Request for Submissions

The SPACES Sculpture Trail partners are seeking artist submittals for the 5th biennial community-wide sculpture initiative. Featuring over 27 temporary installations, the 2019-21 SPACES Sculpture Trail will feature over 40 total sculptures across Huntsville and Madison, Alabama.

About SPACES

First launched in 2010 as a biennial event, the SPACES Sculpture Trail has emerged as the largest sculpture installation in Alabama. In 2019, SPACES partners Arts Huntsville, Alabama A&M University, Ditto Landing, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, the Madison Arts Council and UAHuntsville will come together with new partner Stovehouse to stage the next two-year installation of SPACES sculptures across the community.

Since the sculpture trail first began nine years ago, SPACES has grown from 5 partners and 20 sculptures in 2010 to feature 27 new sculptures and 14 permanent installations across 7 partners sites in 2019. SPACES is promoted to residents and tourists through the SPACES HSV cell phone app as well as local and regional marketing. In 2019, SPACES will also be featured in Huntsville’s Alabama Bicentennial and Apollo 50 celebrations (marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, engineered by Huntsville’s NASA Marshall Space Flight Center).

Today, Huntsville, Alabama is one of the most recognized cities in the Southeast. Already in 2018, Huntsville has been selected by Toyota-Mazda as the site for its new, joint $1.6 billion manufacturing facility, and Facebook is creating a new $750 million data center in this North Alabama tech center. The community successfully combines the rich heritage of Southern hospitality with innovative high-tech ventures and cultural diversity. At the same time, Huntsville is also home to Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment – the largest privately-owned arts center in the nation and home to over 200 working artists. As a result, in 2018 US News & World Report named Huntsville the #7 Best Place to Live in the Country, and Livability.com ranks Huntsville #1 in 2018 as the best place in the nation to pursue a STEM career due to the community’s “rich space race history, amazing job opportunities and a quirky, creative culture.”

Artwork Selection Criteria

·        Artistic Excellence:  The inherent artistic excellence of the work is the primary selection criteria. All art must be an original creation by the artist and display high-quality technical skill, imagination and innovation.

·        Permanence: Sculpture shall have structural and surface soundness, be resistant to theft, vandalism, be suitable for display in adverse weather conditions and require minimal maintenance.

·        Public Safety:  Works of art shall be of sound construction and durability and shall not create safety problems for the general public.

Installation Criteria

SPACES sculptures are installed on level concrete pads ranging in size from 3’x3’ to 6’x6’.  (Sculptures that do no need pad placement will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the Sculpture Trail partner sites.)  The footprint of each sculpture installed must be smaller than its pad site, and the artist must securely anchor the sculpture to the concrete pad with tools and bolts provided by the artist.

Compensation

All artists who are accepted will receive a $1,500 honorarium provided to offset the costs related to installation/removal of the artwork. Artists selected to exhibit two works in the SPACES 2019 - 21 Trail will receive a $2,500 honorarium.

Artists are responsible for all costs (including travel and hotel expenses), tools, equipment and labor necessary for the delivery, installation, and removal of their work; artists also assume all risk and damage to their work before and during installation and during and after removal.  The sculptures will be insured by the host site up for the insurance value of the sculpture after installation and while on exhibition, ending on either the date the work is removed or the last day of the de-installation period. The SPACES Sculpture Trail will receive a 10% commission on all sales during the exhibition.

Project Timeline

RFP Release Date: October 17, 2018  

Submittals Due: November 25, 2018 

Curatorial Committee Review: Week of December 3rd, 2018 

Artist Notifications: Week of December 10th, 2018 

Installation Dates: 

Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, 2019

Feb. 8 – 9, 2019               

Feb.  13 – 15, 2019

Exhibition Period: February 2019 – January 2021
De-installation: January 2021

Submission Requirements:

All applications for this project are being accepted through CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org). No hard copy submissions will be accepted. The applicant will be asked to submit a minimum of three (3) hi-res digital images of the proposed artwork (see below for more information). In order to submit multiple pieces for consideration, you MUST complete a separate application for each piece.

There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system. Only complete applications will be considered.  Each application must contain the following information:

·        High-res images (at least 3, no more than 6) of sculpture

·        Artist resume or CV, outlining education, training and exhibition history

·        Artist Bio (for publicity purposes)

·        Artist statement of work

·        Weight of sculpture

·        Material(s) used in the work (accompanied by an explanation of how these materials withstand environmental elements)

·        Insurance value of work

·        Minimum sculpture pad size required for installation

·        Description of the installation process (Artist is responsible for installation – including materials, tools, and equipment – but please describe any special equipment that will be utilized or unique installation requirements. While the SPACES partners cannot guarantee availability, please note if a crane if required for installation.)

·        Have you exhibited with the SPACES Sculpture Trail previously? If yes, when?

·        Installation Date Preference:

o   Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, 2019   (note: Jan. 29 – 30 installation dates are reserved for artists exhibiting in the current SPACES Sculpture Trail)

o   Feb. 8 – 9, 2019                      

o   Feb.  13 – 15, 2019

Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ™ specifications can be found at www.callforentry.org/ imaging_tips.phtml. Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by call (303) 629-1166 or (888) 562-7232, or via e-mail at cafe@westaf.org.
 

QUESTIONS

Questions regarding the SPACES Sculpture Trail, the application process, installation and de-installation procedures should contact Alex Abel-Boozer at (256) 519-2787 x 101 or e-mail at alexander@artshuntsville.org. 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria