THE CONNECTICUT AIDS MEMORIAL 

The Shawn Lang Memorial Task Force is seeking artist qualifications to create the CT AIDS Memorial monument. The Task Force is named after Shawn Lang, a longtime CT advocate who spent her life fighting injustices. 

This monument will serve as a reminder of Shawn Lang’s brand of soul force, the force of love, the force “of resistance.” At rallies at the State Capitol, she would often point to the building and state, “This is your house!” and as crowds left she’d challenge them to “Go out and change the world.” 

This public art should serve as motivation for the justice work ahead. It will be a piece that encourages our souls to be stirred as we step into the arena, and into the complex work of confronting the racial/social/political inequities in CT. It is public art for justice. 

The CT AIDS Memorial will be an outdoor public art installation that is incorporated within the landscape detailed below. It will be an “evergreen” installation that may include seating features and other interactive elements. The CT AIDS Memorial is meant to be an historic marker to those who have died of AIDS as well as those who continue to live with and work to eliminate HIV. The memorial will be engaging, intentional, empowering, hopeful and an opportunity for meaningful conversation. 

BUDGET 

The do-not-exceed budget for this project is currently $175,000. This maximum budget must include all design fees, materials, transportation, installation, storage, insurance, and any other costs associated with the project. Total expenses cannot exceed this amount. 

SELECTION PROCESS OVERVIEW 

Phase 1 | Call To Artists. Interested artists are asked to submit the following: 

Please provide the following: 

• Contact information for lead artist and, if applicable, all team members.
• One-page letter describing interest in the project and approach to design and public art projects. In PDF format
• Work Samples: Up to 8 digital images of recent and relevant projects. Include images of 3 previously installed and successfully completed installations. Individuals and teams are limited to 8 images maximum. Save all images as standard JPEG and label each with applicant’s name and number corresponding with list of work samples.
• One-page list of previous applicable work samples including title, budget, location, materials.

NOTE: Do not submit a proposal for artworks at this time. 

Phase 2 | The Selection Committee will initially select 3 artists/teams semi-finalists from the responses to the “Call To Artists” to participate in a Zoom, or in-person interview and present a design concept. Each semi-finalist artist/team will be paid a $200 stipend to prepare and present their design concepts. Deliverables must include graphic sketches of the proposed design concept and a budget breakdown. Artists/teams have approximately 4 weeks to prepare and submit preliminary concepts, including the presentations for Phase 3. 

Phase 3 | The Selection Committee will select the finalist. 

Selection of final artist will be based on the following: 

• Concepts are engaging and evoke curiosity of passers-by either through color, material, innovation, or other considerations.
• Artworks consider the specificity of location.
• Artworks consider all seasons in Connecticut, and are safe and low maintenance.
• Artwork is high impact and conveys artistic excellence.
• Art is welcoming, accessible and appropriate to the site.
• Artworks need not include figures or depictions of people.
• Concept is feasible within timeline and budget.

PROJECT TIMELINE  

• July 1, 2023: RFQ released
• September 30, 2023: Deadline for RFQ submission
• November 30, 2023: Semi-Finalists Notified
• Week of December 11, 2023: Zoom /in-person presentations to Selection Committee
• December 29, 2023: Selected artist contracted for full project.
• Publicity /Announcements made – January 2024
• Spring 2024 Project installation

Application Requirements

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 

Interested artists are asked to submit the following: 

• Artist Name(s)
• Letter of interest
• Work Samples: Up to 8 digital JPEG images of recent and relevant projects. Include images of 3 previously installed and successfully completed installations.
• One-page list of previous applicable work samples including title, budget, location, materials.

NOTE: Do not submit a proposal for artworks at this time. Submitted documents will not be returned.

Questions may be submitted to JMerz@act-ct.org and Lolaeh@sbcglobal.net from the Shawn Lang Memorial Task Force.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY 

Applicants must be experienced visual/sculpture/public art artists or artist-led teams. Preference will be given to artists residing in the state of Connecticut. Applicant or Applicant Team must demonstrate ability and experience in executing a public art project of this scale and budget. Applicant or Team must demonstrate an understanding of the intention to honor Shawn Lang’s style of public policy activism. Applicants will articulate in writing their passion for this process, recognizing that it is a call for art and a call for consciousness. 

As the commissioning organization, we are seeking to reach out to emerging artists, and artists of color, particularly those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Professional artists who are newer to the field of public art are encouraged to apply. We are committed to providing opportunities to people regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, intellectual disability, mental disability, physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness or deafness, or status as a veteran.