Call Detail
City of Chicago INVEST South/West Englewood: Halsted Gateway Project
Entry Deadline: 7/12/20
Application Closed
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 5, Maximum:Max. 10
Video | Minimum:Min. 0, Maximum:Max. 1
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 5, Maximum:Max. 10
Call Type: Public Art
Eligibility: Local
State: Illinois
Event Dates: 0/0/00 - 0/0/00

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

INVEST South/West Englewood: Halsted Gateway Project

Deadline: Sunday July 12, 2020 by 11:59pm CST

INTRODUCTION

INVEST South/West is an unprecedented community improvement initiative from Mayor Lightfoot to marshal the resources of multiple City departments, community organizations and corporate partners toward 10 neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West sides. Through this groundbreaking collaboration by government, businesses, philanthropies, and community leaders, the City will align more than $750 million in public funding over the next three years. The initiative will seek to leverage those public investments in order to attract private capital, respond to changing commercial trends and enrich local culture.

Greater Englewood, consisting of the Englewood and West Englewood communities, is one of 10 priority areas selected as a part of the initial phase of INVEST South/West. Launched in October 2019, INVEST South/West’s goal is to re-activate neighborhood cores that have historically served as focal points for pedestrian activity, shopping, services, transportation, public spaces and quality-of life amenities for local residents. In Greater Englewood, the priority focus is the intersection of 63rd and Halsted streets and adjacent blocks.

The Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE), the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) have partnered to renew the Englewood Line’s viaduct located at 5800 S. Halsted. As part of the improvements, DCASE will commission an artist to create a “gateway” mural that will signal entrance to the nearby commercial district at 63rd and Halsted. The project aims to create a sense of place and welcome local residents and visitors alike to Englewood.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY

DCASE will commission an artist or artist team to create a site-specific artwork for the street-level walls and bridge span of the newly refurbished Englewood Line Halsted viaduct. The street-level artwork must be painted, and the bridge span artwork will be a commercially printed, applied vinyl that can be wrapped or applied with adhesive to the coffers. The two components should visually reference each other and work together as a cohesive artwork. Through a robust community engagement process, the artist will work collaboratively with local residents to develop the design. The street-level component may also involve community participation in execution.

SITE

The site for artwork is the disused rail viaduct in the 5800 S. Halsted block. Artists should consider the multiple vantage points from which the work will be viewed and enjoyed by pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

Dimensions:

Viaduct walls/painted mural sites:

central panels – approximately 41’ L x 11 H’;

tapering wing walls additional 15’ length

Steel bridge span: approximately 70' L x 6.5’ H (each face)

BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS

Finalists will be paid a $1,000 honorarium to develop proposals. 

The artwork commission will be $65,000, inclusive of all costs and fees for the artist / artist team to execute the murals and bridge span artwork, including design, materials and supplies, site preparation, fabrication, installation, and insurance.

SCHEDULE:

RFQ available via CAFE:                              6/19-7/12/20

Review of qualifications:                              7/13-7/27/20

Finalists for RFP selected and notified:      Week of 8/3/20

Finalists' proposals due:                                9/6/20

Artist presentations:                                      Week of 9/7/20

Selected artist/artist team notified:            Week of 9/14/20

Design development, community engagement, mural and bridge span installation           9/14-10/31/20

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

Each artist or artist team must submit an entirely digital application. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications should include:

Submit a one (1) page Letter of Interest (LOI) indicating your interest in the project, unique qualifications, and briefly describe your approach to mural making and community outreach.

Five (5) to ten (10) total images of past public art projects by the artist or the artist team’s lead artist(s).

Image List/ Descriptions: An accompanying image list that includes the title, media, year completed, dimensions, location (if site-specific) and project budget (if applicable).

If a video is submitted, please include two to three (2-3) sentences to describe its context.

If applying as an artist team, a list of key team members and their roles/affiliations.

Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

If applying as an artist team, provide one resume or CV for each team member.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria