The City of Petoskey, located in Northern Michigan, is seeking submissions from individual artists or teams in the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ontario) for a public artwork for Sunset Park, located on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, in Petoskey, Michigan, featuring spectacular views of the sunset. Images of the Sunset Park are attached to the call. A map of the park may be found on the City of Petoskey Sunset Park webpage linked here.

The submission process:

Interested artists and teams are invited to submit a portfolio of completed and installed public works that illustrates their characteristic style, skill, materials choices, fabrication methods, and experience. 

The Public Art Commission will select three finalists to submit site specific proposals (RFPs), including conceptual drawings, working drawings, and details regarding dimensions, materials, fabrication methods, insurance, installation, and maintenance projections and plan. One artist will be awarded the contract, the other two will each receive a $500 honorarium.  

The winning, site specific design will engage the spirit of the site, be safe for public interaction, and enhance visitors’ experiences, in all seasons, without obstructing the spectacular view. Sunset Park offers an iconic panorama of our unique location, enjoyed by local and seasonal residents, and tourists alike. 

Artists must demonstrate that they have both the experience and capacity to act as a contractor on projects of similar size, type and complexity.

All qualified artists from the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ontario) are welcome to apply. The Public Art Commission is open to considering proposals ranging from public sculpture to innovative forms. 

The scope of this commission will include all aspects of the project including:  conceptualization, design, renderings, plans, materials, fabrication, transportation, assembly, installation, and projections for the care and maintenance of the work. The City of Petoskey will provide concrete bases, and lighting, and/or prepare the landscape as needed.

Initial Selection Criteria

• the aesthetic qualities of the work in the portfolio
• thematic content
• demonstrated skill and experience
• transferable concepts for Sunset Park

Final Selection Criteria, based on the RFP

• the site specific relevance of the design.
• the aesthetic qualities, including color, form, composition, visual or actual texture.
• demonstrated skill and experience
• the amount of the bid in relationship to the complexity of the design, materials, and fabrication method.

Application Requirements

The following application materials are required for the initial submission: 

9-12 images illustrating 3 or more completed and installed public works,  photographed in situ. Some images should highlight fabrication processes/materials. 

A list of your completed public art projects that includes the: title of the work, specific location, and overall budget with links to online sources.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, all images representing completed works and the list must be provided as a single PDF document file and be submitted digitally via the CaFÉ website. 

optional

links to video included on your list of completed public art projects

Second Round:

If you are one of the three artists chosen to submit a site specific proposal, (RFP) we will  share additional photographs of the site, and will ask you for:

• a short biography
• a statement about the relevance of your concept for the site
• conceptual drawings
• design/renderings
• plans with dimensions
• information about materials and fabrication methods
• information about transportation and installation
• projections for long term maintenance and care of the work

Finalist:

The finalist will work with the City of Petoskey on various aspects of the final proposal, including but not limited to: demonstration of insurance, site preparation, lighting, installation processes and timeline, and detailed maintenance projections and processes. The final design may also be subject to the Petoskey Public Art Commission's feedback. 

The submission window is as follows: 

• Submission Window:  October 18, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Submission Deadline: January 5, 2025
• Three Finalists Selected: January 14, 2025
• Final proposal work window: January 15- February 16
• Final Proposals from Finalists Due: February 16, 2025
• Award Winner Selected: February 25, 2025
• Fabrication Window: February 25, 2025 – June 14, 2025
• Installation of Completed work: June 15 - June 24, 2025
• Celebration Event: Early July 2025

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility: 

• Artists must be at least 18 years old.
• Residents of the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ontario).
• Artists must have and be able to illustrate/demonstrate significant experience designing, fabricating, and installing public art works.