LOCATION/CONTEXT: Ocean View (OV) is a coastal region in the city of Norfolk, Virginia with more than 7 miles of free, accessible, and beautiful shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay. Ocean View is economically, socially, culturally, and racially diverse with lots of character and colorful characters. It is now a family-oriented, affordable beach area that has grown since its first streets were laid out in 1854. The population is mostly year-round residents, including service members from nearby Navy and Joint Command bases and their families. Residents have unequaled pride, passion, and a sense of community. OV is known for its gritty attitude, beaches and swimming, sand dunes, cottages, and live oak trees.

In the 1990s a large-scale urban renewal project began at the east end of Ocean View. The city of Norfolk invested over $50 million to develop, as part of a public-private partnership, an upscale new urbanist waterfront neighborhood named "East Beach". The neighborhood is fashioned after classic Southeastern seaboard coastal villages, and includes 700 residences, neighborhood restaurants, boutique shops, a Bay Front Club, offices, parks and public places. Mature canopies of existing live oak trees were preserved and are situated in linear public parks for all to enjoy. Shopping and restaurants already existed nearby, with more being built as the entire Ocean View area continues to redevelop. Rebuilt sand dunes, planted vegetation, and the placement of 10 offshore breakwaters to slow erosion and protect the neighborhood from coastal flooding, resulted in East Beach being named one of the nation's top restored beaches.

PROJECT SITE: Ocean View Avenue runs the length of Ocean View from Willoughby Spit to the west and East Beach to the east, where it transitions to Shore Drive and continues to the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story in the city of Virginia Beach. As your travel into Ocean View heading west from Virginia Beach you come to East Beach and then there is a major transition to the funkier part of old Ocean View. The road splits, bike lanes begin, and you now recognize that you are at the beach. The artwork will be sited in a wide dune-like median at this transition point. There is NO infrastructure for a mural. Photos and a map are included.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The artwork will serve as a gateway, entrance, and transition point into Ocean View. The committee hopes the final artwork will reflect the natural beauty of Ocean View bringing attention to and elevating the community. The work should be natural and organic, energetic, fun, stimulating, and tell the story of sand, wind, water, and sun.

SIZE/MEDIUM: The artwork should be large enough to be viewed from vehicles traveling Ocean View Avenue. The design should incorporate a base tall enough to showcase the artwork above the collecting sand of the dune. It must be made of durable, permanent materials that are safe and easily maintained, standing the test of time and the harsh wind and sand elements, and the occasional hurricane. There is NO infrastructure for a mural. 

Application Requirements

SELECTION CRITERIA AND AWARD CONSIDERATIONS: The commission will be awarded based on many factors such as the aesthetic value, creativity, and contemporary relevance of the proposed piece. The city will consider the diversity of beliefs and values and general standards of decency of the citizens who fund the commission and purchase public art for the City of Norfolk. The award will be made to the responsible offeror whose submission is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the City taking into consideration the evaluation factors set forth in this Request for Proposal.

The following criteria will be used in the proposal evaluation process:

• Artistic merit (excellence, originality, creativity, and innovative approaches) as evidenced by submitted materials

• Professional artistic experience to fulfill the requirements of this project either in studio, educational, community, employment and/or art projects and the ability to undertake the design, creation, and installation of the artwork

• Appropriateness of materials, style, and concepts in relation to this prospectus

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: Submission must be submitted to by 11:59 PM EST on November 20, 2023. There is no application fee to apply or use the online application system.

The following materials are required:

1.         Statement of Understanding, online agreement of compliance to all State of Virginia codes. By submitting your application, you agree to the Statement of Understanding.

2.         Letter of Interest outline your interest in this project and how you will approach the artwork design and creation. (1000-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. 

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

Eligibility Criteria

This project is open to all artists over 18 years of age.