Back to Top

The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with Renew Atlanta, invites Metro Atlanta artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a site-specific sculpture to act as a gateway to MLK Jr. Drive at I-285. This sculpture should stand at least 30’ tall.

This site-specific work of art should reflect the area’s culture of international significance. This community was home to intellectual leaders of human rights, including W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. This project, along with many others, will beautify the 7.2 mile corridor from North Avenue to Interstate 285.

The piece will be installed in the triangular landscaped area of the south-east side of MLK between I-285 and the north exit ramp. The sculpture foundation, design, engineering and construction costs must be integrated into the budget of the artist selected. See the images at the end of the document for the likely location of the artwork.

The City oF Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with Renew Atlanta, invites Metro Atlanta artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a site-specific sculpture to act as a gateway to MLK Jr. Drive at I-285. This sculpture should stand at least 30’ tall.

This site-specific work of art should reflect the area’s culture of international significance. This community was home to intellectual leaders of human rights, including W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. This project, along with many others, will beautify the 7.2 mile corridor from North Avenue to Interstate 285.

The piece will be installed in the triangular landscaped area of the south-east side of MLK between I-285 and the north exit ramp. The sculpture foundation, design, engineering and construction costs must be integrated into the budget of the artist selected. See the image at the end of the document for the likely location of the artwork.

The City of Atlanta’s 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 by providing cultural experiences.

THE SITE
The sculpture will be installed in the area between I-285 the north exit ramp along MLK Jr. Drive. The site around the installation will be a grassy area assuring that it is accessible and complimentary to the gateway. The sculpture itself should stand on hardscape for ease of landscaping and maintenance. Due to the size of the location we are interested in sculptures 30’ tall or larger. The gateway sculpture will be contemporary, innovative and transformative as an artwork that elevates the visibility of the intersection and speaks to the rich cultural history of the area.

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

•The City of Atlanta is seeking applicants from the metro Atlanta area. This area includes the following counties: Cherokee, Fulton, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Rockdale, Henry, Clayton, Fayette, Douglas, and Cobb County. Artists or artist teams who are professional sculptors with portfolios that demonstrate monumental scale, contemporary, public art sculptures. The artist portfolio will demonstrate monumental scale sculptural architectural work. All applicants, regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, origin or disability will be considered.

BUDGET

If selected to submit a proposal you will be given $1,250 and one month to build the proposal.

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

BUDGET DESCRIPTION:

Total budget: $250,000

Payment Schedule:
•First payment draw: $83,000
•Second draw, 1/2 complete: $83,000
•Third draw, complete : $84,000

SELECTION CRITERIA

Artwork will be selected based on the following criteria:

•Artist merit and technical expertise
•Demonstrated successful, innovative and effective approach to architectural, design and public art projects of a similar scope
•Ability to successfully execute 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

Statement of Interest:

In one page, using 12 point font, address the conceptual approach of your  work; aspects of the area that are of interest to you; ideas on how you would engage the community before, during or after the project is complete.

Samples of previous work showing your ability to work in this scale:

Submit samples of past projects within a similar scope. Images should be sent as attachments in jpg format. Include title, location, date, budget, timeline, and concept (when applicable).

Résumé:

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

Questions:

For Questions, Please Contact:

Public Art Project Coordinator

bxcamelo@atlantaga.gov

How to Apply:

Schedule Dates:

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria