Dublin Arts Council
Muirfield Drive Public Art Project
Dublin, Ohio

NATIONAL CALL FOR ARTISTS

RFQ with Letter(s) of Interest/Community Engagement

Project: Commission and installation of a permanent, three-dimensional outdoor public artwork installation on the corner of Muirfield Drive and Whittingham Drive in Muirfield Village in the City of Dublin, Ohio, USA.

Budget:                      $175,000 (all-inclusive)

Call Issued:               October 11, 2023

Entries Due:              NOVEMBER 29, 2023 at 11:59:59 p.m. (EDT)

Project description:
Dublin Arts Council is seeking to commission an artist and/or artist’s team to create a site-specific permanent public artwork installation in Dublin, Ohio’s Muirfield Village, a planned community on the northern outskirts of the city with 250-acres of common ground with trees, shrubs, flowers, open vistas, and natural wooded areas, including 29 miles of shared-use paved pathways. The artwork will be the latest large-scale permanent artwork of the Dublin Art in Public Places program, which was begun in 1988.

Community context:
Dublin, Ohio is a suburban community approximately 20 minutes northwest of the capital - Columbus, Ohio.  The 25-square-mile city is home to more than 50,000 residents and more than 4,300 businesses, including 21 that are listed among the Fortune 500. More than half of Dublin’s residents are married, and about three-fourths of the population has a college degree. Dublin City Schools has the 3rd highest immigrant population in the state and the 6th largest English Learners program, with a student body that speaks more than 70 different languages.

Dublin is consistently ranked one of the safest cities in the nation and in 2015 was named one of America’s Top 20 Creative Class Cities. It is home to more than 20 corporate headquarters, an entrepreneurial center, world-class events and the urban, walkable Bridge Street District. The newly constructed “Dublin Link” pedestrian bridge physically connects Dublin’s beloved historic district with a new mixed-use Bridge Park development. It is the longest span single tower S-shaped suspension bridge in the world. The city annually hosts Jack Nicklaus’ “The Memorial Tournament,” a PGA golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club, and the Dublin Irish Festival, one of America’s largest Irish celebrations. 
 

Background:
Dublin Arts Council will collaborate with the City of Dublin, the Muirfield Village Homeowners Association, artists and members of the community to award the commission.

Dublin Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the following mission: Dublin Arts Council engages the community, cultivates creativity and fosters life-long learning through the arts.

Dublin Arts Council (DAC) was established in 1983 and began the Dublin Art in Public Places Program in 1988 in collaboration with City of Dublin. DAC will facilitate the artist selection process, after which City of Dublin will enter into contract with the artist and will oversee the process. After installation and approval, in September 2025, the Title to the artwork will transfer to the City of Dublin.

Dublin Arts Council is a thriving local arts agency that administers comprehensive, engaging programs, which, in addition to the award-winning Art in Public Places program, include a yearlong Visual Arts Series, the annual DAC Sundays at Scioto summer concert series, site-specific contemporary dance projects and classes and workshops at the Dublin Arts Center. DAC is committed to programs and events that highlight the best in aesthetic experiences with a strong emphasis on education, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), including social awareness. DAC serves as a community convener and thought leader for using art as a catalyst for social change and cultural cohesion.
 

Goals of Art in Public Places program:
By creating a collection of public art, the Dublin Art in Public Places program’s goal is to enhance the quality of life for Dublin's residents and to strengthen the city as a destination for visitors.  

The collection includes both large and small visual artworks acquired through a variety of models in which Dublin Arts Council is actively engaged; including major gifting, committee-directed projects, calls for entries and jurying, on-loan programs with an acquisition component, interactive projects, contributions to the City’s interior collection and projects which define a community initiative. 

The Dublin Art in Public Places program was begun in 1988 and now includes 22 large-scale permanent, site-specific installations, 18 RiverboxesTM (small-scale public artworks modeled after geocaching and letterboxing), a mobile street piano and the presentation of several temporary public art projects. The permanent collection was last appraised in 2017 with an estimated value of $3.8 million.

Dublin Arts Council maintains that public art should inspire an emotional response, provoke questions and invite interaction, while encouraging ingenuity and creative discovery by artists. The award-winning collection of public artworks distinguishes the Dublin community and creates a sense of place while contributing to Dublin’s aesthetic legacy.
 

Site Description:
The site is located in Muirfield Village, a planned community located on the northern outskirts of Dublin, Ohio. In 1968, retired American professional golfer and golf course designer, Jack Nicklaus teamed with prominent architects, designers, and builders to fulfill his dream to convert the rural area into a world-renowned golf club and residential community. Nicklaus envisioned the natural beauty of the land molded into a unique, environmentally-friendly community that met Planned Urban Development requirements and restrictions.

The Muirfield concept combines good design with respect for the natural environment and emphasis on human qualities. The need for privacy for each family, the desirability of walking and bicycling throughout the community, and the blending of all buildings into the landscape, are all elements of the Muirfield concept. Consistent design and logical relationships of buildings are of primary importance.

Nearly 2,400 families (more than 8,000 individuals) call Muirfield home. The home owners’ association maintains over 250 acres of common ground with trees, shrubs, flowers, open vistas, and natural wooded areas and 29 miles of shared-use paved pathways. In addition, the Association owns twelve water features stocked with crappie, catfish and large-mouth bass.

The project site selected for this commission is an open green field with 360-degree access along Muirfield Drive just North of Whittingham Drive. The strength of the location includes high drive-by visibility on both north and south bound lanes on Muirfield Drive with great sight lines. The walkable knoll site is approximately 10-feet-high, which contributes to its visibility and interest. New artwork has the potential to enhance the existing landscaping and create harmony and balance at the site.

A canopy of trees over the shared-use path contributes to a sense of discovery as one approaches the site. On foot, visitors walking the path could happen upon the artwork. The site is accessible by several bike paths, as a drive-by on Muirfield Drive, or to a golf tournament spectator entering or walking the course. The site is located adjacent to the 12th hole and the 13th gate for the Memorial Tournament which provides ground-level and arial opportunities for broadcast visibility on a global stage.

Budget:
The budget for the commissioned project, with a planned dedicated in summer 2025, is $175,000, all-inclusive. The fee will include, but is not limited to artist/design fee, materials, fabrication, installation, transportation/shipping, insurance, project documentation, engineering, travel, site modification, per diem expenses and contingency to cover unexpected expenses.

Application Requirements

Checklist:
Applications will be submitted digitally, free of charge, at www.callforentry.org

Uploaded material will consist of:

• Six digital images (jpeg format preferred) Minimum 1920 pixels on the longest edge. Maximum 5MB file size each. Audio and video clips are also accepted, up to three each.
• Caption sheet identifying each image by title of artwork, medium, dimensions, dates, price (if applicable) and location. Image file names must correspond to the caption sheet.
• Resume / CV
• Three references (including full names, titles, affiliations and contact information)
• Letter of interest (1-3 pages). Preference will be given to an expanded artist statement relating to this specific project.
• Statement on community engagement (encouraged)
• Up to three selections of representative printed materials, such as catalogues or news articles (optional).
   

Deadline:
Applications must be uploaded to www.callforentry.org by WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Eligibility Criteria

Artist Eligibility:
The call is open to all professional artists who are U.S. citizens and live and work in the United States. Artist teams will be considered, but only a single artist ‘project manager’ will be contracted. The artist’s services will include design of an original artwork, management of fabrication and installation of the work and availability for a public reception, community engagement opportunities, media interviews and other promotional events.

Dublin’s Art in Public Places Program is community-driven. Dublin Arts Council defines community as those who live, work, visit, play and learn in Dublin. DAC believes that public art is a public service built on collaboration. Using the artist’s vision and practice as inspiration, DAC will offer programming that actively invites community members to observe the artist at work, engage in dialogue, provide feedback, and respond creatively throughout the process. Incorporating resident voices early on, ensures the process is responsive to the culture and people of the community it reflects. It also furthers Dublin Arts Council’s mission to engage the community, cultivate creativity and foster life-long learning through the arts. Candidates are invited to submit a statement on community engagement in their application. 

With compensation, finalists will be required to make a mandatory site visit to Dublin in March 2024, prior to developing a proposal (travel details TBD). A second visit will be required to present the proposal in April 2024 (presentation format TBD). Travel expenses and a stipend will be provided and are detailed below. 

Dublin Arts Council is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all programs and services, and does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, religion, gender, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status. Dublin Arts Council’s established policy is to provide equal employment, advancement and other opportunities to all individuals based on merit, qualifications and abilities.

Selection Process:
Selection of three finalists will be determined by a committee consisting of the following:

• Members of the Muirfield Homeowners Association and the community-at-large
• Member of Dublin Arts Council Board
• Artist(s)
• Public art expert(s)
• City of Dublin staff member (non-voting)
• DAC staff member (non-voting)

Incomplete application materials or artists who do not meet eligibility requirements will not be considered for finalist selection. 

A stipend of $2,500 will be provided to each finalist for design, development of proposal, creation of presentation with or without maquette, and preparation of maintenance guidelines. Travel expenses for (1) a mandatory initial site visit and (2) presentation of final proposal, will be provided for each finalist by Dublin Arts Council.

Finalists will present proposals separately to the committee and members of the general public. Community input will be considered in the final commission award.

Project Timeline:
Oct 11, 2023:              Call is issued

Nov 29, 2023:             Application deadline

Jan 24, 2024:             Finalists selected by committee review

Feb 2, 2024:               Finalists notified

March 2024:               Finalists’ site visits (travel details TBD)

April 2024:                  Finalists present proposals to committee/community 

May 2024:                  Winner of commission notified, announced

May 2024:                   Contract executed. Proposal materials gathered, submitted to City for approval; first payment delivered

June ’24 – Aug ‘25:     Artwork fabricated

Summer 2025:            Artwork installed, public dedication/reception 

Additional information:
City of Dublin: http://www.dublin.oh.us
Dublin Arts Council: www.dublinarts.org
Muirfield Association: https://www.muirfieldassociation.com/index.php

Questions:
Ava Morgan, PhD
Public Art Manager
Dublin Arts Council
via email: morgan@dublinarts.org