REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
INVEST South/West Artist in Residence Program
Deadline to apply: August 9, 2020 at 11:59pm CDT

SUMMARY
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), seeks artists to participate in the INVEST South/West (ISW) Artist in Residence Program. ISW is an unprecedented community improvement initiative from Mayor Lightfoot to marshal the resources of multiple City departments, community organizations and corporate partners toward neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West sides. The goal of INVEST South/West 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.

PROJECT BACKGROUND
The ISW neighborhoods Auburn Gresham, Austin, Bronzeville, Greater Englewood, Greater Roseland, Humboldt Park, New City, North Lawndale, South Chicago and South Shore were determined through a multi-departmental analysis. Each ISW neighborhood has the existence of at least one well-developed community plan and the existence of at least one active commercial area. Leveraging existing plans and local partners, the City’s focus on these initial neighborhoods will enable swift investments that create sustainable improvements, foster additional investment on adjacent blocks, and elevate cultural and artistic vibrancy. 

The need for urgent investment in these neighborhoods has come into even sharper focus in the recent months. Chicago has the opportunity to address inequities by rethinking the social, cultural and economic fabric of the city. Through the collaboration of multiple public and private partners, ISW will engage community stakeholders throughout the South and West sides to build consensus around neighborhood needs and goals; prioritize specific geographies; identify immediate and long-term needs; and ensure future investments will be developed through an equity lens.

Community stakeholders participated in the INVEST South/West kick-off celebrations last winter. The family-friendly events were held to launch the initiative with in-depth activities that helped participants identify priorities, goals, and key community assets. Attendees listened to presentations about the goals and objectives of INVEST South/West, then interfaced with dozens of public agencies about opportunities to improve the community. A summary of the feedback captured at those events can be found in the Kick-Off Summary Reports in the following section. 

Artists and cultural organizations will take a lead role in the ISW initiative. Through the ISW Artist in Residence program, artists will be employed as creative strategists to help city agencies and community stakeholders develop and execute projects that leverage art and creativity as part of a broad and integrated community and economic development plan. 

OPPORTUNITY  
Artists/ artist teams will be selected to work directly with DCASE, DPD and other city agencies, local organizations and residents to develop and implement a series of community engagement, public art and site-specific cultural programs within select INVEST neighborhoods. 

As embedded members of ISW teams, artists will lead a community engagement program that will create and build upon neighborhood-specific cultural plans. At the conclusion of an engagement period, the artist will deliver a plan for a capstone public art project which will be the culmination of the artist’s research and engagement. In addition, the artist will provide a series of recommendations that will guide the future development of creative projects in neighborhoods. Depending on the nature of the capstone project, each artist in residence will be engaged for 1-2 years. 

As a pilot project, the initial round of the ISW Artist in Residence programs will focus on four neighborhoods: Englewood, Auburn Gresham, New City and Austin. Each artist will work directly with planners to identify priority areas for consideration and development, which include, but are not limited to the strategies outlined below. 
 

• AIR Greater Englewood | Proposed Strategy: The Englewood AIR will provide support to the development of a mural at 59th and Halsted and will develop a comprehensive strategy for artworks as part of the development of the Englewood Trail. In addition, the Englewood AIR will provide critical creative and design input into the development of the commercial district at 63rd and Halsted. Community information and a map of the Greater Englewood ISW corridor are available in the Greater Englewood Kick-Off Summary Report.

 

• AIR Auburn Gresham | Proposed Strategy: The Auburn Gresham AIR will focus on developing art-related strategies that activate the 79th Street commercial corridor, including but not limited to vacant storefront and vacant lot activation programs, business development, and other cultural programs and activities that promote economic investment on the corridor. Community information and a map of the Auburn Gresham ISW corridor are available in the Auburn Gresham Kick-Off Summary Report.

 

• AIR Austin | Proposed Strategy: The Austin AIR will work directly with local businesses and community groups to imagine a series of public art interventions and cultural engagements that assist with the beautification and commercial branding of Chicago Avenue. Community information and a map of the Austin ISW corridor are available in the Austin Kick-Off Summary Report. 

 

• AIR New City | Proposed Strategy: In New City, the priority corridor is 47th and Ashland, running from Damen east to Loomis along 47th and from 43rd south to 49th along Ashland. The AIR will work to establish goals through a broad, cross-disciplinary approach that leverages the talents of local stakeholders and creatives. Community information and a map of the New City ISW corridor are available in the New City Kick-Off Summary Report.

SCOPE OF WORK 
Once selected, the artist will partner with the DCASE, DPD, and community stakeholders to identify more specific goals, scope, deliverables, community participation, and other aspects of the project. The program will have three primary areas of focus: 
 

• Public Engagement: Public engagement may take the form of formal or informal in-person or online artist-led events and activities that, through various accessible platforms, engage residents’ voices, cultures, histories and perspectives, in a creative and collaborative process to inform capstone projects and future recommendations. The artist may participate in DPD’s monthly roundtable meetings to communicate with community stakeholders on a regular basis and inform them of upcoming events and activities.

 

• Capstone Project(s): Develop a plan for one or more permanent improvements or capstone projects within their ISW neighborhood. The plan will include a budget and timeline for implementation. Depending on the scale and scope of public art / site-specific activations, the artist may execute the project directly or support a commissioning process.

 

• Documentation and Evaluation: Work with project partners to develop and implement a documentation strategy that will capture both the artistic activations and also key findings/outcomes that can inform future investments in arts and culture.

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY
The selected artists/ artist teams must have a demonstrated commitment to working with and for the benefit of the public. This opportunity is open to professional artists/ artist teams who live or work in the City of Chicago. Artists who live and work within ISW neighborhoods are encouraged to apply.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA
Applicants will be vetted by a committee of ISW stakeholders, including representatives from DCASE, DPD, and community liaisons; finalists will be invited to interview based on a competitive review of the following:
 

• Past work in or ties to one or more of the pilot communities.

 

• Artistic merit and professional qualifications demonstrated in a dynamic portfolio of past work that includes community-based projects, social practice, arts education, public art, and/ or design. 

 

• A broad range of creative and administrative skills applicable to the development and execution of public engagement and public art commissions, including budget and timeline management. 

 

• A commitment to equity and access demonstrated through past work, leadership and team composition.  

 

• A demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts in ways that are compelling and meaningful to diverse audiences. 

BUDGET
The budget for scope of services including artist fees for public engagement, capstone plan development, and documentation is $30,000. The budget for the capstone project(s), including additional artist fees for oversight and implementation, will be $150,000 and is dependent on community and city approval of the project. 


ANTICIPATED PROJECT TIMELINE
* All dates are approximate.
 

• CAFÉ RFQ (open call + short list): 6/30/20 - 8/9/20
• Information Session (online webinar):  Week of 7/6/20
• Review of qualifications:  8/10/20 - 8/23/20
• Committee selects 3-4 finalists:  8/24/20 - 8/28/20
• Finalist interviews/presentations:  8/31/20 - 9/4/20
• Notification of final selection:  9/7/20 - 9/11/20
• Anticipated date for commencing work:  9/28/20 - 10/12/20

HOW TO APPLY
Application is available via CaFÉ (www.callforentry.org). Interested applicants should register with CaFÉ in order to view the application. Deadline for submissions is August 9, 2020 at 11:59pm CDT.

What to Submit:
Each artist or artist team must submit an entirely digital application.  
Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications should include: 

     a) A one- (1) page letter of interest that clearly states:
               i) your understanding of how an artist-in-residency program can benefit neighborhoods;
               ii) which neighborhood(s) you are interested in and why you would work well there;
               iii) please use examples of your past work to illustrate your points.

     b) Six (6) to ten (10) total images of past public art projects, with an emphasis on community-based projects, by the artist or the artist team’s lead artist(s).

     c) One (1) video, edited to no more than two (2) minutes in length, may also be submitted but is not required.

     d) Annotated Image List: An annotated image list that includes the title, media, year completed, dimensions, location (if site-specific) project budget (if applicable) timeline, and client or commissioning entity for each corresponding image.  
               i) If a video is submitted, please include two to three (2-3) sentences to describe its context.

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

     f) A two- (2) page resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
               i) If applying as an artist team, provide one resume or CV for each team member.


About the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events: The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors. www.chicago.gov/dcase 

About the Department of Planning and Development: As the principal planning agency for the City of Chicago, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) promotes the comprehensive growth and sustainability of the City and its neighborhoods. The department also oversees the City’s zoning and land use policies and, through its economic development and housing bureaus, employs a variety of resources to encourage business and real estate development, as well as a diverse and stable housing stock throughout the City. www.chicago.gov/dpd 
 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

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