CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW - CALL FOR ARTISTS

Public Art - Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Transit Center Grade Separation and Access Project

Applications will be accepted from:

12:00 noon (PST), Friday, March 17, 2023 through 12:00 noon p.m. (PST), Wednesday, April 5, 2023 

Applications will not be accepted after 12:00 noon (PST), Wednesday, April 5, 2023, and only the first 100 applications will be accepted (whichever comes first).

Summary

The City of Mountain View’s Two-Percent for Art Program requires that 2 percent of all major City capital improvement projects over $1 million be spent on public art related to the project.  The Transit Center Grade Separation and Access Project will improve safety, capacity, and multimodal access to the Transit Center and Downtown Mountain View. The project is focused on the Castro Street/Moffett Boulevard/Central Expressway intersection and the Castro Street crossing of the railroad tracks.  One of the main aspects of the project is the construction of an undercrossing for pedestrians and cyclists to facilitate passage between the north side of Central Expressway and the Moffett Boulevard community to both the Transit Center and Downtown Mountain View. The City of Mountain View Visual Arts Committee (VAC) seeks to commission an artist, or team of artists, to design and execute an original work of art(s) for the Transit Center Grade Separation and Access Project.

Applications must be submitted online on www.callforentry.org. Artists should only submit applications directly through the callforentry.org website; no other form of application will be accepted.  The City intends to start construction of the project in 2024. 

The expectation is for the art to be installed by the artist following the construction phase of the facility in early to mid-2027.

City of Mountain View Overview

Mountain View is in the heart of Silicon Valley and at the center of the technology industry, covering 12 square miles and is home to almost 83,800 residents, many nationally and internationally known corporations, and a thriving small business base. Located 10 miles north of San Jose and 35 miles south of San Francisco, the central location provides easy access to the entire San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California cities.  Mountain View prides itself on having attractive and well-built residential communities served by neighborhood parks and playgrounds, recreational facilities, quality education, and convenient shopping.

Over the years, the City has instituted a public art program and built a collection of public art using public/private partnership, community involvement, and some public funds. A major component of this program is a City policy known as the Two Percent for Art Program which requires that 2 percent of all major City capital improvement projects over $1 million be spent on public art related to the project.  This program is administered by the Visual Arts Committee (VAC), a seven-person, City Council-appointed advisory committee that will recommend public art to the City Council, whose decision is final.

More information on the City's Public Art program and call for artist can be found at: www.mountainview.gov/publicart.  The project is in the downtown area of the City of Mountain View in Santa Clara County. The project is centered around the existing Mountain View Transit Center located next to the Castro Street/Moffett Boulevard/Central Expressway intersection. The project itself consists of a series of inter-related project components that extend from Shoreline Boulevard to the west to the Easy Street/Central Expressway intersection to the east.  The Mountain View Transit Center serves as the City’s key multimodal transportation node. Currently, over 12,000 transit riders arrive at or leave the station each day. That number is forecast to grow as transit services increase in the future with the electrification of Caltrain.

Project Budget

The total Public Art Project Budget is $400,000 (up to two art installations).  The selection process will be a two-part process where no more than six (6) artists will be invited back to develop proposals with a semi-finalist Design Honorarium of $1,500 per artist.  The VAC will then select the final artists for City Council consideration.

The project budget is all-inclusive of project costs, including artist's fees and expenses, taxes, materials, permit fees, travel, shipping and crating, insurance fees, permitting, site preparation, fabrication/installation or execution of the artwork.  The VAC seeks to complete up to two significant art installations on the site. The VAC is open to multiple artists and/or locations.  Artists may also apply individually or as a team.  For example, the VAC may select two art installations from one artist and one art installation from another artist. The total budget for all installations will not exceed $391,000.

Estimated Schedule (dates subject to change)

Artist Eligibility

This Request for Qualifications is open to all professional and emerging artists residing in California that are over the age of 18.  Bay Area artists are encouraged to apply. Entries not meeting eligibility requirements will be withdrawn from consideration. Artists must demonstrate that they have successfully completed similar works in the past when submitting their qualifications.

Potential Artwork Locations

Project staff and the VAC has identified two possible locations for public art. Artists may choose a single location, or multiple locations, and should indicate in their application which location(s) they are proposing to place their artwork.

Given the total public art budget for the project is $400,000, staff recommends the budget be divided between the two locations as follows:

• The allocation for the upper concourse area is estimated to be between $100,000 and $150,000.
• The allocation for the undercrossing tunnel and Castro Street Stairwell is estimated to be between $250,000 and $300,000

Selection Process

The Visual Arts Committee will review the submitted applications and select the semi-finalists. The VAC will evaluate applications on the following criteria:

• Originality of artistic style (past work)
• Type of artwork proposed
• Ability of the artwork to withstand outdoor conditions
• Maintenance requirements
• Artist’s experience with public art commissions and working within the public process
• Artist’s experience with art projects of a similar size and scope

Up to six artists will be selected by the VAC and these artists will be asked to develop a design proposal. A Design Honorarium of $1,500 will be paid to each of the semi-finalists upon completion of their design proposal.

The final design proposals will be presented to the Visual Arts Committee for review. The VAC will be asked to rank the design proposals, and a recommendation will be made for consideration by the City Council for final selection of the public art design/artist.

The City Council may require additional drawings or information for their respective review. The VAC is willing to work with an artist or artists on the design proposal to ensure suitability and sustainability. The City and VAC reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

Submission Requirements

All applications must be submitted online via CaFÉ at www.callforentry.org, an online application system for calls for entry.  There is no charge for artists to apply or use CaFÉ.  Applications that are mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered will not be considered, as this is an online system.

All applications should include the following:

• Artist Resumé
• Signed Application Checklist 
• Five (5) to seven (7) images of artwork completed within the past five years.  All artwork images must be examples demonstrating the artist is capable of creating and commissioning durable artwork adequate for the outdoor elements (i.e., sun, rain) and a public setting. Images of current artwork must include annotated descriptions.  Please include:  art title, date the art was created, dimensions, type of media, and location of the installation (address, city, state). For team application, please indicate the lead artist for each project.
• Professional references (minimum of 2)
• Letter of interest (1-2 pages), including an outline of your qualifications and relevant experience, interest in this project and a general approach to this project
• Optional: A rough sketch of a proposed design can be included but is not required. Artists will not be held to, nor reimbursed for, any preliminary sketches.

All applicants should allow adequate time to submit their applications.  To get additional assistance using CaFÉ, please contact WESTAF by calling 303-629-1166 or via e-mail at cafe@westaf.org.

NOTE: If your application is not completed in its entirety, it will not be honored as an official submittal and will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted online on www.callforentry.org. Artists should only submit applications directly through the callforentry.org website; no other form of application will be accepted. Late or incomplete  applications  cannot  be  considered. ALL  SUBMITTALS WILL BECOME THE PROPERTY OF THE CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW. The City of Mountain View is not responsible for loss of or damage to any materials.

Award of Contract

The City of Mountain View reserves the right to accept or reject any submittals and to alter or extend the selection process as needed. This RFQ and the selection process shall in no way be deemed as a binding contract or agreement of any kind between the City and the artist. Award of a contract is contingent upon approval of the Visual Arts Committee and City Council. Artists and artist teams selected and approved will contract with the City for the entire duration of the project.

The selected artist will be required to secure and maintain various types of insurance, including Automobile Liability, General Liability and other insurance as needed. Finalist(s) will be contacted regarding next steps, including an agreement with the City of Mountain View (see Sample Agreement attached).  Finalist(s) will also be required to obtain a business license and insurance (requirements are noted in the Sample Agreement).  Selected artwork is to be installed in 2027.

The artwork commissioned for this project shall become the property of the City of Mountain View. The artwork will be maintained as part of the City’s permanent art collection. The City shall have no obligation to display the artwork for any particular period or in perpetuity.

Artist Responsibilities

The selected artist or artistic team will be expected to work with City staff to develop the specific parameters of the public art component, as well as implement all aspects of the project.

These specifics will include:

• Developing the final design proposal
• Selecting appropriate artistic materials for the design
• Developing a final project timeline
• Attending meetings with city staff as necessary
• Obtaining all required permits
• Complying with federal, state and local rules and regulations related to prevailing wage
• Obtaining appropriate insurance for the artwork until City has accepted the artwork
• Fabrication/installation or execution of the artwork
• Delivery of the artwork
• Providing detailed instructions for the preservation of the artwork
• Providing detailed documentation on the engineering, execution or installation of the artwork
• Abiding by all requirements of the artist's contract with the City
• Depending on the artwork type, a building permit may be required.
• The artist is responsible for obtaining the building permit.
• Depending on the artwork type, a structural engineer may be required to provide plans and calculations for the building permit.   The artist is responsible for obtaining services of a licensed structural engineer.  Cost for services of a structural engineer shall be borne by the artist and included in the cost of the proposed art.

Contact Information

All questions or requests for additional information regarding this Request for Qualifications should be e-mailed to vac@mountainview.gov. Any questions regarding the CaFE (Call for Entry) website should be directed to WESTAF at 303-629-1166 or www.callforentry.org/

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Signed Application Checklist
• 5 to 7 images of relevant completed artwork
• Professional references minimum of 2)
• Letter of intent

Eligibility Criteria

• All professional and emerging artists residing in California that are over the age of 18.
• Bay Area artists are encouraged to apply.