PUBLIC ART MENU PROGRAM
This project is generated by the City of Chicago’s Public Art Menu Program, through which DCASE works collaboratively with Aldermanic offices to administer neighborhood public art commissions using discretionary capital funds provided by the City’s Wards.

SUMMARY OF THE OPPORTUNITY 
The 49th Ward 1532 W. Jarvis Ave Public Art Menu Project invites professional artists, artist teams, and arts organizations living in Chicago with a demonstrated history of completing permanent, large-scale, public art projects to submit their qualifications to develop an outdoor mural that will activate and enhance the eastern facade of the Jarvis Redline Station. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply. Community members are encouraged to share this opportunity with artists they hope will apply.  

The envelope for artwork is the area indicated by the yellow dashed lines in the following site images, approximately 12’ H x 135’ W. Total wall dimensions are approximately 12’ H x 268’ W. Artwork will be directly applied to the wall using paint or spray paint mediums.  The anticipated lifespan for the artwork, per Public Art Menu Program guidelines, is a minimum of 5 years. However, the artwork for the Levy Center is intended to remain in place for as long as possible, provided it remains in good condition.  

Successful public art proposals will approach the site with a bold and creative vision that emphasizes the significant people and attributes from around the community. Designs will make passers-by aware of the rich cultural, social, and practical resources in and around Jarvis Red Line Station. They will amplify the richness and vibrancy of the past, present, and future of the Rogers Park neighborhood and the greater Northside of Chicago.   

Proposals will consider the surrounding area of the Jarvis CTA station and provide a welcoming face to the community.   Designs will include elements of an appropriate size, scale, and orientation to engage viewing from multiple potential vantage points, including pedestrian and vehicular traffic.   

SITE
The Jarvis CTA station on the Chicago L line was initially named Birchwood. It was located at Bryan Avenue (later renamed Jarvis Avenue) between Ashland Avenue and Perry Avenue (later Greenview Avenue). The station was ground-level with a small wood-frame building and an island platform. In 1915, the station was relocated to Chase Avenue, two blocks south of Jarvis. The reason for the relocation is unclear, but it may have been part of the staging necessary for the track elevation project. In 1916, the station was renamed Jarvis Avenue-Birchwood to avoid confusion, as "Birchwood" referred to a district. 

 In 1921, the station was rebuilt as part of the Wilson-Howard elevation project. The new station was built on an embankment featuring a brick and cast concrete house with a wooden canopy. The station also has four tracks, with the outer two tracks for express trains and the inner two for local trains. The Jarvis CTA station has been renovated several times, most recently in 2006 and 2008. The station is a popular stop for commuters and visitors to the Rogers Park neighborhood, and it is also a transfer point between the Red Line and the Purple Line Express.  

COMMUNITY

Rogers Park is a diverse Chicago neighborhood with a vibrant arts and culture scene. The community has over 130 restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, a farmers market, and a comedy film festival. It is also home to many historic places of interest, including Madonna Della Strada Chapel and Mundelein Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. In addition to its vibrant arts and culture scene, Rogers Park is home to a high concentration of educated residents. The percentage of residents with Master's, Professional, and Doctorate degrees is higher than the state average. Additionally, the rate of residents who work for non-profit institutions is almost twice as high as the state average.

The neighborhood's racial makeup is 43.9% White, 27.4% Black, 19.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 4.9% Asian. This indicates that Rogers Park is a diverse neighborhood with a wide range of cultures represented. With 34% of foreign-born residents, Rogers Park is a welcoming community open to immigrants.

SELECTION PROCESS

Following the RFQ application deadline, DCASE will convene a selection panel of community representatives, arts professionals, and 49th Ward staff to review the applications. The committee will select 3-4 finalists, who will be commissioned to develop public art proposals. Finalists will present their design proposals to the selection committee, and a final artist or artist team will be selected. 

SCHEDULE

* All dates are approximate

BUDGET

Finalists will be paid a $1,000 honorarium to develop proposals. 

 The artwork commission will be $60,000, inclusive of all costs and fees for the artist to execute the project from design through fabrication, site preparation, and installation.   

Application Requirements

Each artist, artist team, or arts organization must submit an entirely digital application. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. * 

      Applications should include:  

1.      Letter of Interest: A one- (1) page letter of interest stating why the specific site is meaningful and appropriate for the applicant’s work, as well as initial conceptual ideas. 

2.      CV: A two- (2) page resume or curriculum vitae (CV). 

1.      If applying as an artist team or arts organization, provide one resume or CV for each team member. 

2.      If applying as an artist team or arts organization, a list of key team members and their roles/affiliations. 

3.      Past Work Samples: Six (6) to ten (10) total images of past large-scale public art and infrastructure projects by the artist or the artist team’s lead artist(s). 

2.      Optional: One (1) video, edited to no more than two (2) minutes in length, may also be submitted but is not required. 

3.      Annotated Image List: An annotated image list that includes the title, media, year completed, dimensions, location (if site-specific), project budget (if applicable), timeline, and client or commissioning entity for each corresponding image or video.   

a.                  If a video is submitted, please include two to three (2-3) sentences to describe its context. 

b.                  Please note that the annotated image list may include thumbnails of submitted images but does not replace the need to upload individual image files in fulfillment of a) above. 

*EXCEPTION:

 Artists, artist teams, and arts organizations included in the City of Chicago Public Art Prequalified List 2023-2024 may submit to Brett Swinney via email: brett.swinney@cityofchicago.org

• 1-page letter of interest
• Up to 5 new images of recent work
• Up to 1 new video of recent work (optional
• Annotated list of artworks

QUESTIONS:
Contact: Brett Swinney, Cultural Affairs Coordinator
brett.swinney@cityofchicago.org
All questions must be submitted via email. No phone calls.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY
This opportunity is open nationally to all professional artists and artist teams, though the project advisory panel may prefer locally-based artists and artist teams.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Applicants will be shortlisted based on a competitive review of the following: 

• Artistic excellence: demonstrated skill and quality craftsmanship in examples of past work; strength and originality of concept conveyed in the letter of interest.
• Meaningful intent for the project scope or connection to place (site for artwork, neighborhood, community).