Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) in partnership with the Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) and the Utah Arts & Museums’ Public Art Program requests qualifications from artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site specific artwork(s) for the new Mountainland Technical College campus in Payson, Utah.

MOUNTAINLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
The mission of the Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) is to enhance the employability of individuals through market-driven career and technical education. It provides classroom and hands-on training in a number of technical professions. This training is specific to the practical problem-solving skills needed for a career in a blossoming economy.

HISTORY OF MOUNTAINLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) was originally established as Mountainland Applied Technology Center in 1989. In 2001 through state legislation, the College officially became Mountainland Applied Technology College and an affiliate campus of the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT). In June 2006 MTECH was awarded full accreditation and in 2017 became Mountainland Technical College. MTECH offers programs in over 50 career and technical education fields with over 1.5 million student membership hours.

PAYSON CAMPUS
Mountainland Technical College enters the 2022/2023 school year as the largest and fastest-growing technical college in Utah. MTECH’s enrollment growth is only eclipsed by the regional demand for competency-based education, occupational certificates, and a skilled workforce. Over 10 years, 20 sectors in the Payson region are forecast to have double-digit employment growth (JobsEQ, September 2021). To meet business, industry, and workforce training demands, MTECH must expand.

The vision of the new Payson Campus for MTECH is to have a location that fulfills the growing demands for technical training and education in southern Utah county. The proposed campus should be a place of pride for the students and faculty to come each
day to learn and teach; the atmosphere should be approachable, open, and clean. Overall, MTECH’s new campus should represent a modern higher educational facility focused on practical, hands-on learning.

PAYSON, UTAH
Payson is located 59 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah. It sits in the southern Wasatch Range, right below the 11,928-foot peak of Mount Nebo. The Payson area has long been home to the Ute, Shoshone, Paiute, and Goshute peoples.

The area of Payson was settled by pioneers in 1850, under the name Peteetneet Creek, named after Chief Peteetneet of the Timpanogos people. Originally functioning primarily as an agricultural outpost, its population has consistently grown, reaching about 20,000 in the most recent census, with a diverse blend of residential, agricultural, and business communities. It is on the southern end of Utah county, the fastest growing county in the state.

COMMITTEE STATEMENT
This facility will be a place where community members can take advantage of the training programs to provide a better quality of life, to further their career development, and to develop a love of lifelong learning. MTECH takes great pride in serving both high school and adult learners - and the faculty, administration, and board have a common goal of enriching the student through quality education. The Art Selection Committee encourages artists to consider the students and faculty spending time in the new Payson facility and create a work that reflects this diverse audience. In the development of work for this project, artists may consider the full suite of training offered at the new, comprehensive MTECH Campus (e.g., Apprenticeship, Health, Technology, Service, and Trades programs).

The Art Selection Committee is seeking current Utah residents or artists with rich connections to Utah. In addition, the Committee hopes to find an artist who is punctual, responsive, and reflects the College’s perspective and its students. The goal of this artwork is to serve as an exterior beacon for the new facility, welcoming visitors as they approach the west entrance.

BUDGET
$166,000 is available for all related expenses of this Public Art commission(s) including (but not limited to) artist fees, fabrication, insurance, shipping, travel, installation, documentation, etc.

DEADLINE
Complete application packages must be RECEIVED on or before February 10, 2023 by 11:59p.m. MT

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE
The Selection Committee will review all properly submitted qualifications from which a short list of semi-finalists will be selected. Semi-finalists will be asked present a full proposal to the committee on April 18, 2023 to include concept, budget, and timeline. All semi-finalists will be awarded an honorarium to help defray the costs of the development of the proposal. The honorarium will be applied toward the commission amount for the artist(s) awarded the commission(s).
Schedule:
December 8, 2022 – Publish RFQ
February 10, 2023, 11:59pm MT – Deadline for receipt of preliminary materials
February 21, 2023 – Committee Review
April 18, 2023 – Finalists interviews and presentations
Fall 2024 – Project substantial completion

ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE
Clay Christensen* - President, Mountainland Technical College
Joseph Demma - VP College Relations, Mountainland Technical College
Brad DeMond - Project Manager, Division of Facilities Construction and Management
Heather Graham - President, Payson Arts Council
Joshua Greene - Principal, Method Studio
Blake Hendry* - Facilities Director, Mountainland Technical College
Rafael Lopez* - Method Studio
Kirt Michaelis - VP Administrative Services, Mountainland Technical College
Holly Peterson* - VP Instruction, Mountainland Technical College
Jonah Ritter* - Method Studio
Matt Wallace* - Method Studio
Bill Wright - Mayor, Payson City
* = non-voting committee member

Application Requirements

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Interested artists may submit applications online via CallForEntry.org
Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for this Public Art Request for Qualifications. The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to 1 movie file of previous work, a CV or resume, and a Statement of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project.

To request an accommodation for a disability, please complete an Accommodation Form at least two weeks in advance of the February 10 deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at https://artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility

Eligibility Criteria

Artist / artist teams living in the state of Utah or with connections to Utah are eligible for this commission. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other).  Art selection committee members and immediate families, board members, and employees of Method Studio or Utah Division of Arts and Museums are not eligible for this project.