Overview:
In 2016, American Planning Association (APA) named Lexington Avenue as one of five great streets on the organization’s annual Great Places in America list.  The Great Places in America program recognizes streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces in the United States that demonstrate exceptional character, quality and planning. 

Artwork Scope:
The Lexington Avenue Public Art Project is intended to reflect the neighborhood identity of Lexington Avenue and to celebrate the community's collective effort to preserve its century-old storefronts and architectural treasures.  The piece should reflect the whimsical, dynamic energy of the neighborhood, as well as the significance of the grass-roots initiative that was ultimately responsible for its astute and active preservation.

The public art piece chosen must complement surrounding architecture and the installation must be durable and meet all safety codes.  Because of the site's bustling, pedestrian nature, all proposed designs should not impede sidewalk or crosswalk foot traffic or block parking in the area.

Site Photos Can Be Viewed At:   https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1n68D_oLh67TlZaTjdLWFpmcDQ?usp=sharing.

Eligibility:
This is a nation-wide call which is also open to all qualified local artists/teams to submit qualifications. The commissioned artist or team of artists must be able to work in close collaboration with city staff, the Asheville Downtown Association as well as the selection/review committee.

Selection/Review Committee:
The 7-person review committee for review/recommendation will include:  City of Asheville Transportation or Development Services staff member, the Asheville Downtown Association Foundation representative, one member of the Public Art and Cultural Commission (PACC), key stakeholders such as Lexington Avenue Business owners (two will represent), Asheville Area Arts Council representative and a family member of one of the downtown-focused pioneers.

Artist Selection Process:
Submitted materials will be reviewed by the appointed selection/review committee in consultation with the City of Asheville’s Economic Development Specialist.  There will be several reviews from qualification submissions to three (3) finalists to submit proposals for the project.

Finalists will be required to enter into a contract with the City of Asheville and the proposal process begins. All finalists are required to conduct a site visit prior to the design of proposals in order to get a full sense of context and the artwork scope which will be held in conjunction with a public feedback session.   Interfacing between the finalists and different community groups such as the business and corporate community, individual residents and/or neighborhood associations, special interest groups and community leaders is mandatory and will be facilitated through public feedback sessions.  Final proposals will be posted online in order to gather public feedback which the appointed review committee will consider in making their final selection. Finalists will be paid $1000 each for their preliminary designs and public meetings.  The selected finalists will retain copyright over his/her original design; the City of Asheville will retain rights to promote and reproduce the completed work in print and electronic form on a non-commercial basis.  

Evaluation Criteria:
Evaluation and selection of the final qualified artists and/or artist teams will be based on criteria in the following categories: 

• Qualifications of the artist or artist team members
• Relevant Experience of the Artist and Key Team Members
• Relevant Current/Past Projects
• Past Performance & Client References
• Examples of Previous Work
• Experience with Outdoor Art and Art Installation
• Ability to Meet City Requirements
• Completeness of the Proposal

Proposed Project Budget:
Once a final artist or team is selected their budget for this project is $40,000 on a turnkey basis.  The budget includes all costs:  i.e., proposals, materials, the hiring of engineers/ inspectors, fabrication, installation, artist commission and travel.  The finalist or finalist team will be required to invoice the city for payments needed. 

Project Timeline:

• Posting Call:  April 28, 2017
• Closing Call:  June 9, 2017
• Select 3 Finalists for proposal:  July 5, 2017
• Public Feedback:  July 21, 2017 (Downtown After 5 Event)
• Proposals Due:  August 30, 2017
• Public Feedback:  September 15, 2017 (Downtown After 5 Event)
• Select Final Proposal:  October 6, 2017
• Finalize Contract for Project:  October 20, 2017
• Work Fabricated and Installed:  Late Winter/early Spring 2018

How to Apply:
1.  Submit digital images of artwork portfolio - Artists are required to submit up to five
      images or videos of their work. All artists must own the copyright of the materials they
      submit.

 2.  Digital Image Preparation - Instructions on how to format images to CaFE™ specifications
       can be found at https://www.callforentry.org.

 3.   Submit one copy of a current résumé - If artists are submitting qualifications as a team,
       each member must submit an individual resume.

 4.   Letter of interest - Artists and artist teams are required to submit a one-page letter 
       expressing their interest in the project.  The letter should highlight their approach to
       public art as well as any relevant experience with projects of a similar scale highlighting
       partnerships with experienced professionals. 

 5.   Image list - Please include an annotated image list including title, artist name, media,
       image name/number, and any other relevant information.

 6.   References - Please include at least three (3) references that can speak to artistic ability,
        reliability, and professional conduct.

 Incomplete or ineligible submissions will not be reviewed.

 How to Submit:
All application materials must be submitted electronically through CaFÉ™ at http://www.callforentry.org.  Hand delivered, mailed, emailed, or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Application closes promptly on Friday, June 9, 2017 at midnight (Mountain Standard Time).  There is no application fee when using the CaFÉ™ online application system.

About  the City of Asheville:
Asheville, the 11th largest city in North Carolina, the county seat of Buncombe County with a diverse population of more than 84,000, is the largest city in Western N.C.  Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is known for its natural beauty.  The city’s rich architectural legacy, with its mix of Art Deco, Beaux Arts and Neoclassical styles, is the perfect backdrop to the energy that emanates from the locally owned-shops and galleries, distinctive restaurants and exciting entertainment venues. 

Contact Information and City Project Manager:      
Brenda Mills, Economic Development Specialist
City of Asheville                
Community & Economic Department                              
Email:  bmills@ashevillenc.gov
Phone: (828) 259-8050    

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria