REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS        Tigard Outdoor Museum Major Works

ENTRY DEADLINE     August 15, 2019

The City of Tigard, Oregon and partner organization Tualatin Valley Creates seek qualified artists/artist teams to create original or significantly updated outdoor work(s) for the Tigard Outdoor Museum, a three-quarter-mile linear museum that will connect a new public plaza on Main Street in Downtown Tigard to employment and housing areas. Works may utilize varied media including but not limited to sculpture, mural, soundscape, and lightwork. Earthworks are not possible due to land constraints. This project is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town program.

ABOUT THE PROJECT 

The museum will artistically interpret the history of Tigard and the surrounding region through the common thread of rail (the museum will be located along a former railroad bed). This thread provides an opportunity to explore Native American displacement, migration patterns, the use and exploitation of immigrant labor, agricultural heritage, suburbanization and gentrification, and a variety of other themes in a way that reveals the rich and sometimes complicated palimpsest of history. Artists from historically underrepresented cultures and communities of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Artist(s) are encouraged to consider personal historical narratives from underrepresented communities when creating work(s). The city can provide existing research on these types of personal narratives, or artist(s) can do original research. Original research, if included explicitly in works, must be vetted by an outside party of city’s choosing.

Oregon Artist Suenn Ho will be creating a series of smaller interpretive works for the museum that more explicitly explore the themes listed above. The commissioned works should harmonize with the interpretive portion of the museum; however, the artist(s) commissioned for the larger installations will have artistic freedom to articulate their individual vision for the project. 

CRITERIA

• The work should be pedestrian scale.

• Artwork must be durable and free of materials that may be considered precious or fragile.

• All materials used in the fabrication and installation must be suitable to the outdoor setting with pedestrian, skateboard and bicycle traffic, and must be reasonably vandal-resistant. 

• The artwork should be easily maintained, and must meet all public safety and accessibility requirements.

• The artwork must be appropriate for an all-ages audience.

TIMELINE

August 15, 2019        Application Deadline

August 30, 2019        Notifications to selected artist(s)

September (date TBD)    Site walk with project managers    

September 30, 2019        Complete proposal of design(s) due for review/approval    

April 15, 2020            Confirmation of completed works

May (date TBD)        Artwork(s) installed

June (date TBD)        Outdoor Museum Reception

Additional meetings and correspondence as needed.

COMPENSATION

No more than three works will be commissioned for the Outdoor Museum. Each work has a maximum budget of $35,000 which includes all expenses incurred from design, fabrication, transportation, installation, and artist fees. Artists who apply may indicate their interest/willingness to contributing one, two, or three works for the project.  

Artists can apply through the CaFÉ online application system. www.callforentry.org. 

Search Request for Qualifications Tigard Outdoor Museum Major Works

APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE (There is no fee to apply.)

• Brief letter of interest (one-page)

• Professional resume

• Three to five images of past relevant work including relevant descriptions. Name files as "First_Last_Title_Year (.jpg or .pdf)"

• No less than three professional references

• An artist’s statement (optional)

Proposals will be reviewed by a jury composed of City of Tigard staff, Tualatin Valley Creates staff and affiliates, community members, business owners, and other as deemed appropriate. 

Applications will be evaluated based on:

1. Professional qualifications

2. Proven artistic merit of prior relevant work

3. Experience fabricating and installing permanent artwork suitable for the outdoor environment

4. Project management experience

5. Experience working with local governmental (i.e. municipal) agencies a plus

Selected artist(s) will work with City of Tigard and Tualatin Valley Creates staff to create a more detailed timeline and refined budget for the project. 

For questions, please contact Tualatin Valley Creates at 503-567-1713 or director@tvcreates.org

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria