Request for Qualifications
City of Frisco Public Art Program
RFQ # 2102-053 Call to Artists
Library Public Art Project

Deadline: Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Budget: Finalist design concepts: $3,000 per artist; Decorative Guardrails and Handrails: $440,000; Lobby Ceiling Installation: $150,000

The City of Frisco Public Art Program is issuing this Request for Qualifications for a public art opportunity within the City. The City seeks qualifications from artists to be considered for the project described below. To be considered for this project, all applications must be submitted via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™).

Eligibility
This opportunity is open to all artists. The City of Frisco does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, national origin, or disability. Qualifications by City employees or their relatives, and members of the Artist Selection Committee or Public Art Board or their relatives will not be considered.

Qualifications must be submitted online by 4:00 p.m. CDT, Wednesday, March 31, 2021 to www.callforentry.org. Submissions must include:

• A cover letter describing your interest in the Library public art project and how it relates to your past work.
• Artist resume with current contact information.
• Artist statement serving as a general introduction to your work and working methods. 
• Three references with current contact information, including name, phone, email address and project scope.
• Images of Past Work – Submit images of past and/or existing work that are appropriate to the Public Works Expansion public art project. The first five images should be those most relevant to this Request for Qualifications keeping in mind the project budget.

Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.

Selection Process
There are 2 parts to this project:
1.  Decorative Guardrails and Handrails
2.  Lobby Ceiling Installation

The City of Frisco reserves the right to award both parts to the same artist, or to award them separately. Please specify in your cover letter if you are applying for a specific part of the project only. 

See the Frisco Public Library Art Package for building renderings and project details.

The Artist Selection Committee may include representatives of the Public Art Board, City of Frisco staff, artists, arts professionals, and community representatives that will review qualifications for the Library public art project. The Committee will evaluate qualifications based on:

• Demonstrated excellence of past work in conceptual, aesthetic and technical terms.
• Quality of professional qualifications and relevant experience.
• Stated interest and approach specific to this project.
• Ability to create a work of art that meets the project goals.

The Artist Selection Committee will identify finalists to create design concepts according to the Library Public Art Project Timeline included in this document. The committee will evaluate design concepts and award the commission based on:

• Relevance of the artwork to the library project and to residents and visitors of the City of Frisco.
• Originality of the proposed artwork.
• Artwork sustainability and long-term care needs.

The City of Frisco is not required to select from these submissions, if, in their opinion, qualifications are not appropriate or if the project does not come to fruition.

Budget
Finalist design concepts
$3,000 per artist or artist team

Finalist design concept budgets are all-inclusive, including, but not limited to, artist fee and subcontractor consultation.

Project budget
1.  Decorative Guardrails and Handrails: $440,000
2.  Lobby Ceiling Installation: $150,000

The Library public art project budget is all-inclusive, including, but not limited to, artist fee, fabrication costs, transportation, insurance, engineering services, permit fees, site prep, installation, and/or any other related expenses.

Questions
Questions related to this RFQ should be submitted to Stephen Ross via email to sross@friscotexas.gov, by 4:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, March19, 2021. Answers to all questions will be posted via addendum at friscotexas.bonfirehub.com.

About the Library Public Art Project
The Frisco Public Library has operated out of a 50,000 square foot space at the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center since 2006. As Frisco continues to grow rapidly, more space is needed to provide expanded programming and collection resources to residents. A building at Cotton Gin Road and the Dallas North Tollway has been identified for adaptive reuse.

The state-of-the-art space, with a progressive and modern library approach, is intended to become a destination for the community. Hundreds of thousands of visitors a year will socialize, study, participate in interactive programming and benefit from an impressive collection of resources.

The building design is inspired by the Texas Blackland Prairies that once covered more than 19,000 square miles from the Red River through Frisco, and as far south as San Antonio. The breezeway of a dogtrot house, common to the early days of Texas, provided designers with a solution for how to connect the collections side of the building to the community event space and lobby. The wooden panels on the exterior of the community event space and lobby side can be interpreted as a contemporary nod to a log cabin. Plants native to Blackland Prairies will be featured in the landscape design.

Artwork design for this project must be appropriate to a library of the moment and must integrate well with the building design. As this library will be a model for others to follow, the artwork should be innovative. Artists are encouraged to design imaginatively and create thought provoking art for learners of all ages. Artworks traditionally found in libraries such as realistic and/or sentimental depictions of readers or books are discouraged.

1. The goal of the Decorative Guardrails and Handrails is to provide a connective visual element from the lobby and main library floor up to the mezzanine. The guardrails and handrails will be in high touch areas of the Library. The artist should design a suitable tactile experience and choose materials that will not show significant wear over time. Incorporating stimulating or flashing lighting is discouraged. The design should not encourage climbing and must conform to parameters and codes listed in the Frisco Public Library Art Package. The artist will be required to work closely with the project designers, construction contractor and a fabricator identified by the City of Frisco to ensure the project fits harmoniously into the building design.  

Clarification (added 3/22/2021): The decorative guardrails and handrails shown in the project renderings included in the Frisco Public Library Art Package are for placeholder purposes only. The scope of this project includes design, fabrication and installation of the guardrails and handrails.

2. The goal of the Lobby Ceiling Installation will be to welcome visitors with an impressive visual statement and provide a connection from the lobby to the main library floor. The artwork will hang from the ceiling and can include lighting. The artwork must conform to parameters and codes listed in the Frisco Public Library Art Package. 
 
The Decorative Guardrails and Handrails and the Lobby Ceiling Installation should also:

• Be safe and hazard-free. The artist must consult with the building designers and a Texas-licensed engineer. A building permit will be required.
• Be made of low-maintenance, durable materials that are easy to clean and resistant to vandalism.  The Decorative Guardrails and Handrails must be designed to be cleaned with potentially harsh chemicals should vandalism occur. All materials must be approved by City of Frisco staff.
• Represent the site as described above.
• Be installed by August 2022

About Frisco Public Library
The Frisco Public Library strives to provide access to innovative programs and events for children and adults, as well as current books, movies, music, emerging technology, and a variety of services - from research assistance to programs and events for people of all ages. The Frisco Public Library mission is to inspire intellect, curiosity, and imagination!

You can learn more at https://friscolibrary.com/

About the City of Frisco
Originating as a small railroad and farming community in 1902, Frisco is now one of the most exciting places to live, work, play and grow in the north Texas area. Located 25 miles north of Dallas, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. In September 2018, Money Magazine announced that Frisco topped its list of the "Best 50 Places to Live in America.”

For more information about the City of Frisco, visit www.friscotexas.gov

The City of Frisco Public Art Program
The mission of the City of Frisco Public Art Program is to promote cultural, aesthetic, and economic vitality in Frisco, Texas by integrating the work of artists into public places, civic infrastructure and development of the community. The goals of the City of Frisco Public Art Program are:

• To further the development and awareness of, and interest in, the visual arts.
• To integrate the design work of artists into the development of Frisco’s capital infrastructure improvements.
• To create an enhanced, interactive visual environment for Frisco residents.
• To commemorate Frisco’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity
• To promote and encourage public and private art programs
• To promote tourism and economic vitality in Frisco through the artistic enhancement of public spaces.
• To increase attachment to place.
• Engage community partners to build support for public art.

Public Works Expansion Public Art Project Timeline*
Call Released:                                    Sunday, February 28, 2021

Question submission deadline:           Friday, March 19, 2021
sross@friscotexas.gov

Submission Deadline for RFQ:           Wednesday, March 31, 2021
(Application received)

Finalists notified by:                            Friday, April 23, 2021

Concept design by finalists:                April 23 - May 28, 2021

Concept presentations by finalists:    June 7 - 11, 2021

Artists notified by:                               Friday, June 25, 2021

Contract executed by:                        Friday, July 23, 2021

Installation complete deadline:           August 2022

 *dates are subject to change

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

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