Orange County's Innovation Lab—RFQ

7149 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32818

Deadline:  December 27, 2023 (mid-night MT)

Finalist Design Stipend:  $800

Commission:  $77,600

Installation:  July 2026

Project Description

The Orange County Public Art Review Board seeks one or more artists or artist team(s) to develop artwork for Orange County's Innovation Lab located in the well-established suburb of Pine Hills. The Lab will house three vibrant welcoming spaces for community enrichment: the Multicultural Center, the Seniors Center, and Orange County's Innovation Lab.

Orange County's Innovation Lab will be an inspirational maker-space for creators of all ages to conceive and create all manner of technology-based items and ideas from robotics to virtual reality. There are many ideation spaces including a computer lab, collaboration and training spaces, Virtual Reality Den, Telecom Training Room, Idea Lab and two fully equipped Fabrication Spaces. Available to the community to learn, mentor and partner with others using coding, programming, testing and deployment of new ideas. The Center also includes a large Flexible Gathering Space fully outfitted for sound, light and video that will be used for TED Talks, industry meetings as well as community events.

Orange County's Innovation Lab is one of the ways that Orange County is heating up STEM Programs with Art, creating STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.

Possibilities for Public Art include, but are not limited to:

• Suspended 3D Art and Use of Light
• Art Embedded in Walls and Floors
• Augmented Reality
• Kinetic Sculpture
• Interactive Art
• Textile Art
• Digital Art

Background

Orange County is a rapidly growing metropolitan area of more than one million residents that contains the City of Orlando and a dozen other municipalities.  We are a minority majority community with over 160 languages spoken in public schools.  A recent study indicates that by 2030 Orlando may be the most diverse major metro area in the world. The county values innovation, collaboration, and inclusion.

Site (Links to the Overall Site Plan & Virtual Site Visit)

The Center is located on a hilltop with its east side and rooftop facing the road. The interior of the site is currently an unfinished space with vaulted ceilings offering the opportunity for the artist(s) and developer to work together to create a vibrant environment. Artist coordination with developer is required. Instillation and opening scheduled for summer 2026.

Budget

$77,600 has been approved for artwork.  The selected artist(s) or team(s) will be awarded a comprehensive contract (or contracts).  The artist will be responsible for artwork design, fabrication, materials, installation, insurance, travel, public presentations, meetings with Orange County staff as necessary, identification plaque, and all related incidental expenses.

Selection Process

A selection panel consisting of the project manager, stakeholders and art professionals will review artists’ qualifications.  Several artists will be selected to provide proposals and will be paid a stipend of $800 each for their proposal.  Final artist(s) selection will take place after review of the proposals.  The Arts & Cultural Affairs Director serves as the non-voting Chair of the Selection panel.

The Public Artist Selection Panel and Orange County reserve the right to reject any or all applications, proposals, applicants, or projects, and to modify or terminate the application process or the selection process for any reason and without prior notice.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to professional artists working in any appropriate media.  Student artists may apply if they can secure an experienced public artist to serve as a mentor to oversee their work.

Selection Criteria

Artists will be evaluated on artistic excellence as evidenced by submitted materials; professional experience; compatibility with the architectural design, facility environment and values of the county and this particular community.

Application Requirements

• Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs uses the CaFÉ online service for its public art selection process. The full application can be found at www.callforentry.org. There is no charge for artists to register with CaFÉ.
• Experience with public art projects with a similar budget is not required but helpful.
• Professional resume (teams must submit resumes for each member).
• Letter of interest, outlining interest in the project and a preliminary statement of approach.
• A minimum of one (1) image is required, and the maximum is 5. Images of finished works or conceptual drawings can be submitted. If images submitted are not of a completed public artwork, provide additional information to assure the Selection Panel of ability to realize a public art project and that it will be completed and installed as designed.
• Selected artists must complete W-9 Vendor Registration Form and will receive payments by check.

Timeline:

• Call Release:  Friday, October 27, 2023
• Applications Due:  Wednesday, December 27, 2023 (mid-night MT)
• Finalists Selection:  Friday, January 12, 2024
• Proposals Due:  Wednesday, March 6, 2024
• Proposal Review:  3 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2024
• Notification of Acceptance:  Monday, March 11, 2024
• Installation: July 2026

Contact

For further information contact Dawn R. Knight, Public Art Coordinator, Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs. Dawn.Knight@ocfl.net, 407-836-5540.

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The mission of Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs:  "To elevate Central Florida’s arts and culture to that befitting a diverse world-class community."

About Orange County Government: Orange County Government strives to serve its residents and guests with integrity, honesty, fairness and professionalism. Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous theme parks, one of the nation’s largest convention centers and a thriving life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide. For more information, please visit www.OCFL.net or go to Orange County Government’s social media channels.

Application Requirements

• Experience with public art projects with a similar budget is not required but helpful.
• Professional resume (teams must submit resumes for each member).
• Letter of interest, outlining interest in the project and a preliminary statement of approach.
• A minimum of one (1) image is required, and the maximum is 6. Images of finished works or conceptual drawings can be submitted. If images submitted are not of a completed public art work, provide additional information to assure the Selection Panel of ability to realize a public art project and that it will be completed and installed as designed.
• Selected artists must complete W-9 Vendor Registration Form and will receive payments by check.

Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open to professional artists working in any appropriate media.  Student artists may apply if they can secure an experienced public artist to serve as a mentor to oversee their work.