LOCATION/CONTEXT: The vision of Eastern Virginia Medical School is to be recognized as the most community-oriented school of medicine and health professions in the nation. Founded in 1973 by community leaders to address the region’s serious shortage of physicians, EVMS enjoys a unique relationship with the people of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. It is a school created by the local community, for the community. Students choose the school because they want to be engaged in the community as a part of their learning. Researchers seek innovative treatments for the health problems that hit Hampton Roads the hardest. Doctors and surgeons provide high-quality primary and specialty care to those most in need.

EVMS graduates go on to make a difference in people’s lives in the Hampton Roads region and around the world. The school’s educational programs have grown with the region and become so much more than health care training. It is a complexity of education, research, and clinical care. It includes the MD Education Program, training medical-school graduates in their chosen specialty, residency training, fellowships and ongoing continuing medical education. The school also supports focused research in many specialty areas and an active not-for-profit physicians’ group. Promoting a lifelong commitment to service, EVMS is unquestionably one of the region’s foremost community partners and economic engines.   

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: EVMS is a campus of scientists, researchers, educators, learners and healers, the aesthetic is modern, clean, collegial, and authoritative. The artwork should resonate with this brand, showing creativity, innovation and imagination. The work should be fresh, forward-thinking, expansive and airy, clean, approachable and welcoming, clear and purposeful. Artists may want to work with light to showcase the artwork at night. We hope the artwork will become an icon for the city as well as for the whole campus creating a notable sense of place.

PROJECT SITE: Eastern Virginia Medical School is located adjacent to downtown Norfolk, VA along one of the busiest thoroughfares near the Elizabeth River waterfront. The EVMS campus fills the entire corner of the medical complex that also includes Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. The Red Cross, Public Health, and other important medical facilities are nearby. The location for the artwork is the corner of Raleigh Avenue and Children’s Lane in the large grass area and outdoor plaza. The area, at Lester Hall and the EVMS Brickell Library, is used for gathering and special events. This corner is an epicenter and a gateway to the campus with good site lines down Children’s Lane and Raleigh Avenue all the way though the medical campus. Thousands come to the campus every day. The artwork will be viewed by pedestrians, vehicular traffic, as well as from the inside of the building by students seeking momentary relief from the hectic classroom. An image and a site plan are attached.

SIZE/MEDIUM: The artwork should make a bold statement and be at a scale to complement the site. It must be constructed of durable, permanent materials that are safe and easily maintained. Artwork should be constructed and operate to the highest level of sustainability.

PROJECT FUNDS: The total budget for the completed, delivered, and installed artwork is $242,500. This will cover artist’s honorarium, fabrication, materials, shipping, insurance, and travel expenses necessary to complete the project, project plaque, final documentation and any incidental expenses. Finalists will be selected to be interviewed by the Public Art Planning Committee. The finalists are not expected to complete a design at this stage but will be interviewed about past work and their creative process. There will also be a preliminary discussion of the site. The committee reserves the right to select the final artist without a finalist process.

The artist must hire a Virginia licensed contractor to install the artwork(s). The selected artist may be asked to present an educational workshop or presentation to the community.

Please note that a city contract will be issued with a design phase requiring review and approval by the committee and the Public Art Commission prior to fabrication.

The selected artist must carry a Commercial General Liability Insurance Policy naming the City of Norfolk and Eastern Virginia Medical School as additional insured and must provide certificates of insurance to that effect guaranteeing thirty (30) days written notice before any changes to the policies become effective. Insurance can be purchased, and certificate presented after the first payment is made. If the artist employs anyone in connection with this work, the artist must carry a worker’s compensation insurance policy and an automobile liability insurance policy if appropriate. The artist shall also be responsible for assuring subcontractors, if there are any, meet the same insurance requirements.  

Application Requirements

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: Submission must be submitted via Café Call for Entry website at https://artist.callforentry.org by 12:00 PM MDT on October 9, 2023 There is no application fee to apply. 

The following materials are required: 

1.      Statement of Understanding, online agreement of compliance to all State of Virginia codes. See last page of this document for Statement of Understanding.

2.      Letter of Interest outline your interest in this project and how you will approach the artwork design and creation. (500-word max)

3.      Resume, maximum of two (2) pages, outlining your professional accomplishments.  If submitting as a team, please include resumes for each team member, with each resume not exceeding two (2) pages.

4.      Artwork Images, selection of up to ten (10) images representing artworks most relevant to the scope of this opportunity.  You may submit up to two (2) video files if relevant to showing the artwork.

5.      References, three (3) professional references, including name, affiliated organization (if appropriate), email address, phone number, and relationship to each reference.   

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all artists over the age of 18.