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INTRODUCTION
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS), in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), is seeking an artist or artist/artist team* to design, fabricate and install site-integrated outdoor artwork for the park in the Little Saigon neighborhood. The selected artist/artist team will be asked to create a permanent artwork that honors the history, cultures, and current experience of the communities that live nearby. The artist/artist team will work with ARTS, SPR, and community engagement partners that include:  The Little Saigon Park Advisory Committee led by Friends of Little Saigon and Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDPDA), that consists of about 18 representatives from the community, plus additional organizations. Relevance of the applicant’s letter of interest and a demonstrated connection/relationship to the Little Saigon and/or Chinatown | International District are considered. Artists of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

*Artist teams will be limited to two (2) members.

Please open these links for important information about Little Saigon Park:

1. Little Saigon Park - Summary Map
2. Little Saigon Park - Site Photos and History
3. Seattle Parks and Recreation Little Saigon page

SCOPE OF WORK
The artist/artist team will work closely with the SPR design team, Murase Associates (landscape architects), the Little Saigon Park Advisory Committee, and multiple other community representatives to develop art for the park that integrates with the park design. The artwork could help to inspire and inform residents and visitors about the history and future of the site, and enhance the experience of park-goers and passers-by. The artist/artist team will consider the culture and character of the surrounding Little Saigon neighborhood and consider the park’s specific design and patterns of use. Priorities for the art include durability, safety, and accessibility. The design team envisions the art to be located along the perimeter entry along Jackson Street, but may consider art along the perimeter of King Street. There may be other opportunities for artwork inside the park’s core including art for seating, railing, pavement, lighting, and signage, etc.

The art may have the ability to make a larger impact on this modest sized 0.27-acre site. The park will be located at 1224 S. King Street in Seattle’s Chinatown | International District's Little Saigon neighborhood. The community’s current diversity is reflected by a high number of Asian and Pacific Island business owners, residents, and visitors. The area is densely occupied by retail businesses, offices, existing and upcoming residential properties, and experiences a high volume of pedestrian traffic.  

The park will be immediately adjacent to several businesses and historic apartments, and will be across the street from the Little Saigon streetcar stop. The park will serve as a pedestrian, and potentially a bike, connection between Jackson and King Street. The artist/artist team is expected to develop and install the artwork following the timeline of the design and construction of Little Saigon Park and will work with the park design team on the location of the art.


BACKGROUND
Seattle Parks and Recreation proposes to build a new park at 1224 S. King Street in the Little Saigon neighborhood. This project will develop the open space acquired by Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) in 2013. The design will incorporate accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as SPR’s intent to create access to open space in areas of high urban density. Impervious surfacing shall be limited to 15% or less, excluding trail and circulation surfaces. The park will include seating, lighting, landscaping, and a play element. The Little Saigon Park project will create an urban connection in the midst of the rapidly developing and transitioning neighborhood of Little Saigon. The park design creates a flexible urban open space for residents, workers, and visitors to the neighborhood.

The park will:

• Provide open space access to an underserved neighborhood
• Use art as fundamental space-defining element(s)
• Provide seating opportunities integrated into the site
• Integrate non-traditional, integrated play opportunities
• Incorporate infrastructure to support community gathering and fellowship
• Utilize planting to define space and create a sense of respite

The park design responds directly to the anticipated open space needs of this evolving neighborhood while reflecting the character and culture of the neighborhood. It is anticipated that the park will gain a unique identity based on the strength of individual icons such as art, play, culture, and community.  


PROJECTED TIMELINE
Artist Selection and notification:  November and December 2019
Artist begins work:  January 2020
Design completion:  Summer 2020
Construction start:  Fall 2020
Project completion:  Fall 2021     


ELIGIBILITY
This call is open to all artists living or working in Washington State who have a connection/relationship to the Chinatown| International District community in Seattle. Relevance of the applicant’s letter of interest and demonstrated connection/relationship to the Little Saigon and/or Chinatown | International District is considered. Artists of color are strongly encouraged to apply. 

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture encourages diversity in its collection. Artists whose work is well represented in the City’s collection are eligible to apply, but the artist selection panel will consider artistic diversity as one factor in the selection process. Students are not eligible to apply.


BUDGET
The selected artist will receive a commission of $100,000.00 (including all Washington State Sales/Use Tax), to design, fabricate, and install the artwork, and includes any travel costs.


APPLICATION DEADLINE
10:59 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time), Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Please allow ample time to complete your application. Do not wait until the last minute. Applications submitted after the 10:59 p.m. deadline will not be accepted.


APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applications must include:

• 12 to 16 images. Images should concentrate on completed projects that show potential or demonstrated skill to produce three-dimensional public artworks.
• Letter of interest (not to exceed 2,000 characters including spaces). Please describe your interest in this unique opportunity, addressing your demonstrated connection/relationship to the Chinatown | International District, and how you would honor the history, cultures, and current experience of the communities that live nearby in the Little Saigon area.
• Résumé or a one-page biography about yourself.
• Three references including how you know this person, name, email address, and phone number. If you are applying as a team, please include three references for each team member.
• Image Identification List (not to exceed 500 characters for each image). Please explain clearly and include artwork title, year installed, media, dimensions, and description. If you completed a project as a team member, the image identification should indicate your role for each image submitted.

SELECTION CRITERIA
The artist will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Quality of concept, design, and craftsmanship of past works
• Potential or demonstrated skill
• Innovation or experimentation
• Relevance of letter of interest and demonstrated connection/relationship to the Little Saigon and/or Chinatown | International District community
• A proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with project managers, design professionals, and community stakeholders
• A proven ability to listen and work with community, particularly communities of color and low-English proficient communities
• Experience with previous public art projects, temporary or permanent
• Demonstrated ability to produce durable outdoor art (depending on circumstances, some assistance may be provided for technical issues)
• Demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget

SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process will take place in two parts. During the first round, a panel of arts professionals, client representatives, and Parks staff will review the applicants’ images, qualifications, and other materials. The panelists will identify up to four finalists to interview at a second panel meeting four weeks later. The panel will select an artist/artist team to be awarded the commission.

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture is committed to reflecting the diversity and cultural richness of our city in the selection of artists and artworks.


NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
Applicants will be notified of the panel’s decision by email in December 2019. The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture reserves the right not to select any of the applicants.


WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Talk with the Program Staff. Discuss questions or concerns. Get Started NOW! It is fine to call before you have your application written. The earlier you contact the project manager the better. Do not wait until the Deadline Day! Submit your application days or hours at minimum before the deadline.

Please contact Marcia Iwasaki, Public Art Project Manager
Call:  206.233.3946
Email:  marcia.iwasaki@seattle.gov
Hours:  Monday – Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

If help is needed on Thursdays or Fridays:
Please contact Ruri Yampolsky, Public Art Program Director
Call:  206.684.7309
Email:  ruri.yampolsky@seattle.gov


GETTING HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Need technical assistance with CaFÉ? Contact CaFÉ at 888.562.7232 or cafe@westaf.org, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Watch our best tips video on YouTube!


ATTEND AN OPTIONAL WORKSHOP
We are offering free, optional workshops that will provide some general information about the Little Saigon Park project and the CaFÉ online application system. We strongly encourage you to attend the workshop, especially if you are a first-time applicant.

ARTS staff will share more information about the Park plans and a Parks Project Manager will be present to answer questions. We will review steps of the CaFÉ application.

If you need an interpreter at the workshop in Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese, please notify us at least 4 days in advance of the workshop. Contact Marcia Iwasaki at 206.233.3946 or marcia.iwasaki@seattle.gov.

Webinar Workshop
The online webinar workshop was held on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 - you may view a recording of the webinar here.

In-person Workshops

Saturday, August 3, 2019
Time:  10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Deadline to request interpreter:  Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Nisei Veteran's Committee Memorial Hall
1212 South King Street
Seattle, WA  98144
Map

Please RSVP HERE to reserve your place for the August 3rd workshop. An RSVP is requested but not mandatory, having your name will help us with planning and any updates.

OR

Monday, August 12, 2019
Time:  6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Deadline to request interpreter:  Tuesday, August 6, 2019
King Street Station
303 South Jackson Street
3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Map

Please RSVP HERE to reserve your place for the August 12th workshop. An RSVP is requested but not mandatory, having your name will help us with planning and any updates.

 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

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