Clearwater Gas System Utility Complex
777 Maple Street
Clearwater, FL 33755

Public Art Opportunity
$100,000

Project Description
The Clearwater Public Art & Design Program seeks an artist or artist team to develop artwork for the Clearwater Gas System (CGS) Utility Complex redevelopment. The complex is located north of Downtown Clearwater and serves as the main headquarters for the utility.  CGS is owned and operated by the City of Clearwater since 1923 and serves approximately 27,500 customers in 20 municipalities and unincorporated areas in Pinellas and Pasco counties. The new Utility Complex consists of seven new buildings with 57,000 square feet of space and replaced the utility’s former campus that was built 50 years ago.

Artwork possibilities include, but not limited to:
- Mosaic
- Mural

Eligibility
This opportunity is open to professional artists residing in the United States and working in any site appropriate media.

City Background
The city of Clearwater is a vibrant coastal community of approximately 115,500 citizens located on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Clearwater is a progressive city that is committed to enhancing residents’ lives while preserving a heritage that is rich in culture and exquisite in landscape. Located approximately 30 minutes from both Tampa and St. Petersburg, Clearwater enjoys immediate access to natural amenities such as the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, and cultural offerings from a variety of museums, galleries, concert venues and theaters.

Site (Site Elevation Plan)
The west façades of buildings 3, 4, and 8 front the Pinellas Trail, a rail trail that stretches the entirety of Pinellas County, from Tarpon Springs in the north to St. Petersburg in the south. The trail is heavily utilized as a leisure and exercise corridor. Altogether, the three buildings have over 3,500 square-feet of eligible surface for a public art installation of a mosaic or mural.

For specific site information, please contact christopher.hubbard@myclearwater.com.

Budget
$100,000 has been approved for artwork. The selected artist, or artist team, will be awarded a comprehensive contract. The artist will be responsible for artwork design, fabrication, materials, installation, insurance, travel, public presentations, meetings with city of Clearwater staff as necessary, identification plaque, and all related incidental expenses.

Selection Process
A selection panel consisting of a Public Art & Design Board representative, Clearwater Gas representative, arts professionals, and community representatives will review artists’ qualifications. Several artists will be selected to provide proposals and each artist will be paid a stipend of $1,000 for their proposal. Final artist selection will take place after review of the artist proposals. The Cultural Affairs Coordinator serves as the non-voting administrator of the selection panel.

The Clearwater Public Art & Design Program and City of Clearwater reserve the right to reject any or all applications, proposals, applications, or projects, and to modify or terminate the application process or the selection process for any reason and without prior notice.

Selection Criteria
Artists will be evaluated on artistic excellence as evidenced by submitted materials; professional experience; compatibility with the architectural design, facility environment and values of the City of Clearwater and the Clearwater Gas System.

Submittal Requirements
- Experience with public art projects with a similar budget and scope is not required, but helpful

- Professional resume (artist teams must submit resumes for each member)

- Letter of interest, outlining your interest in the project and a preliminary statement of approach

- A minimum of three (3) images is required with a maximum of six (6). Images of finished works or conceptual drawings can be submitted. Wherever possible, provide images of completed project to assure the selection panel of your ability to realize a public art project that will be completed and installed as designed.

Timeline
- Release of Call to Artists: Friday, August 28, 2020
- Submittals due: Tuesday, September 29, 2020
- Panel review: Thursday, October 8, 2020
- Selected finalists notified: Friday, October 9, 2020
- Final proposals due: Monday, November 9, 2020
- Artwork installation: January – March 2021

Contact
For further information, contact Christopher Hubbard, Cultural Affairs Coordinator. christopher.hubbard@myclearwater.com. (727) 562-4067.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria