City of El Paso Public Art Program
The City of El Paso’s Public Art Ordinance was adopted by City Council April 4, 2006 to promote and encourage private and public programs to further the development and public awareness of, and interest in, the fine arts and cultural properties, to increase employment opportunities in the arts, to encourage the integration of art into the architecture of municipal structures for the City of El Paso and to provide for the citizens of the City high quality, publicly accessible works of art, which contribute to the urban landscape and symbolize the City’s sense of place.

Project Description
Project is currently on RFQ for the Architect and Engineering Services (requirements for the design criteria listed below). Once the architect and engineering firm is under contract, the artist will collaborate with the selected Architect and Engineering Services team to create site specific public art.

Overall project will include:

-Description of Design Scope of Work:
The overall project will consist of a street reconstruction at Railroad Drive, north of Purple Heart Memorial Highway, to address the following components:
1) New roadway pavement structure
2) Roadway striping and signage
3) Bicycle trail per the City of El Paso Bike Plan, including striping, green paint, and signage
4) Sidewalks, driveways, ramps, curb and gutter (see description below)
5) Parkway improvements, to include street trees and landscaping (see below)
6) Drainage system (if necessary)
7) Dark sky compliant street lighting

-Landscaping
Landscaping and plant selection shall follow criteria:
• Streets trees at a minimum of 3-inch caliper shall be spaced at a maximum of 30-foot intervals within parkway
• Shrubs located between trees within parkway
• Automatic drip irrigation system
• Weed barrier fabric
• Rock aggregate at 3-inch depth
• Landscaping at traffic calming elements, for example; curb extensions, medians, roundabouts, etc.

Trees and plants shall be selected from the City’s Approved Tree and Plant List. Thornless Mesquite Trees and Chinese Pistache trees, or a similar tree shall be the predominant tree used in the parkways. Shrubs shall consist of various flowering varieties throughout different seasons, such as Lynn’s Legacy Sage, Yellow Bells Esperanza, Upright Rosemary, Red Bird of Paradise, Lantana, and similar shrubs. Smaller shrubs shall consist of plants such as Damianita and Gopher Plant.
• No cactus, yucca, sotol, or century plant shall be utilized in the design
• Trees shall be a minimum of 3-inch caliper
• Shrubs shall be a minimum of five-gallon
• No boulders shall be placed within the parkway unless approved by the Capital Improvement Department
• Coordination required with property owners for any existing trees and shrubs
-Green Infrastructure Elements
The designer shall provide options for water harvesting elements and other green infrastructure where feasible.

Public Art Opportunity
This public art project will commission an artist(s) to design and develop a public art piece/pieces within the Railroad Reconstruction Project which can be interactive/functional depending on site selection. The project will provide the opportunity for the artist to fully engage with the community in developing the concept and design of the artwork.
Vision
Public Art in El Paso will:
o Give voice to the City’s creative spirit
o Shape the look and feel of the City
o Define places that anchor the community
o Contribute to El Paso’s evolution as a dynamic urban place

Project Goals
The Public Art Program Goals are to:
o Enhance the quality of life of residents,
o Support creative and professional growth of the arts community,
o Support economic growth,
o Enhance the experience visitors have of El Paso, and
o Promote authentic images of El Paso as unique place, community and destination.

Budget
Total project budget is $200,000 to include design, fabrication, and installation. The budget is all-inclusive and must cover design fees, travel expenses, all materials and fabrication costs, insurance costs, engineering expenses, shipping and transportation to the site, and installation.
Additional Costs to the project may include:
o Foundation, Infrastructure, Engineering
Public Art Program | RAILROAD RECONSTRUCTION, DISTRICT 4 3/6/2019
o Permitting, Engineering

Artist’s Scope of Work
o Contract with City of El Paso to fulfill the artist’s services
o Collaborate with City and stakeholders to generate artwork proposal(s)
o Conduct research, which includes examining the site, reviewing pertinent documents and plans, meeting with City staff, members of community, and neighborhood associations.
o Prepare verbal, written and visual presentations to show schematic and final artwork proposal(s) to stakeholders
o Fabrication and installation of artwork

Artist Selection Method
o Open competition
o Applications to be submitted on the CAFÉ Website
o All artists will be asked to provide:
o Artist statement, previous work examples, resume and letter of interest.
o Applications will be reviewed by an Artist Selection Panel (ASP). The ASP will review all complete, eligible applications received by the deadline shown on the schedule.
o The Artist Selection Panel (ASP) will select a finalist to proceed in the next phase of the project.
o A finalist will then be selected and presented to the PAC for approval.
o The approved finalist will be placed under contract to work closely with the design consultant and to point out potential artwork integration possibilities.

Art Proposal Selection Method
o The finalist selected will be placed under contract to provide design proposals for the project for review and approval prior to fabrication and installation.
o Review of final design proposals performed by: PAC, prior to final approval.
o Criteria for the review of design proposals include, but not limited to:
 Meets the definition of Artwork.
 Demonstrates artistic merit, including excellence in aesthetic quality, workmanship, innovation and creativity.
 Demonstrates appropriateness in scale and form.
 Meets the project’s goals as outlined in the Individual Project Plan.
 Demonstrates feasibility of construction and installation.
 Demonstrates feasibility in terms of budget, timeline, safety, security, durability, operation, maintenance, conservation, legal and ethical issues.
 Builds the diversity of the City’s public art collection.
o Artist will then proceed to construction documents, fabrication and installation of the artwork.

Anticipated Schedule
o Artist Selection Panel Review: March-April 2019
o Notification to Selected Artist: April-May 2019
o Request for Design: TBD
o Stakeholder Review: TBD
o Public Art Committee Review: TBD
o Project Completion: Spring 2020

Coordination with other departments and stakeholders
o The CID department would be requested to provide construction oversight, assist in contractor selection, permitting procedures, and project management.
o Potential stakeholders for this project include:
o Streets and Maintenance
o Community
o Neighborhood Associations
o Coordination efforts and review needs to occur with the following individuals:
o Public Art Program
o Streets and Maintenance
o CID

Community outreach/Neighborhood input
o Input from surrounding neighborhoods
o Meetings could also be held during the design review process to receive additional information and direction from community

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

Print this Page    View Rules & Terms to Apply