Call Detail
MLK JR Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument
Entry Deadline: 2/20/18
Application Closed
Number of Applications Allowed: 2
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 5, Maximum:Max. 10
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 5, Maximum:Max. 10
Call Type: Public Art
Eligibility: National
State: Georgia

OVERVIEW

The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs invites artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a site-specific statue of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. that will be installed near the entryway of MLK Drive at Northside Drive in Atlanta, Georgia (opposite the Mercedes-Benz Stadium).  The artwork will be 380 feet from the entryway to the 7.2 mile east-west corridor that connects points of interest such as the new Mercedes Benz Stadium, the Atlanta University Center, the Atlanta BeltLine, Westview Cemetery, and several MARTA bus stops. The sculpture foundation, design and construction costs including lighting must be integrated into the budget of the artist selected. 

The area’s culture is internationally significant. It was home to intellectual leaders of human rights, including W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Renew Atlanta initiative that is sponsoring this installation along with several others along the corridor will address vehicular and pedestrian safety concerns, provide additional pedestrian and bicycle access through the implementation of new multi-use trails, and introduce a new linear park along the corridor in addition to several public art installations.  The goal is to transform MLK, Jr. Drive into an art filled pedestrian and bicycle friendly corridor with improved access to the Atlanta BeltLine and MARTA bus service.

Years of community-driven planning, detailed analyses, stakeholder support, and political and financial commitment have come together and integrated social justice to transform the corridor in the heart of Atlanta into a world-class “boulevard.” The goal of the coming together of these entities is to transform through tailored, multi-modal improvements and complementary workforce capacity building, business recruitment, socio-cultural preservation, and green infrastructure.  This will not only honor the name of Atlanta’s most famous resident, but further the City of Atlanta’s vision to preserve its historical past, maintain the livability of the present, and transform its future through the highest quality of implementation to enhance the level of service it provides to all people of Atlanta. The initiative is a global showcase for the community-based deployment of recent innovations in transportation safety, delivery, and risk management practices, in a high visibility, internationally significant cultural context.

Mobility & Access: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive corridor carries some 28,000 motorists a day and MARTA, which provides local bus service on and parallels the corridor with four heavy rail stations, provides 438,000 trips per weekday. Users of the corridor will benefit from improved operations, more multi-modal options and connections, and reduced conflict between modes.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DRIVE

MLK, Jr. Drive is a heavily used east-west corridor linking points of interest such as Downtown Atlanta (which includes the government center), Philips Arena, the new Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta University Center (Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse School of Medicine), historic Westview Cemetery, four MARTA heavy rail stations, and the Fulton County Airport-Brown Field. Suburban and historic urban neighborhoods line the corridor alongside notable parks such as Mozley Park and Washington Park and other community facilities such as the historic Booker T. Washington High School, Adamsville Recreation Center, the Atlanta BeltLine, and the Lionel Hampton Multi-use Trail. The corridor also parallels I-20, the region’s major east-west freeway and crosses I-285, the region’s perimeter freeway. At the intersection of Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, MLK, Jr. Drive becomes State Route 139 going westward past historic Westview Cemetery, through the Adamsville community and eventually to the Atlanta city limits and Fulton Industrial Boulevard in unincorporated Fulton County. The corridor is served by 14 local and one express bus route and is located near portions of regional multi-use trail systems that currently have limited connectivity. The eastern end of the corridor intersects with the Atlanta BeltLine Southwest Trail that is currently under construction.

There are three MARTA Heavy Rail stations within one quarter of a mile of MLK, Jr. Drive and one located on the street.  There are 14 MARTA bus routes and three core and secondary bicycle routes on the Drive. I-20, an east-west expressway and I-285 an interstate highway loop encircling Atlanta both intersect MLK, Jr. Drive.
 
CITY OF ATLANTA MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS

The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) was established in 1974 to encourage and support Atlanta’s cultural resources. The initial mission was to solidify the role that arts and other cultural resources play in defining and enhancing the social fabric and quality of life of Atlanta citizens and visitors.

Today the OCA understands that the arts play an essential role in defining the cultural vitality of the city and is working to enhance Atlanta’s reputation as a cultural destination. The OCA aims to provide programs that contribute substantially to the city’s economy and quality of life.

The Office of Cultural Affairs’ programming is executed in four key areas: Public Art, Arts and Education Services, Contracts for Arts Services and Performing Arts.  The OCA also manages the Chastain Arts Center/City Gallery at Chastain and Gallery 72.

CITY OF ATLANTA PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

The City of Atlanta’s Public Art Program (PAP) focuses on the conservation and maintenance of Atlanta’s Public Art Collection and produces ELEVATE, an annual free Public Art festival featuring local, national and international artists throughout the city.  ELEVATE has been named one of the Top 50 Public Art Projects in the Country by Americans for the Arts and has also been nominated for the Livable Cities Award.  The PAP also manages City of Atlanta Public Art Audio Tours which focus on educating the residents and guests about Atlanta’s Public Art Collection located in the central downtown Atlanta area.

THE SITE

The bronze statue will be installed in the median of the street and should be 12’ tall atop a 6’ foundation. Electricity will be provided at the site so that the statue can be lit from the foundation. The site is approximately 380’ from the intersection of MLK Drive and Northside Drive. The median is 13’ wide and the site around the sculpture will be landscaped assuring that the site is accessible and complementary to the statue.
There will be a gateway spanning the width of MLK Drive 170’ from the intersection of Northside Drive. This is an unrelated project but will be visible from the proposed sculpture.


ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

•The City of Atlanta  is seeking applicants who are  professional bronze sculptors with portfolios that demonstrate  monumental scale bronze portrait sculptures.  The  artist portfolio will demonstrate  portraiture  that  has a likeness to the subject matter.   All applicants, regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, origin or disability will be considered.

BUDGET


The all inclusive budget is $350,000.00

The all inclusive budget will include all artist fees, engineering, fabrication, foundations, lighting, pedestal design build, installation,  insurance, permitting, and travel costs .

BUDGET DESCRIPTION


Payment Schedule:

 First payment draw:   $50,000

Second draw, 25 percent complete:    $100,000

Third draw, 75 percent complete  $100,000

Fourth draw, completion  $100,000

SELECTION CRITERIA


Artwork will be selected based on the following criteria:

Artist merit and technical expertise

Demonstrated successful, innovative and effective approach to public art
projects of a similar scope


Ability to successfully execute a public art project in a culturally rich and complex area

Express interest in creating artwork for the opportunities presented by this request for qualifications

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS


1.Statement of Interest. In one page using no smaller than 10pt font, address the conceptual approach of the project; aspects of the site that are of interest; how you would engage the public; and, how the project will contribute to your existing body of work.

2.Résumé that outlines professional accomplishments (maximum 2 pages per person). Include three professional references (name, affiliated organization, email address and phone number).

3.Past Work Samples. Submit work samples in one or more of the formats listed below. If a team consists of performance artists and visual artists, the submission would include images of past work.  

TIMELINE

Schedule:

It is contemplated that the term of the contract shall be for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months for the design and fabrication services required.

Questions:

Questions and requests for clarification regarding this RFP must be directed in writing via email to the contact persons listed below. The deadline for submitting such questions/clarifications is shown below. All responses that are material in nature will be shared with all registered firms/artist teams.

For Questions, Please Contact:  Robert Witherspoon
   
Public Art Manager at rwitherspoon@atlantaga.gov 

How to Apply:  Photos, drawings and the RFQ can be viewed at
http://www.ocaatlanta.com/mlkrfp-mlk-monument/

Proposals due:

•Electronic  qualifications must be received no later than the date and time and at the location specified on the cover page of this solicitation. Qualifications received after the time or date listed herein shall not be considered. Qualifications received after the scheduled deadline for filing will not be opened.

Schedule Dates

January 19, 2018:   RFQ issued

February 9, 2018:   Deadline for submitting questions 

February 20, 2018:  Qualifications due

February 23, 2018:   Evaluation of qualifications with   stakeholder   committee

March 1, 2018:  Top three artists or artist teams are notified

April 2, 2018:  Finalist team presentation/ interviews

April 12, 2018  Artist  or artist team selected and announced

January 27th, 2019:    Anticipated completion and installation of final artwork 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria