The City of Santa Clarita (City) is seeking three artworks to be permanently located at Santa Clarita’s David March Park. The City intends to select one artist or team of artists to design and fabricate an original, site-specific sculpture.

The all-inclusive budget for this project is $108,389. Artist(s) are invited to submit portfolios of past work for consideration.

SITE INFORMATION:

The City of Santa Clarita is centrally located, just 30 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles with more than 9,000 acres of rolling open space and 100 miles of picturesque Santa Clarita trails and paseos designed for commuting and recreational use, including walking, riding, jogging, and skating. The regional river trail serves as the backbone of the trail system in this Southern California City. Together with connecting trails, you can access parks, entertainment, and shopping venues. Spending quality time with family and friends is easy to do at one of our many parks, along our trails, and exploring our open space and nearby lakes.

In accordance with the City of Santa Clarita (City) Civic Art Policy, David March Park expansion qualifies as a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) that is required to allocate 1% of eligible project cost to a civic art piece located on-site and accessible to the public.

This CIP project will provide for an expansion and additional amenities to David March Park, originally built by Los Angeles County (County) in 2004. The park is located on a 13.2-acre lot on Via Joyce Drive and was incorporated into the City in June 2016.

David March Park’s improvements design encompasses updating amenities including improvements to the existing park as well as the development of an additional five acres of the park property. Shade canopies, a basketball court with sports court lighting, lighted walkways, and expanded parking will be added to the existing park. Improvements to the expanded lower level area include a baseball field and backstop with shaded spectator stands and sports field lighting, an additional restroom building, an ADA walkway between activity levels, security lighting along walkways, an additional parking lot, shaded community gathering areas, a trash enclosure, and landscape and irrigation improvements.

David March Park is named after Deputy David William March, a resident of Saugus who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2002. Deputy March had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for seven years. 

DESIGN GUIDELINES:

• Creativity and innovation of designs are encouraged.
• Artworks must be an original design.
• Artworks must be suitable for viewing by all ages.
• The Artworks should be site-specific, considering aspects of the unique physical, cultural, natural, and/or historical features of David March Park and the City of Santa Clarita while planning and creating the artworks.
• Artworks may not be used for advertisement or to promote business, product, or viewpoint.
• Designs must not include any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, business names, corporate or organizational branding, or images of drugs.
• Artworks can be of any medium, but artists should consider structural and surface soundness and materials that can withstand outside and uncovered weather conditions as well as inherent resistance to theft, vandalism, and excessive maintenance and repair costs. Artists will be required to outline in their proposal the suggested maintenance schedule.
• The Artist Selection Committee will evaluate artist submittals based on the strength and appropriateness of artists’ past completed work

PROJECT GUIDELINES:

• Artworks must fit in a pre-determined location.
• Artworks must fit on the pre-determined concrete area measuring X feet. ­­­
• Sculptures should be no less than 6 feet and no more than 15 feet in height excluding the base.
• Sculptures should weigh no more than 3,000 pounds.
• Artworks must be installed in a manner with sufficient anchoring to prevent it from being removed, broken, or overturned due to wind or an earthquake. The City will review the artist’s proposed installation plans and will request additional information from a California-licensed engineer (hired by the artist) to address safety concerns the City may have.
• The City will provide plaques near the artworks, that indicate the name of the artist and title of the artwork.
• Artworks must be constructed of durable materials that are able to withstand the harsh weather conditions of the desert (high winds and extreme temperatures).
• Artworks must comply with standard engineering practices and requirements.
• Artworks will be evaluated to require that it does not present a hazard to public safety, and must conform to ADA standards.
• Delivered artworks that differ significantly from the artworks represented will be disqualified.
• The City will provide lighting for each artwork to be illuminated concurrently with the park’s standard lighting.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE: Subject to Change 

• October 25 - November 26 – Cafe Call Open for Applications
• December 2023 – Semi-finalist notified (30 days to develop proposal)
• January 2024 – Semi-finalist interviews
• February 2024 – Arts Commission and City Council review and approval
• March 2024 – Selected finalist notified (to start contract process)
• Spring 2025 – Installation

LOCATION:

The identified location will be at 28310 North Via Joyce Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

BUDGET:

Semifinalists

Up to five (5) artists will be invited to create site-specific artwork proposals and will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Each artist will be scheduled for a 30-minute virtual interview with the Artist Selection Committee to present their final proposal.

Presentation and Interview will include:

• Concept of the site-specific artwork, which follows the Design and Project Guidelines
• Maintenance and conservation of artwork
• Budget
• Questions and answers from the Artist Selection Committee

Selected Finalist responsibilities:

Engineering

• The City requires installation drawings and instructions for the artwork from a California-licensed engineer to be submitted to the City for approval. City staff will work with the artist to gather the required documentation. The artist is required to provide this information in a timely manner and be available for questions or meetings with City staff and the Engineer.
• Artwork must comply with standard engineering practices and requirements.
• Artwork will be evaluated to require that it does not present a hazard to public safety and must conform to ADA standards.

Installation

• Installation has to be per the engineered plans and required material, process, and tools.
• The artist is responsible for the delivery of artwork per the scheduled date.
• The artist is responsible for the installation of the artwork with City supervision and approval of the process.
• The artist is responsible for providing a maintenance guide for proper care of the artwork.
• The artist is responsible for all associated expenses related to design, fabrication, and transportation.
• The artist is responsible for travel and hotel accommodations.
• If a protective coating to address environmental or vandalism concerns is deemed necessary, this must be covered by the artist.
• Artwork must be installed in a manner with sufficient anchoring to prevent the artwork from being removed, tipped, broken, or overturned due to wind or an earthquake.
• Artist is responsible for the cost and coordination of a qualified Deputy Welding Inspector for site welds during installation. City Staff can provide a list of qualified Deputy Welding Inspectors.
• Power for the sculpture itself is not available onsite.  If the sculpture requires power then it is suggested that it include a solar component.

Insurance

• The selected artist will be required to include insurance coverage for the installation period only. Insurance is due at the time of the contract signing.

ARTIST RESOURCES / SANTA CLARITA COMMUNITY:

Links regarding the community and history of the Santa Clarita area:

·       City of Santa Clarita Park Directory https://www.santa-clarita.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/38/1386

·       City of Santa Clarita – www.santa-clarita.com

·       Public Art App - https://scpublicart.goodbarber.com/

·       SantaClaritaArts.com - http://santaclaritaarts.com/

·       Visit Santa Clarita - http://visitsantaclarita.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/bike-rentals/

·       Demographics - https://www.santa-clarita.com/city-hall/departments/community-development/demographics

·       Community Profile - https://www.santa-clarita.com/city-hall/30th-anniversary

Application Requirements

The required materials must be submitted electronically through CAFE.

1. Resume or CV
2. Up to five (5) images of previous sculptural artwork. At least one example must be an existing public artwork completed by the artist.
3. Image descriptions identifying title, materials, location, and project budget.
4. Application questions in place of a cover letter and artist statement.

• What drew you to this project?
• What experience do you have in public art?
• Is there any qualifications, experience or previous work would you like us to consider?

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

·       Visual impact of submitted past projects

·       Interpretation and creativity of submitted past projects

·       Composition and design of submitted past projects

·       Craftsmanship of submitted past projects

·       Clarity of project-specific intent, relevant professional experience, and artistic vision, as expressed in resume, CV, and application questions

·       Design criteria and eligibility guidelines met

Eligibility Criteria

Artists 18 years of age or older are invited to submit an individual or collaborative artist application.  The artist must have a US mailing address for payment to be mailed to and must fill out a W-9.

Artists are required to have completed at least one sculptural public art project with a minimum $30,000 budget.