Call Description

AIPP Mission Statement

The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee (LSC) of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) seek to commission an artist/artist team to create and install an artwork to hang from the ceiling in the entrance of Smith Brasher Hall located on CNM’s Main Campus in Albuquerque. All U.S. based artists with relevant public art experience are encouraged to submit qualifications. Five (5) finalists will be selected and paid $1,000 + travel expenses to create and present a formal proposal, with a total budget of $225,000 awarded to the selected artist/artist team whose design is commensurate with the size and scope of the project.

Long project description

AIPP Mission Statement

The Art in Public Places program enriches New Mexico’s public spaces through an innovative and diverse public art collection. Since its inception in 1986, the program has placed more than 3,000 works of art in all of New Mexico’s 33 counties.  Our goal is to reflect the diversity of the arts in New Mexico, the Southwest, and the nation while building a dynamic public art collection for the State of New Mexico.

Through a fair and open public process, committees made up of local and regional representatives work with New Mexico Arts staff to select artwork for their communities. The Art in Public Places program then commissions large-scale projects that are designed for integration directly into the architecture or landscape of a given site, or the program purchases existing original artwork to be placed in or around public buildings permanently or on loan.

Project intent: 

The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee (LSC) of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) seek to commission an artist/artist team to create and install an artwork to hang from the ceiling in the artium of Smith Brasher Hall located on CNM’s Main Campus in Albuquerque. The commissioned artwork will ideally reference CNM’s commitment to “bridging the workforce,” helping our students move from education to employment,  and the institution’s extensive history responding to, training, and serving the needs of the workforce (both as individuals and as a community) and the workplace.

The LSC will consider the work and practices of artists/artist teams that range from figurative/representational to non-objective/abstract to architectural in nature. Artwork media/construction can be traditional/mixed/experimental in nature but MUST BE constructed out of materials that will survive a permanent installation in an indoor setting with high public traffic and regular exposure to bright light.

The project must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, safe for both children and adults and must meet all applicable code requirements, including ADA compliance. Light and/or lighting elements may be included as components in the design, though if natural light is used, the glare should be kept minimal or non-existent. If kinetic features or components are proposed, the resulting sounds should also be minimal. Designs that use water or water features will not be considered. Access to electricity and other technical needs can be served via connections/ports in the ceiling to accommodate artist’s proposals that engage with new media and technologically reliant components.

At the selected artist’s expense, the artwork may require certification by an electrical, civil and/or structural engineer licensed to practice in the state of New Mexico and reviewed by a professional fine art conservator (if applicable).

Site Information

One interior site has been selected for this commission; the overall footprint approximates the shape of an equilateral triangle measuring roughly 25 feet on each of the three sides with a height from the ceiling extending down to a maximum of 12 vertical feet. The artwork’s over footprint can fit inside the outlined area in any configuration. The selected proposal will offer numerous vantage points to provide visual engagement from both the first and second floors as well as sit safely out of reach from physical interaction by viewers. The entrance area’s ceiling height is 22 feet 8 inches.

Please use this link to view photos and schematics of the space: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LGfuk6FP9p7IEMmlPQAs2btBbkmBIXp-?usp=drive_link

Smith Brasher Hall was built in 1982 to serve as a classroom building and auditorium on CNM’s main campus in Albuquerque, NM. While the building has hosted numerous departments throughout the years, the central goal of its renovation in 2017 was to house the School of Business and Information Technology programs while creating an identifying landmark on the northwest edge of campus. “Smith Brasher Hall is designed to reflect the modern business world and support the state-of-the-art technologies used in a student-centered learning environment. Common spaces and an open-air market for entrepreneurial activities and events encourage interactions between faculty, students and community partners.” –FBT Architects, architect of record for Smith Brasher Hall renovation.

ABOUT CENTRAL NEW MEXICO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (CNM)

Founded in 1964, CNM has the largest undergraduate student enrollment in the state of New Mexico and comprises several campuses and training sites across the Albuquerque metropolitan area. CNM is committed to helping connect local employers and employees by providing training, reskilling/upskilling, and education. They are also committed to helping employers develop the pipeline of talent they need, and to helping connect students with work-based learning opportunities during their educational journey, and with employment opportunities as they achieve their training and educational goals.

CNM’s Mission: Creating futures for our learners and partners through leadership in education, training, and innovation.

Vision: Changing Lives, Building Community.

Culture: We strive to create trust and belonging by building supportive relationships that are grounded in CNM’s values (Be Caring; Be Connected; Be Courageous; Be Ethical; Be Exceptional; Be Inspiring).

Programs: CNM offers courses and training in a vast array of areas. A list of programs can be found here: https://www.cnm.edu/programs/programs-a-z#c6=all&c4=&b_start=0

PROJECT AMOUNT

After finalist presentation fees, $225,000 is available to commission an artist/artist team to create a public artwork to hang from the ceiling in Smith Brasher Hall’s entrance on CNM’s Main Campus in Albuquerque. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, equipment, labor, permits, engineering documents, insurance, taxes, travel, installation, shipping, identification plaque, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project. The commission will be awarded to the selected artist/artist team whose design is commensurate with the size and scope of the project. There is no additional funding.  THIS IS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ONLY. DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR ARTWORK AT THIS TIME, PLEASE SEE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS BELOW.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

The Local Selection Committee (LSC) is made up of representatives from the owner/user agency (CNM): Owner Agency representative, User Agency Representative, Architect/Facilities Representative, Local Artist, Local Arts Professional, and Local Project Director. Under the guidance of an AIPP Project Coordinator, the LSC is responsible for prospectus development, submission review, finalist selection and ultimately selecting the artist or artist team to be awarded the commission project. Artists may research the project using any resource except for direct discussion with individual members of the Local Selection Committee or the New Mexico Arts Commission.

The selection criteria shall include but is not limited to: 

• The professional qualifications of the artist(s) as evidenced by the supporting materials.
• Proven ability to undertake projects of the described scope.
• Artistic merit and superior caliber craftsmanship as evidenced by provided images.
• Suitability of submission to project intent and site.

Up to five finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal for one of the available locations listed above. Finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium for a written proposal, presentation, and a maquette and/or digital rendering of the proposed artwork. One site visit will be required of each finalist to include an in-person presentation of the artwork proposal to the Local Selection Committee and a public presentation at the site. All maquettes, samples, and written proposals will become the property of CNM unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Additionally, each finalist/team will receive a travel stipend based on mapped mileage according to the following schedule:

$500 for travel and lodging between 50 – 300 miles one-way.

$900 for travel and lodging between 301 – 800 miles one-way.

$1,800 for travel and lodging 801 miles and over one-way.

Artists or artist teams short-listed as finalists for this project will be required to enter into a Finalist Presentation Contract with the State of New Mexico. A sample Finalist Presentation Contract is available on New Mexico Arts website or upon request.

The artist or artist team that is ultimately awarded the commission project will be required to enter into a Professional Services Contract with the State of New Mexico. A sample Professional Services Contract is available on New Mexico Arts website or upon request.

Project Timeline

October 17, 2025 – Project Announced

December 17, 2025 – Application Submission Deadline

January/February 2026 (3-4 weeks) - Jurying of Submissions by LSC

February 2026 – Notification of 5 Finalists

May 2026 – Finalist Presentations (in-person on CNM campus in Albuquerque; Finalist(s) Selection Notification

QUESTIONS/FOLLOW UP

Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to Claude Smith, Public Art Program Coordinator, at 505-695-6913, email: Claude.Smith@dca.nm.gov

If you would like to have your submission materials reviewed by an AIPP staff person, please make an appointment no less than two weeks prior to the submission deadline. Technical assistance calls increase dramatically during the final two weeks of the open submission period; therefore we cannot guarantee review during the final two weeks of the competition. Submission materials will not be reviewed on the day of the deadline.

Deadline for Submission: 11:59pm, December 17, 2025

Application Requirements

Please read the following information carefully, as incomplete, or late submissions will not be accepted. Supplemental information beyond what is requested will not be reviewed by the Local Selection Committee. Failure to provide any of the published requirements could result in disqualification from the competition. Duplicate submissions will not be accepted. All materials must be submitted via CaFÉ (https://www.callforentry.org/) according to the specifications outlined below:

• An artist statement/letter of interest written specifically to address the following: Describe your artwork/approach/style/perspective/background. Answer: What excites you about this opportunity to create a public artwork for this site?
• A current chronological resume or curriculum vitae and/or helpful links to personal website/online portfolio/social media demonstrating relevant work experience, particularly public art, publicly or privately funded. Include links to websites, social media or any additional information that will assist the LSC with learning more about you and your art.
• 10-15 images and/or 5 videos of artwork PREVIOUSLY created (portfolio) that showcase your artwork/style/perspective. Complete image citations will be required, including artwork title, medium, height, width and depth, price or value, year completed, and description. Please review and adhere to the Image and Media Preparation page on CaFÉ when formatting your images or videos. Tutorials can be downloaded using the links near the bottom of the page. By default, CaFÉ will organize the images in your submission alphabetically. If you wish to present the images to the committee in a different order you must prioritize the images before submitting an application.

Eligibility Criteria

This REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS is open to all artists/artist teams currently residing in the United States. Artists submitting qualifications should demonstrate a level of experience and professionalism that is commensurate with the project scope and budget.

AIPP regulations state that 1% funds may not be spent for artwork created for an institution or agency by an employee of the institution or agency. Qualifications submitted by and on behalf of current employees or family of current employees of CNM or NM Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) will not be considered. Applicants may be required to provide verifiable proof of current employment at the discretion of AIPP Program staff. Past employees are eligible to submit proposals but may not become employed by CNM or NMDCA for the duration of the project.