Days remaining to deadline: 4
Images | Minimum:Min. 3, Maximum:Max. 7
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 3, Maximum:Max. 7
Eligibility: Regional
State: Florida
Budget: $15,000
COMMUNITY OVERVIEW:
Port Salerno, located in eastern Martin County, is a historic fishing village renowned for its local charm and vibrant art scene. The village boasts numerous art galleries, working artist studios, and waterfront dining that offers both locally caught seafood and land lover fare. Named "Salerno" in the 1920s for its resemblance to the Italian city, it was originally settled by fishermen along the Manatee Pocket, a small bay in the St. Lucie River. Today, some descendants of these early settlers still reside in the area, with certain families owning land for over 100 years.
Once the hub of South Florida's commercial fishing industry, Port Salerno maintains active waterfronts and fishing fleets that supply fresh seafood to local markets and restaurants. The village also attracts international visitors for world-class sport fishing tournaments hosted in its marinas and parks on the Manatee Pocket.
Martin County is celebrated for its natural beauty, from its coastline where sea turtles nest to its wild and scenic rivers filled with tropical flora and fauna. Preservation and appreciation of this natural splendor are important to residents and visitors alike. The county seat is Stuart, and the population is approximately 162,000.
ABOUT MARTIN COUNTY ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM:
Launched in 1997, Art in Public Places, a Martin County Board of County Commissioners program, serves the community by acquiring works of art sponsored by the County to promote the spiritual, intellectual, and aesthetic enrichment of Martin County through public art. For additional information, please see Chapter 13, General Ordinances, Martin County Code, Art in Public Places, Ordinance No. 1103.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The newly constructed Manatee Pocket Mooring Field facility, located within the Port Salerno Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) boundary, embodies architectural elements inspired by Florida Vernacular design in its single-story structure. On SE Park Drive, the facility’s back wall offers a canvas for an approximately 7 feet tall by 6 feet wide mosaic and acts as the "front door" of the building in the context of the street and neighborhood. This artwork aims to celebrate the rich local culture, history, and natural beauty of Port Salerno and Martin County, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding architectural aesthetics.
In addition to the mosaic, the project includes the development of complementary wayfinding signage. This sign will serve to highlight and direct visitors to key amenities such as the boardwalk, fishing docks, park facilities, and kayak launch within the mooring field area on SE Park Drive. The goal is to enhance the visitor experience by offering clear and informative navigation through this vibrant waterfront community, while also highlighting its cultural and natural treasures.
- BUILDING PROJECT SCHEDULE:
- Building will be open: End of February 2025
- RELATED DEPARTMENT(S):
- The Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is dedicated to revitalizing and restoring the neighborhoods and town centers across its six CRA areas: Golden Gate, Hobe Sound, Jensen Beach, Old Palm City, Port Salerno, and Rio. The agency is committed to preserving the unique character of these communities by promoting sustainable economic investments, enhancing walkability and livability, and fostering collaborative partnerships with Neighborhood Advisory Committees and the Martin County Board of County Commissioners to ensure the continued health and prosperity of each area.
- The Martin County Parks and Recreation Department oversees over 1,730 acres of public land, which includes 73 parks, beaches, and causeways. These amenities encompass a wide range of facilities such as a public golf course, waterpark, campground, community centers, mooring fields, etc. Notably, the Department is among the 25 public park agencies in the state accredited by the National Recreation and Parks Association's Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). In collaboration with Martin County residents, the Parks and Recreation Department actively develops programs, maintains parks, and provides services that enhance quality of life. These efforts are dedicated to preserving natural resources and meeting the community's recreational, fitness, and leisure needs.
ARTIST SERVICES:
- Detailed design proposal including mock images of the proposed design and a budget breakdown
- Coordination with the Public Art Advisory Committee and Subcommittee
- Fabrication and installation
- Photographic documentation
- Maintenance plan
ART PROJECT BUDGET:
The project is not to exceed $15,000 (fifteen thousand dollars). This artwork budget will reflect all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to such items as: design and site plan, production, transport, installation, site preparation, travel expenses, and required insurance.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
The application process is managed by the Martin County Office of Community Development and the Martin County Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC). The appointed Public Art Advisory Subcommittee for this project will initially review all applications and recommend a shortlist of finalists to the PAAC for review. The Martin County Board of County Commissioners make the final determination of the selected artwork and is not obligated to select the Public Art Advisory Committee’s recommended artwork.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
The Public Art Advisory Committee shall consider the following criteria:
- The appropriateness of the work to the site, permanence of the work relative to environmental conditions, maintenance requirements and costs, and the enduring nature of the artistic statement.
- The sensitivity of the work to the aesthetic and cultural traditions and the history of Martin County, Florida and to the surrounding neighborhood's character.
- The artist's statement and resume, technical competency, similarity to existing works of art and the following basics: form, texture, color, clarity, line and medium.
Application Requirements
Artists who wish to be considered for this project must submit the materials described below. Incomplete or illegible submissions will not be considered.
The following documents are REQUIRED:
- Statement of interest of no more than one (1) page that should address the artist or artist team’s interest in developing a public art proposal for this specific commission and provide context to the conceptual and aesthetic approach, highlighting prior artworks, projects, or commissions of a similar scale.
- A current professional resume of no more than two (2) pages for each submitting artist emphasizing public art experience and public commissions (if any).
- A minimum of three (3) images and maximum of seven (7) renderings of the proposed designs. The images shall be in JPG, PNG, 300dpi, 5MB max. Image files must be properly labeled each with artist’s last name and a number (1-5) assigned per image list. (e.g.: smith_1.jpg, smith_2.jpg).
- A signed disclosure statement regarding any professional or personal relationship with any Martin County official, employee, or advisory committee member.
Eligibility Criteria
The project is open to all professional artists from the region, as defined in the Art in Public Places Ordinance No. 1103, Chapter 13, General Ordinances, Martin County Code. Artists with experience implementing their ideas and work in the public realm and collaborating with public agencies are encouraged to apply. The Martin County Art in Public Places program welcomes applications from artists with diverse backgrounds and experiences.