The Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums Public Art Program requests qualifications from regional artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site-specific artwork(s) for the upcoming Utah State University Human Resources Building. The Request for Qualifications with building renderings can be found HERE.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. USU seeks to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. They believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY HUMAN RESOURCES BUILDING

The Utah State University Human Resources Building will house the Office of Human Resources, providing vital resources needed to support the over 11,000 current Utah State University faculty and staff. Services offered include on-boarding, benefit enrollment and administration, compensation administration, employee wellness programs, background checks and personnel records maintenance, HR reporting and analysis, training and development, employee relations, and much more. 

USU Human Resources is dedicated to a positive customer experience, and its team members are empowered to engage employees and use their personal talents to achieve the university's mission. USU Human Resources supports and encourages rather than judges, criticizes, and critiques. They value diversity and have high expectations of performance and values. USU Human Resources believes in maintaining an open-minded approach to problem-solving, conflict management, and decision-making. Their staff members are team players who excel at building trusting relationships with customers and co-workers. USU Human Resources strives for a reputation of integrity.

COMMITTEE STATEMENT

The Art Selection Committee is looking for artists/artist teams interested in producing exterior work that establishes a welcoming environment for all users of the building. Human Resources exists to assist USU employees, faculty, and staff through the sometimes confusing “first times” of the onboarding process and becomes a safe harbor during many individual’s most difficult experiences. The final artwork should emphasize to visitors that they are in the right place to receive the services they need. 

The Art Selection Committee has selected the exterior west-facing corner of the building as the primary area of interest for artwork installation. This section of the building is situated directly above the new Human Resources Training Room, and will be many visitors' initial introduction to the Office of Human Resources. Final artwork for the building’s exterior should be designed to securely attach to the brick rainscreen system while remaining lightweight. Installations must also be thoughtfully integrated to preserve the integrity and performance of the building envelope. As the rainscreen system is designed to manage moisture and thermal performance, any attachment methods should ensure proper drainage and ventilation are maintained. Mural proposals are not being solicited with this project. 

The artwork’s subject matter and content must be appropriate for public exhibition and not contain advertising, religious references, sexual or violent content, or convey political partisanship.

BUDGET

$40,000 is available for all related expenses of this Public Art commission including (but not limited to) artist fees, fabrication, support structures, insurance, shipping, travel, lighting, installation, documentation, etc.

ELIGIBILITY

This project is open to artists residing in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Utah-based artists will receive additional weight in the initial scoring. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other). Art Selection Committee members and staff of Utah Arts & Museums and AJC Architects are not eligible to apply for this commission. All Art Selection Committee members will declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves from the vote when reviewing artist applications.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 

Interested artists may submit applications online via CallForEntry.org Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for this Public Art Request for Qualifications. The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to 2 movie files of previous work, a CV or resume, and a Statement of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project.

To request an accommodation for a disability, please complete an Accommodation Form at least two weeks in advance of the April 30th deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility

DEADLINE

Complete application packages must be RECEIVED by April 30, 2025 by 11:59p.m. MT

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

The Selection Committee will review all properly submitted qualifications from which a short list of semi-finalists will be selected. Semi-finalists will be asked to present a full proposal to the committee in July 2025 to include concept, budget, and timeline. All semi-finalists will be awarded an honorarium to help defray the costs of the development of the proposal. The honorarium will be applied toward the commission amount for the artist(s) awarded the commission(s.) Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for applications delayed or lost. The USU Human Resources Art Selection Committee reserves the right to withhold the award of a commission or re-release the call for entries.

Schedule:
April 30, 2025, 11:59pm MDT | Deadline for receipt of preliminary materials
May 7, 2025 | Committee Review and Finalist artist notification
July 23, 2025 | Finalists interviews and presentations
Summer 2026 | Artwork complete
Fall 2026 | Project substantial completion 

ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE

Doug Bullock Associate Vice President of Human Resources, USU

Lucas Davis Project Manager, Division of Facilities Construction
& Management

Heber Slabbert Principal Architect, AJC Architects 

Tom Graham Project Manager for Human Resources, USU

Jodi Morgan Associate Human Resources Director, USU

Leanna Lammert Human Resources Solutions Center Manager, USU

Becca Seamons Associate Director of Employee Relations, USU

Lisa Leishman Associate Benefit and Wellness Director, USU

Nicole Schrubb Associate Director of Organizational Development and Training, USU
Patty MacSparran Staff Assistant to the Senior Associate VP for HR, USU

Katie Lee-Koven Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art Executive Director and Chief Curator

Please do not contact committee members directly. If you have any questions about this or other projects, information is available at: artsandmuseums.utah.gov/public-art-opportunities/

Or contact: Hannah Nielsen at henielsen@utah.gov

Application Requirements

Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for this Public Art Request for Qualifications. The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to 2 movie files of previous work, a CV or resume, and a Statement of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project.

To request an accommodation for a disability, please complete an Accommodation Form at least two weeks in advance of the April 30th deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility

Eligibility Criteria

This project is open to artists residing in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Utah-based artists will receive additional weight in the initial scoring. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other). Art Selection Committee members and staff of Utah Arts & Museums and AJC Architects are not eligible to apply for this commission. All Art Selection Committee members will declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves from the vote when reviewing artist applications.