The Bernalillo County Arts Board solicits a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists or artist teams for a public art project at the Tiny Home Village (THV) in Albuquerque. The THV provides a holistic housing intervention for people experiencing homelessness, prioritizing safe and dignified housing within a supported single-site community setting. The artwork will be located in the visitor parking area of the facility. Artists are encouraged to include a community outreach process into the design and implementation of the art. The established budget is $43,000. Artists residing in New Mexico are invited to apply and must demonstrate: an understanding of Bernalillo County; sensitivity towards the population of the THV and the surrounding community; and experience with community engagement. The project will be participatory and will engage the surrounding community and Village residents.

Full Site Details:

The Tiny Home Village is a collaborative project between Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Indian Center and the City of Albuquerque and is located on the property of the Albuquerque Indian Center, 105 Texas St. SE 87108.  The mission of the Albuquerque Indian Center is “to empower the Albuquerque urban Native American Community and others through the provisions of wrap-around services designed to promote wellness, education, sustainability and tradition." https://abqindiancenter.org/

The Tiny Home Village is also located in the International District, the most culturally diverse area of Albuquerque. Central Avenue, part of the historic alignment of U.S. Route 66, runs through the center of the International District.

The goals for the Bernalillo County Tiny Home Village are:

• Provide dignified, safe, stable and attractive transitional housing for people currently experiencing homelessness.

• Incorporate housing, services and employment to stabilize residents and help them gain self-sustainability.

• Provide a safe space for those waiting for traditional affordable housing to become available.

• Add deliberate and supported community-building, self-development, and provide life and work skills.

• Provide support for employment.

Location/Context/History:

Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 674,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras and the 111,000 residents who live outside the village and city limits in the unincorporated areas of the county. (from https://www.bernco.gov)

In 2016 Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, Albuquerque City Councilor Diane Gibson and community members advocated for the planning and development of a tiny home village public housing concept to reduce homelessness in the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County metro area. They proposed that a tiny home village would provide stable housing to chronically homeless individuals while they take advantage of social services to help them on the way to self-sustainability. “There are no easy solutions in the matter of chronic homelessness,” says Commissioner Debbie O’Malley. “As a community, we have an obligation to address this important concern; a tiny home village is one creative solution and a step in that direction.”

The Tiny Home Village project will be the first of its kind in Bernalillo County. It will consist of 30 individual 120 square foot homes with heating and cooling. Each tiny home will have a bed, desk and storage space as well as electricity. The facility will also include common areas, a community garden, and other amenities.

For more information about the Tiny Home Village and similar projects, please see:

• https://www.bernco.gov/community-services/tiny-home-village.aspx

• www.mlf.org

• www.squareonevillages.org

About the Bernalillo County Arts Board: The Arts Board is guided by the following mission:  Public art has the power to inspire curiosity, encourage contemplation, facilitate dialogue, foster community engagement, and create a sense of place.  Located throughout the county, the Bernalillo County public art collection enhances quality of life through the acquisition of exceptional works of art by artists at various career stages.

 Project Intent/Theme:

The public art piece at the Tiny Home Village is intended to enhance the facility and impact the health and wellbeing of the residents and the broader community. Public art can positively affect community health in multiple ways. When public art is participatory and involves the community in the planning and creation of the art it can help build a shared cultural identify, reinforce a sense of self-efficacy, and increase positive health behaviors. (https://www.publichealthpost.org/research/public-art-as-public-health/)

The public art piece at the Tiny Home Village can have a positive impact on residents and the community by supporting hopeful expectations about the future, improving mood and relieving stress. Artists or artist teams should emphasize inspiring content that is sensitive to the Village’s population and surrounding community.

Artists and artist teams must have experience with community engagement and will include Tiny Home Village residents in the creation and installation of the work. Additionally, artists and artist teams will consider in their proposals: (1) the role of art to be empowering and integrated into community mobility and recognizing the value and voice of the Tiny Home Villagers and the broader community; (2) the sensory perceptual and social-emotional aspects of an artwork and how art may contribute to fostering the sense of belonging, safety, and ease; (3) how art can make a 'space' welcoming; (4) the fact that some artworks may cause overstimulation and be triggering for some Villagers; (5) that the art may serve an interactive role, wherein Villagers can experience themselves with the piece, and manipulate and spend time with the art.

Media/Style:

The call is open to all artists regardless of previous experience in public art. The artwork must be durable and sensitive to the population of the Villagers. Public safety is a concern. The artwork should not pose a threat of injury to any persons who may come in contact with the piece. The artwork will be located in the visitor parking area of the Tiny Home Village. A variety of media will be considered for the project including but not limited to sculpture and site-specific murals.

Project Funds:

$43,000 is available to commission the art from 1% for the Arts, from voter approved general obligation bonds. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, equipment, labor, permits, travel, installation, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.

Timeframe (subject to change): From the submissions, three finalists will be chosen by the Selection Committee to prepare their final designs and present to the Selection Committee and the community in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The finalists may or may not choose to present their designs in person.

• RFQ announced: June 2020

• Community engagement and proposal review: Summer 2020

• Three finalists announced: Fall 2020

• Final selection awarded: Fall 2020

• Planning and design: Fall 2020

• Installation: Fall-Winter of 2020

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Artists residing in New Mexico are invited to apply and must demonstrate:

• An understanding of Bernalillo County and its history and population

• Sensitivity towards the population of the Tiny Home Village

• Experience with community engagement

Artists or artist teams should submit from one (1) to five (5) digital images of the conceptual design. In addition, submit from two (2) to five (5) images of previous work. For digital image requirements please visit the “Image Prep” section at CaFÉ, (www.callforentry.org). Digital images should include the artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, date of creation, and if applicable, cost, in addition to any in-kind consideration.

For questions please contact: Public Art Project Coordinator, Community Services Division, kswanson@bernco.gov  

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria