fall 2023.

Please review all details in this document before making your submission.

RFP DEADLINE: Proposals must be submitted online via the link provided by May 15, 11:59PM, E.S.T. Artists will be notified of their selection  by June 15, 2023.

APPLICATION PORTAL  CAFE

BACKGROUND:
Peekskill’s award of $10,000,000 as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative promises to transform the City of Peekskill. In response to this opportunity, the PAA and Business Improvement District (BID) are co-sponsoring a large public art project, known as Making Connections. A total of $137,000 has been allocated to this project from the DRI grant.

Making Connections includes a total of 13 proposed locations that will create art corridors, using murals and installations to connect the Peekskill Waterfront to the downtown and serve to engage residents and visitors in a unique cultural and historic experience, increase foot traffic and tourism, and improve the attractiveness of the downtown. Artists have been selected for six (6) sites with the remaining location at the Peekskill Brewery included in this RFP. Making Connections will strengthen Peekskill’s identity as an “Arts Community” by providing outdoor visible signs of artworks by local and nationally known professional artists. The Peekskill Brewery is an important and extremely visible part of the overall project.

 We are proud of Peekskill’s diversity and intend to engage the community in this project. To that end, a collaborative component to several of the murals not included in this RFP has been integrated into our project. These installations will involve working with several different local community groups. .

These Public Art projects will stimulate opportunities for both professional mural artists and our local community to participate and will encourage input from key stakeholders, developers, and property owners. Visitors will admire the creative public art presentations as natural extensions of what Peekskill is and will be. 

THE SITES

Installations at privately owned sites will be subject to approval by the owners. Projects at community-based settings will require cultural sensitivity and coordinating groups of community members. Similarly, projects on municipal property, DOT, and MTA property will require approval of relevant authorities. 

RFP's are currently request for the following site:

• Site: Peekskill Brewery:
• Artist: $1,000
• Total Budget including Artist Fee, Materials and Installation: $2,700
• Theme:The theme should focus on the uses of the Historic Peekskill Waterfront and show the connection between  the past and present uses. In the past there were foundries, factories and distilleries and currently there is high-tech manufacturing, traditional craftmanship and brewing.

Application Requirements

Artists interested in being considered for this opportunity must submit the following:

1. A current resume/CV, particularly highlighting relevant experience (required)
2. Artist statement (required)
3. Minimum of 5, up to 10, images of original completed artworks (Work Samples) (required)
4. Work Samples Checklist (required)
5. Letter of interest (required)
6. 3 professional references or reviews of completed artworks

Eligibility Criteria

Artists and artist collectives with a proven track record.