Sculpture for the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center

The Greater Augusta Arts Council, on behalf of Augusta University, is requesting proposals from qualified sculptors or artist teams to create a unique, durable, low-maintenance, safe to touch sculpture. This will be placed on the grounds of the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in a space that is easily viewable by the public.

Artists are asked to conceive sculptures symbolizing innovation, technological advancement, and the spirit of progress, particularly through collaboration and community. These works should capture the dynamic, ever-evolving nature of innovation and collaboration and highlight processes or technological advancements that pave the way for the future. The sculpture is intended to last for 50 years minimum in good condition. 

The GIS coordinates to pinpoint the location on Google Maps are 33.480771, -81.971259.

Every artist who applies for this call is strongly encouraged to research the history, mission, and programs of the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center at, https://www.gacybercenter.org/. In-depth questions about the sculpture can be answered by Scott Thorp, Chair of the Department of Art and Design at Augusta University, SCOTT.THORP@augusta.edu.

Selected artists will receive a stipend of $15,000 to cover all expenses associated with the envisioning, creation, transport, insurance and installation of the sculpture, and any and all other expenses the artist might encounter, including a concrete pad if needed.

Installation: June 2024

Artists may apply up to 5 times with separate proposals.  Please do not submit different concept proposals in one application.  Each application must be for one, individual design.  Applications that contain multiple proposal designs will be disqualified.

Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center:

The Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center is a unique public/private collaboration among academia, government, and the private sector. It is designed to meet the growing need for cyber security talent by addressing the cyber security workforce shortage with creative training solutions while shaping a culture of innovation.

Mission

Cultivate an ecosystem where the combined talent of government, academia, and private industry will

• deliver affordable and relevant cyber security training and education
• develop the state's cyber security workforce
• solve complex cyber security challenges
• offer unbiased advice to policy-makers
• to provide our state and nation a decisive advantage in cyber space.

Vision

To lead a revolution in cyber security through unprecedented collaboration and innovation.

The Hull McKnight building is home to certificate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level programs in information technology, cyber security and cyber sciences offered by Augusta University and Augusta Technical College. Training to meet the current and future workforce needs for private industry as well as federal, state, and local government is a key focus in the Georgia Cyber Center’s first building.

The Shaffer MacCartney building fosters innovation and entrepreneurship while serving as a hub for technology startups. It also includes leasable space available to firms and organizations supporting the state’s cybersecurity ecosystem. Resident partners can leverage the Georgia Cyber Center’s strategic resources while benefiting from the world-class collaboration between industry leaders, startup companies, academic institutions, and federal/state government entities.

Augusta, Georgia:

Augusta, Georgia is the third largest city in the state of Georgia with approximately 200,000 residents, and around 500,000 in the larger metropolitan area, which spans both sides of the Savannah River, into South Carolina. Augusta was established as a strategic trading city along the geological “fall line” of the Savannah River. 

The climate in Augusta, GA is generally lovely, ranging from an average 45 degrees in winter to 82 degrees in summer. It does reach freezing temperatures for a few days a year, and can reach the high 90s in summer. It can be humid and does receive strong thunderstorms and the occasional tropical storm winds. Any outdoor sculptures must be made to withstand the full range of weather for at least fifty years.

Georgia Rehabilitation Institute:

This sculpture call is made possible by a generous grant from Georgia Rehabilitation Institute, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that serves to better the lives of persons with disabilities and the elderly population in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). To increase access to the arts for those without easy access to indoor art installations, GRI will support the fully accessible installation of public art in Augusta, GA.  

The Site:

This request for proposals is part of an ongoing commitment to develop a density of public art at key locations in downtown Augusta. The site for this sculpture is along the elevated Augusta Riverwalk, and is in clear line of site from 12th Street from below. The Riverwalk where other sculptures are installed along the Augusta Sculpture Trail. Sculpture proposals that take into consideration how the piece will be visible from the street below, as well as by pedestrians walking along the Riverwalk will receive higher scores.

Selection:

All individual pieces will be scored by the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center and Augusta University leadership teams and Georgia Rehabilitation Institute leadership. The top scoring proposal will be offered the project, and upon confirmation by the artist, contracts will be finalized between Greater Augusta Arts Council and the artist.  If the selected artist declines, or a contract cannot be finalized, the next highest scoring proposal by a different artist will be selected.

Selection criteria include:

• Qualifications and Experience of the artist in creating and installing sculptures in public spaces
• Clarity and Organization of the proposal as a reflection of artist's professionalism and ease of collaboration
• Aesthetic appeal of the images presented in the artist's portfolio of past work
• Aesthetic appeal of the images of the proposed sculpture
• Appropriateness of proposal vis a vis the purpose of the sculpture as symbolizing innovation, technological advancement, and the spirit of progress, particularly through collaboration and community
• Appropriateness of proposal vis a vis visibility at the site
• Clear plan for installation
• Feasibility of proposal in terms of scope of work in relation to project budget and timeline
• Professional references
   

Eligibility:

The request for proposals is open to professional sculptors and artist teams.  All members of any team that applies must be at least 18 years of age and reside in the Southeastern Region of the United States. Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center employees are not eligible to apply.

Sculpture:

The Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center is seeking proposals for an original metal or stone sculpture suitable for long-term installation in outdoor public space. All sculptures must meet the following basic requirements:

1. The proposed work must be structurally sound and durable, and require little to no maintenance beyond routine cleaning.
2. The proposed work must be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions common to the Augusta Region, including hot summers, cold winters, humidity, heavy rain, wind, thunder storms, and very occasional snow.
3. The proposed work must be suitable for pedestrian interaction with a low exposure to injury. The public must be protected from possible injury from materials and the work must not include sharp parts. The sculpture should not invite climbing, and it must not present a public hazard, especially to young children. There must be no danger of children catching their heads, fingers or toes in gaps.
4. The proposed work must visually communicate the concept of innovation, technological advancement, and the spirit of progress, particularly through collaboration and community
5. The proposed work (and any base) must exist within the following dimensional profile: 
   10 feet - 15 feet high (including base)
6. The proposed work must be of an aesthetic quality that would appeal to a variety of ages and cultural backgrounds.

General Information:

Installation: 

The selected artist is responsible for transportation of their work to the site and sculpture installation. Installation costs regarding site preparation will be the responsibility of the Artist, including but not limited to concrete pad. The Greater Augusta Arts Council may be able to offset the cost of a lift, if needed for installation, thanks to the ongoing support of Herc Rentals, a local equipment supply company that sponsors many public art projects in the Augusta area.

Payment: 

The artist will be paid $15,000 for the commission and installation of the sculpture. 

• First payment will be made to artist upon execution of contract with the Greater Augusta Arts Council in the amount of $5,000.
• Second payment will be made to the artist upon satisfactory communication of mid-way progress in the creation of the artwork, at an agreed upon date between the artist and Arts Council, in the amount of $5,000.
• Final payment will be made to artist upon satisfactory installation of the sculpture at the designated site, in the amount of $5,000.

Schedule:

• RFP available: December 2, 2023 - January 31, 2024 (The call closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time)
• Selection process: February 5 - 16, 2024
• Notification to selected artist: March 1, 2024
• Contractual process: through March 15, 2024
• Installation of sculpture: June 2024

Application Requirements

Application Requirements:

Required to include from Café Portfolio: 3-7 images of past work.

• Artist resume
• Image of sculpture proposal in PDF or JPG format
• Description of proposal
• Installation plan
• Project budget
• Professional references

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

This request for proposals is open to all professional sculptors and artist teams.  All members of any team that applies must be at least 18 years of age and reside in the Southeastern Region of the United States. Georgia Cyber Center employees are not eligible to apply.