MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE  

Request for Proposals 

Public Art Program | Public Works  

PO Box 196650 

Anchorage, AK  99519-6650 

(907) 343-6473  

Anchorage Police Department – Elmore Facility 

Deadline for Entries: August 7th, 2023 11:59 PM MST 

Contact: Curator of Public Art, Public Art Program, (907) 343-6473 

Amount of Commission: $55,000; Location 1: $20,000, Location 2: $15,000, Location 3: $5,000, 

Location 4: $15,000 

Eligibility: Open Entry, National 

Code 

In accordance with AMC 7.40, the Municipality of Anchorage is inviting qualified artists to create public artwork proposals for the Anchorage Police Department’s newly renovated Elmore facility, located in Anchorage, Alaska.   

Project Information  

Construction for this phase of facility renovation is complete. The installation of artwork will be coordinated with the Curator of Public Art and the Anchorage Police Department.  

Site Description 

Under this request for proposals, the Art Selection Jury intends to commission artwork for four locations, totaling $55,000, to be permanently installed throughout the newly renovated facility. Location 1 ($20,000) is the facility’s conference room, located on the second floor. Location 2 ($15,000) consists of two specific sites: the public and staff interior entry areas. Large, south facing windows looking out to the exterior courtyard are prominent in both areas. Due to security restrictions, staff and the general public use separate entries. Located on the south end of the facility, both entries are situated directly next to each other. Location 3 ($5,000) is an interior area sited to the facility’s three Quiet Rooms. These rooms are used by Dispatch staff as a wellness response to high stress situations. Location 4 ($15,000) entails two interior hallways located on the first and second floors of the facility. Both halls contain several windows and have a neutral gray color scheme. 

The Anchorage Police Department’s Elmore facility renovation included the relocation of the APD Headquarters from Elmore Road to downtown Anchorage in order to improve the function and performance of facility operations. Due to the secure nature of the facility’s operations, public access is limited. The facility is located at 4501 Elmore Rd, Anchorage, AK 99507. There are no existing public works of art sited to this facility 

Learn more about the Anchorage Police Department: https://www.anchoragepolice.com/ 

Location guides are attached here for reference: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ue422al3tm4wija/AADxyeea3tS856yCbctU7RdPa?dl=0 

LOCATIONS 

Location 1:  

Conference Room: $20,000 

Proposals for this location are limited to two-dimensional murals for the identified wall area. The facility’s conference room is located on the south end of the second floor and is composed of hard, acoustically reflective surfaces that will benefit greatly from acoustic dampening. For this purpose, proposals shall be limited to treatment of seven acoustic dampening panels that will be provided by the Public Art Program. These acoustic dampening panels are paintable and printable and may be treated like a canvas. For more information on the acoustic dampening panels and compatible mediums that can be used, please refer to the following product specifications: https://www.primacoustic.com/paintables/ 

The commission award for this location entails the creation and installation of a mural on the provided panels. Each panel measures approximately 4’x4’ and shall be installed on the identified wall area in the conference room. The overall mural dimensions will be 4’ (H) x 28’ (W).  

For this location, the Art Selection Jury is interested in seeing proposals that are bold, dynamic, contemporary in style or nature, and promote connection among staff. Suggested topics of exploration include but are not limited to landscape imagery, APD core values of Honor, Excellence, Gratitude, & Service, and historical reference to the Anchorage Police Department – though representations of a timeline are discouraged. 

Location images can be found at the following link: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fwvbtzeoop9bbsz/AAAqQAVNBDqTS6S0208igDGya?dl=0 

All dimensions are approximate 

Location 2:  

Public & Staff Entry: $15,000 

This location includes the interior areas of the separate public and staff entries. The commission is for artwork to be installed in both areas. The entire space of each entry is available for consideration including the walls, floor, ceiling, doors, & large windows. Proposals must ensure that artwork will be durable and will not create a hazard or impede foot traffic. With some variation between public and staff entries, dimensions for installation areas measure approximately 8’7” (H) x 10’ 7” (W) x 7’ (D).  

For this location, the jury is interested in seeing contemporary proposals that respond to or incorporate the Anchorage Police Department’s core values: Honor, Excellence, Gratitude, & Service. Proposal should be “bold & cool” and welcoming for both the public and staff.  

Location images can be found at the following link: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kraf4yuposcf2ro/AADIK3J2ZqP5TH1PcvsGifi-a?dl=0 

All dimensions are approximate 

Location 3:   

Quiet Rooms: $5,000 

The Art Selection Jury intends to purchase existing two-dimensional works of art for the three separate Quiet rooms at the Elmore facility. The size and quantity of artwork purchased will be commensurate with the dimensions of the rooms. With some variation, rooms measure approximately 14’7” (L) x 5’2” (W) x 8’7” (H). Artists are encouraged to submit up to six existing works of art that are complete, ready to hang, and available for purchase. All two-dimensional mediums will be considered. 

The Quiet Rooms are sensitive spaces, designated for staff wellness in response to high-stress situations. Submitted artwork should be appropriate for the purpose and function of these spaces to be considered. It is suggested that artists consider submitting works that explore topics of wellness, resilience, contemplation, and quietude. 

Location images can be found at the following link: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/99197ykj47q8z3u/AADxH9gSF2-24w_qnEwRuSsoa?dl=0 

All dimensions are approximate 

Location 4  

Hallways: $15,000  

(First floor & Second floor) 

This location is composed of two interior hallways used by staff, located on the first and second floor. The designated hall on the first floor begins at the facility’s western staff entry, leading to the second floor stairwell. The second floor hallway runs from the north to the south end of the facility. Proposals are limited to the wall areas of the halls. The first floor measures approximately 58’ (L) x 8’7” (H) and the second floor measures approximately 175’ (L) x 8’7” (H). Proposals are not required to make use of all surface area, but rather utilize the available areas to successfully activate the space as specified below. This location has a dominant gray color palette.  

Artwork suitable for this location includes two-dimensional, wall mounted artwork, low relief, or direct application mural work. Artwork cannot impede foot traffic or create a hazard. The jury is interested in seeing proposals for bold art that dynamically flows down the halls. Proposals that liven up the area, are contemporary in style or nature, and promote connection among staff are encouraged. Suggested topics of exploration include but are not limited to landscape imagery and historical reference to the Anchorage Police Department – though representations of a timeline are discouraged. 

Location images can be found at the following link: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hpq2zz6m51zr6uh/AABA9GqlagphYGmi6YDJcd8Ia?dl=0 

All dimensions are approximate 

The Art Selection Jury is interested in seeing proposals from artists or artist teams and welcomes proposals for more than one location. Proposals for each location must be submitted separately. 

THEMES 

The overarching themes discussed by the Art Selection Jury, for all locations, focus on wellness and connecting people to each other. With exception of the Quiet Room spaces, the jury is interested in seeing the overarching themes explored in a manner that is bold, dynamic, and contemporary.  

A History of the Anchorage Police Department can be found at the following link for interested applicants: https://www.anchoragepolice.com/our-story 

REQUIREMENTS 

There are no restrictions on style or the design of artwork, but the proposal must provide assurance that the artwork will be durable and routine maintenance requirements will be minimal. Also, surplus materials (2%) will be required for future maintenance needs, if appropriate. The installation must be permanent and must be designed to last the life of the facility. This is an earthquake area and artwork needs to meet standards in the IBC 2018 building code as amended by the Municipality of Anchorage. All commissioned artwork is subject to municipal permitting requirements, and any such requirements must be met prior to artwork installation. 

Artists are required to submit the following items:  

1. Six digital images from your artist portfolio should be loaded into CaFE (callforentry.org) following the guidelines on that site. 

2. Each image should be identified with title, materials, dimensions, and value.  

3. Current 1-2 page resume, including 3 professional references. 

4. Your artist statement should include a description of why you are interested in or particularly qualified for this project. Your statement should also address any experience or work sample deficiencies in relation to your chosen medium.  

5.  A brief conceptual proposal which identifies location, medium, and thematic relevance. 

BUDGET  

The total budget for artwork is $55,000 allocated to four separate project locations, including Location 1: $20,000; Location 2: $15,000; Location 3: $5,000; Location 4: $15,000. Budgets are to cover all costs associated with the commissioning of artwork, including but not limited to design, fabrication, any travel and accommodations, transportation, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation and an identifying plaque. Any permitting, or engineer fees required must be paid by the artist. Any structural or engineer fees for approved structure modifications, must be paid by artist. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and payment of prevailing wage rates, may apply. 

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Artists will be selected to develop proposals with the project team based on: 

Artistic Merit as evidenced by representation of relevant past work in images.   

Appropriateness of the artist’s medium, style and previous experience in relation to the project goals and setting. 

Experience with projects of a similar scale and scope including familiarity with the public art process, the public review approval process, and/or collaboration with high schools, design agencies, public facilities, and art selection juries.   

Artists must have good communication skills and be able to work with diverse community members.  

The program goal to reflect a diversity of artists and media through representation of new and traditional artforms practiced in local, regional, national, and international arts communities in a range of style, scale, media, form, and intent. Artists with no prior public art experience will be seriously considered.  Artists with strong bodies of work, with little public art background are encouraged to apply and will be given equal consideration.   

ART SELECTION JURY 

Tim Huntting represents the Municipality of Anchorage as a Geotechnical Lab Manager, Isobel Roy is the Architect representative on this project and Senior Landscape Architect for the Municipality, Indra Arriaga is a local professional artist with experience making Public Art, Melissa Shaginoff is a local professional artist and curator, Brooke Blessing is a Project Administrator for the Municipality, Gwen Pullman is a Journeyman Wireman for the Municipality, and Gina Hollomon serves as a professional artist and arts advocate with experience making public art throughout Alaska. Non-voting members include Gideon Gerlt, the Curator of Public Art and Lt. David Burns, Project Manager for the Anchorage Police Department.   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  

Requests for additional information may be directed to the Curator of Public Art, Municipality of Anchorage, Department of Public Works.  The telephone number is (907) 343-6473; the FAX number is (907) 249-7567. The Public Art Program for the Municipality of Anchorage can be found on the web at: 

https://www.muni.org/Departments/Public_Works_Administration/PublicArt/Pages/default.aspx

Application Requirements

REQUIREMENTS 

There are no restrictions on style or the design of artwork, but the proposal must provide assurance that the artwork will be durable and routine maintenance requirements will be minimal. Also, surplus materials (2%) will be required for future maintenance needs, if appropriate. The installation must be permanent and must be designed to last the life of the facility. This is an earthquake area and artwork needs to meet standards in the IBC 2018 building code as amended by the Municipality of Anchorage. All commissioned artwork is subject to municipal permitting requirements, and any such requirements must be met prior to artwork installation. 

Eligibility Criteria

Open Entry - National