LOCATION:                                      Coral Springs’ ArtWalk, NW 31st Court

DUE DATE OF APPLICATION:       December 22, 2020

TOTAL BUDGET:                            Existing Budget of $100,000; Budget for Selected Artist of $97,000

DESCRIPTION:                                The City of Coral Springs Public Art Program is requesting artist proposals and qualifications for a commissioned interactive sculpture significant in size for the ArtWalk on NW 31st Court. The artwork must be interactive, intergenerational family-oriented, iconic, and provide photo opportunities.  

Public Art Project Description

As part of Coral Springs’ dedication to the arts, the Public Art Committee is looking to commission an artist/artist team to create an interactive sculpture for the NW 31st Court ArtWalk. This sculpture should be significant in size and able to hold its own. It must have interactive aspects that involve the spectator. An interactive sculpture is a sculpture that encourages the observer to “walk” in, on and around them or have the spectator become part of the artwork itself. Kinetic sculptures are not welcome. There is a vertical minimum height of ten (10) feet. The artwork should have a dramatic aspect to it. The area provided for the pad is 10 ft. in diameter and plumbed for electric. Pad will be raised and sloped on the sides 6 inches and will be ADA accessible. The selected artist is responsible for the engineering design of the pad.

This Request for Proposals is emphasizing the City of Coral Springs’ desire to commission and purchase an artwork that is intergenerational and family-oriented community. The artwork should also be welcoming, iconic, and create photo opportunities for visitors.

The artwork should be durable and require minimal ongoing maintenance. South Florida has a sub-tropical climate and is hot and humid with an intense sun and seasonal heavy rains. Problems with rust and fading should be avoided. Resistance to high-speed winds is required. The artwork must be self-supporting on an open landscape or hardscape and be large in scale. Artwork should meet the Florida Building Code and Hurricane Resistant Requirements.        

Description of ArtWalk

The Downtown ArtWalk was designed as a “Unique” walkable connection from the planned Downtown Core Area to adjacent quadrants. The Artwalk is approximately 1,300 linear feet running along the north side of NW 31 Court and provides the community the ability to safely walk back and forth between the Downtown Core Area and The Walk. Currently, there are five permanent sculptures located on the ArtWalk. The ArtWalk is utilized both day and night as the area is home to several special events, including a Farmers' Market and Sunset Yoga.

For more information on the ArtWalk, visit https://www.coralsprings.org/doing-business/community-redevelopment-agency-downtown-coral-springs/downtown-recent-projects/artwalk.

The artwork will be located on the east side of NW 95th Avenue and NW 31st Court. Link to ArtWalk images and future sculpture location images: https://www.coralsprings.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=18347

Artist Selection Process & Application Requirements:

Artists are to submit their applications through CaFé.

There will be two rounds of the selection process for this Call. The Jury will shortlist the top three artists. These artists will be given an honorarium of $1,000. 

Artists submitting must submit the following information:

General Approach Statement: This statement should be a discussion in detail concerning the proposed design for this project.

Proposed Design Sketch: This is a quick sketch idea of the proposed design.

Resume.

Examples of past work: Provide examples of past works that have a similar budget. Minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 examples. 

Step 2. Shortlisted Artists:

The shortlisted artists will be paid an honorarium of $1,000.00 and are required to submit the following:

1.      Detailed Design of proposed artwork.

2.      3D Model or 3D Digital Model of proposed artwork. Model must include a scaled plan of the proposed location and a plan, CAD drawings and dimensioned elevations of the concept. Model must also include perspectives of the concept, information regarding materials, weights, colors and any other relevant details.

3.      Site Plan.  Plan must include perspective drawing between artwork and sidewalk or other public space, and show all design features to create a space with foreground and backdrop for artwork.  Site plan shall also show pedestrian access to the artwork and how to hide light fixtures shining on artwork from public view.

4.      A budget will also need to be provided. An itemized project budget worksheet must accompany all proposals.

Proposals will not be returned. 3D models of non-selected artwork may be returned at the artists’ expense. 

Anticipated Art Project Schedule

• Call Posted:                                           October 27, 2020

• Artist Applications Due:                         December 22, 2020  

• 3 Shortlisted Artists Selected:               January 11, 2021

• Shortlisted Artists’ Designs Due:           February 1, 2021

• Final Artist Selected:                             February 8, 2021

• City Commission Approval:                  March 2021

• Artwork Fabrication Begins:                  March/April 2021

• Artwork Installation Completed:            6 months after Agreement is fully executed

Artwork Purchase Budget

The selected artist’s established budget for the project is $97,000.  The price will include all taxes, fees, labor, transportation and installation costs. Within the fee, the artist will make recommendations to the city regarding the design of the permanent site and present a public lecture regarding public art.  The Public Art Committee will supply the pad and exterior lighting.

Application Process & Selection Committee

The application process is managed by the City of Coral Springs. The Coral Springs Public Art Committee serves as the selection committee and makes a recommendation of approval to the City Commission. The City Commission makes the final selection approval.

Artist Eligibility

This is a national Request for qualifications. The project is open to any professional visual artist with experience implementing their ideas and work in the public realm. Artist or Professional Artist means a practitioner in the visual arts, generally recognized by critics and peers as a professional of serious intent and ability. Indications of a person’s status as a professional artist include, but are not limited to, income realized through the sole commission of artwork, frequent or consistent art exhibitions, placement of artwork in public institutions or museums, receipt of honors and awards, and training in the arts.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals 

All artists must meet the guidelines of the program.

1. Artistic merit of concept.

2. Style and Appropriateness: Artwork should demonstrate that it is compatible in relationship to the landscape and Coral Springs Community.

3. Technical Considerations and Feasibility: Including the artist’s artistic history and experience in completing public art projects within the timeline and budget, as well as the sustainability of the project.

4. Safety and Maintenance: Artwork should be durable, meet the requirements of insurance policies and be resistant to theft and or vandalism. Materials should require minimal periodic maintenance and be readily available if conservation or restoration is necessary. Artwork should meet the Florida Building Code and Hurricane Resistant Requirements.

5. Diversity: Reflects the overall project goal to strive for diversity in style, scale, media and artists working in traditional and contemporary art forms.

Questions:

Contact: Laura Atria

Phone: (954) 344-1162 or (954) 344-1114

E-mail: latria@coralsprings.org

Website for Public Art Program: www.coralsprings.org/publicart

Website for City of Coral Springs: www.coralsprings.org

Other Selection Issues

1. Florida “Sunshine Laws”: All meetings of the Committee are open to the public, are publicly advertised and are documented through written minutes.

2. Conflict of Interests: Artists with immediate family or business partners on the selection committee are not eligible to apply. A selection committee member may choose to withdraw from discussion and voting for any apparent conflict of interest.

3. Public Art Committee Contacts: Artist applicants should not contact Public Art Committee members between the release of the Call to Artists and the completion of the selection process. Contact the City of Coral Springs for all questions and information.

Coral Springs, Florida

Coral Springs, Florida is located in Broward County in Southeast Florida, approximately 20 miles northwest of Ft. Lauderdale and 10 miles southwest of Boca Raton. Coral Springs was founded in 1963 as “the city in the country.” Today, approximately 123,000 people live in the 24 square miles of suburban Broward County. The community can be generally described as young, family oriented residents with emphasis on education. For more historic information see: http://www.coralsprings.org/history/index.cfm

Coral Springs is 30 minutes away from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and less than 60 minutes from Miami (MIA) and West Palm Beach (PBI) airports. To visit the Sample Road or ArtWalk site, use the Sample Road exit on any of the three major highways: I-95, Florida’s Turnpike or Sawgrass Expressway (State Highway 869). Travel east from the Sawgrass and west from I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike.

The locations for the artwork to be placed on Sample Rd. are between University Drive and Coral Springs Drive on the north and south sides. The ArtWalk is located along the north side of NW 31st Court, two blocks south of Sample Road between University Drive and Coral Hills Drive.

Coral Springs Public Art Program

The program was established in 2003 and is funded by public art impact fees from private developers. No tax dollars are used to purchase public art or fund this program. Please review all artwork the City has purchased online and learn about the city at www.coralsprings.org/publicart and remember this Call to Artists is emphasizing the City of Coral Springs’ desire to display something that represents its young, family-oriented community. 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria