SUMMARY

The Public Art Project in Vincennes, Indiana was formed in 2019 with the goal of bringing public art into the City of Vincennes.  A consortium of four local galleries manages the project:  Art Space Vincennes, LLC (project director); Northwest Territory Art Guild Gallery (Indiana Arts Commission grant recipient); Open Gallery; and Shircliff Gallery (part of Vincennes University).  Since 2014, these galleries have collaborated on the First Friday Art Walks, which have contributed to an ongoing revitalization of the Main Street area.  This new initiative is designed to bring art out of the galleries and into a public sphere where a wider audience can be reached. The galleries are assisted in this project by a committee of art professionals and community members representing a variety of stakeholders.

The Public Art Project presents an opportunity for sculptors from across the nation to submit up to two (2) entries to the First City Public Sculpture Exhibition of large-scale public sculpture to be installed in the City of Vincennes. Sculptures will be on loan for a period of three years, at the end of which time they will be picked up by the artists and new works will be rotated in.  Artists will receive an honorarium totaling One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) to help defray costs of transportation and installation. The honorarium will be distributed in three installments over the exhibition loan period. 

GOALS

·      Build on Vincennes’ heritage of visual, cultural and historical assets
       by bringing in the art of today.

·      Help heal community trauma resulting from the ongoing COVID-19
       pandemic and a violent storm in April 2020.

·      Bring art experience to as many segments of the population as
       possible.

·      Promote tourism.

·      Support participating artists through exhibition publicity and potential
       sales.

·      Enhance the presence of area businesses and organizations.

·      Continue to support downtown Vincennes' revitalization.

 ELIGIBILITY

·      All work must be original.

·      Work entered must be exhibition ready.  Sketches, renderings, or
       plans for work not complete by entry submission date will not be
       considered.

·      All work must be available for sale.

·      Work must be exhibited for the full length of the three-year loan
       period as defined in this prospectus.

·      Work entered must be able to withstand unsupervised foot traffic,
       severe weather conditions, and pose no threat to public safety.

·      Works should be fitted with tabs for attachment to concrete pads with
      anchor bolts unless the configuration of the work is inherently stable.

·      Work must not require maintenance beyond annual cleaning.

·      No size parameters.

ENTRY FEE 

Up to two sculptures may be entered.  Entry fee for first sculpture is Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00).  Entry fee for second sculpture is Fifteen Dollars ($15.00).

HOW TO APPLY AND TIMETABLE

All submissions are to be made through the Call for Entry site at www.CallForEntry.org (CaFE).  Each submission will include: 

1.  Three digital images each with a different view to represent the full 
      sculpture, plus optionally up to three additional digital images of
      important details.

2.    Size of the piece in H” x W” x D” format.

3.    Brief artist statement, bio, and resume that can be used for publicity and
       a documentary exhibition publication. 

4.    Description of any special installation issues, including equipment,
       labor needs, and size of concrete pad to support and anchor the
       sculpture and allow for surrounding grounds care.

August 14, 2020 – SUBMISSION DUE through CaFE

August 15 – September 12, 2020 – Jurying process by Public Sculpture
              Project committees

September 14, 2020 – Notifications to all sculptors

October 16 & 17, 2020 – Delivery and installation of sculpture by
               appointment

October 17, 2020 - Outdoor reception for exhibition

August 12 & 13, 2023 – Pick up of sculpture by appointment 

HONORARIUM 

Each selected artist will receive an honorarium of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1500.00) to help defray costs of transportation and installation.  Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) will be payable at the time of installation, Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) payable one year later, and Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) payable at the time of pickup at end of exhibition.  Each sculptor will receive one complimentary exhibition publication and will have the opportunity to purchase extra copies.

EXHIBITION GUIDELINES 

1.    The exhibition will be juried in a two-step process. All entries will be presented to the jury anonymously.  A panel of arts professionals will determine finalists.  The full committee of the Public Sculpture Project will make final selection of sculptures and determine sites appropriate for each accepted piece.

2.    Selected works will be exhibited in outdoor settings in the city of Vincennes, Indiana. Works should be fitted with tabs for attachment to concrete pads with anchor bolts unless the configuration of the work is inherently stable as determined by the jurors.

3.    Artists are responsible for and must be present for timely installation and removal of all works by appointment.  Project staff members will provide on-site assistance, as needed. 

4.   Images of accepted works will be provided to the Public Sculpture Project.  The artist agrees to allow the project to use these images for
archive, exhibition publication, and publicity purposes. 

5.    A reception/celebration of all installed pieces is tentatively scheduled for October 17, 2020. This in-person reception will only occur if the Public Sculpture Project managers determine it can be done safely and in accordance with any Indiana state regulations in regard to COVID-19 then in place.

6.    General cleaning and maintenance of sculptures and sites will be provided by the Public Sculpture Committee staff and site owners.  Maintenance requiring the judgment and expertise of the artist will be performed or directed by the artist as needed.

7.    Works not retrieved by the stated removal date will become the property of the Northwest Territory Art Guild unless other arrangements are made in writing and with the consent of the Public Sculpture Project committee. 

SALES 

Sales of works will be encouraged and promoted.

The Public Sculpture Project will handle all sales and will retain a twenty-five percent (25%) commission on works sold from the exhibition or as a result of exhibition participation.  Commission revenue will be applied to exhibition expenses.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria