Call Detail
City of Seattle: Power and Sustainability Artist-in-Residence
Entry Deadline: 8/29/11
Application Closed
Work Sample Requirements Images:16

Call Type: Unspecified
Eligibility: Unspecified
State: Unspecified

INTRODUCTION The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Seattle City Light, the city’s power utility, will commission one artist to be an artist-in-residence. The artist will study the utility’s energy conservation programs and develop a series of projects to bring awareness to conservation in innovative ways. The artist will also implement a project illuminating City Light’s conservation and sustainability efforts at Seattle Center’s Next Fifty anniversary celebration in 2012. The artist will also develop project ideas related to other energy conservation initiatives – such as Community Power Works, an energy efficiency program targeting residents in central and southeast neighborhoods - for his or her execution, as well as by other artists. The call is open to all artists residing in the United States. SCOPE OF WORK Residency One artist will be commissioned to work “in residence” at Seattle City Light to study the utility’s energy conservation programs and develop a series of projects to bring awareness to energy conservation in innovative, forward-looking ways. The artist will be “in residence” for approximately one year starting fall 2011. During the first phase of the residency, the artist will spend approximately three months working half-time in an office at Seattle City Light. The artist will work with City Light staff and other City Light partner programs, such as the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment’s Community Power Works program and the Seattle Center to survey the functions and missions of the city’s work related to energy conservation. The artist’s study and research activities at City Light will inform a proposal or art plan that will summarize the residency and outline potential projects and opportunities for the artist and other artists to be implemented in the second phase. During the phase I residency the artist will be provided with work space and assigned Seattle City Light liaisons who will help the artist understand the work of the utility, arrange meetings and field trips to various facilities. The artist will be expected to participate in “meet the artist” activities, staff meetings, field visits, and one-on-one meetings with Seattle City Light and partner program staff. The artist may also wish to interview citizens, businesses or government departments participating in City Light energy conservation programs. The artist’s study and research activities will inform a final proposal or art plan that will summarize the residency and outline potential projects and opportunities that highlight energy conservation and bring awareness to city conservation programs. At mid-point of the first three-months of the residency period, the artist will present a progress report to the city indicating possible directions for collaborative projects related to City Light’s conservation programs to take place throughout Seattle. Upon completion of first three months, the artist will prepare and deliver a final report on his/her residency including a budget for the proposed projects. The artist’s proposal will be reviewed by City Light, Seattle Center and the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Art Projects Using the information gathered during the residency, the artist will develop multifaceted temporary art projects to bring awareness to energy conservation programs in Seattle. This second phase can include additional time spent “in residence” at Seattle City Light, but will also include active project development. The artist will be asked to focus on two projects: One project, which the artist-in-residence will produce, will be hosted at Seattle Center from April to May 2012 as part of the Seattle Center’s “Next Fifty” 50th anniversary celebration, with the theme “Sustainable Futures.” Events and activities at Seattle Center during this period will focus on interactive projects designed to educate and inspire people to incorporate sustainability into their lives. The artist will develop an artwork at Seattle Center by April 21, 2012. The artist will also develop associated art activities - one for him or herself and others for additional artists - in service areas identified by City Light or partner programs. For example, the Office of Sustainability and Environment’s Community Power Works Program is a neighborhood-based building-upgrade program that will achieve deep energy savings and create “green” jobs. The program serves the central and southeast neighborhoods of Seattle and will provide opportunities for a broad range of artist-initiated activities focusing on conservation. BACKGROUND The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs has, over the years, placed artists “in residence” in various city departments as a way to better integrate artworks in infrastructure development and to illuminate the work of each department. In all residencies, artists build the positive working relationships with other departments that are essential to the city’s commitment to creating meaningful public art projects. The city of Seattle remains committed to sustainable practices, clean and green energy and conservation efforts to steward our resources into the future. In this residency, the artist will be working at Seattle City Light, developing projects for City Light that will be produced in various parts of the city. City Light’s vision, mission and values are clear: Seattle City Light is a publicly owned utility dedicated to exceeding our customers' expectations in producing and delivering low cost, reliable power in an environmentally responsible and safe way. We are committed to delivering the best customer service experience of any utility in the nation. Created by the citizens of Seattle in 1902, Seattle City Light delivered its first electricity to customers in 1905. Seattle City Light continues to provide affordable, reliable, environmentally sound electric power to Seattle and neighboring suburbs. We are a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. For more information about Seattle Center’s “Next Fifty” celebration, please see: The Next 50 For more information about the Office of Sustainability and Environment, please see: Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment For more information about Community Power Works, please see: Community Power Works ELIGIBILITY This call is open to individual artists residing in the United States. The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs 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 artist will receive $15,000 for phase I, the initial three months of the residency. Additional funding will be available for artwork project development and continuation of the residency for approximately nine months in phase II. Approximately $140,000 is available for implementation of artwork projects by both the artist-in-residence and other artists in phase II. All project fees are all inclusive of travel expenses, taxes and other project costs. Current Washington state sales/use tax rates apply to all artist contracts issued during the project, regardless of where the artist resides. As of July 1, 2010, the sales/use tax rate is 9.5 percent. APPLICATION DEADLINE 11pm (Pacific Daylight Time), Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Applications must include:
  • Letter of interest (not to exceed 2,000 characters). Please read the prompt in CaFÉ before uploading your letter of interest.
  • Résumé
  • Three references
  • Up to 16 images
  • Image Identification List (not to exceed 500 characters for each image. Do not omit the Image Identification List or your application will be incomplete.
  • SELECTION CRITERIA The artist will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
  • A proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with project managers, design professionals and community stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to think conceptually and innovatively.
  • Quality of concept, design and craftsmanship of past works.
  • The ability to produce innovative permanent and/or temporary art projects.
  • 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 community members will review the applicants’ images, qualifications and other materials. The panelists will identify up to four finalists to interview at a second panel meeting two to three weeks later. The panel will select one artist to be awarded the residency commission. The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs 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 e-mail by end of October 2011. The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs reserves the right not to select any of the applicants. WE’RE HERE TO HELP Please contact Ruri Yampolsky, Public Art Project Manager, at (206) 684.7309 or ruri.yampolsky@seattle.gov For assistance with the CaFE online application process, contact CaFE tech support at (888) 562-7232 or cafe@westaf.org, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

    Application Requirements

    Eligibility Criteria