Evergreen Cemetery Association of Gainesville, Inc. and

City of Gainesville Art in Public Places Trust

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

EVERGREEN CEMETERY VETERANS MONUMENT

INTRODUCTION

Historic Evergreen Cemetery, the City of Gainesville’s municipal cemetery, is a 164 year-old, 56-acre historic landmark located in East Gainesville just off of Williston Road. Evergreen Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 1,000 Veterans from every conflict from the 2nd Seminole War to more recent conflicts in the Middle East. The Evergreen Cemetery Association of Gainesville, Inc. (ECAGI) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization whose role, among others, is to advise the City of Gainesville regarding the ongoing care of Evergreen and to raise money for special projects that enhance the Cemetery. The Gainesville Art in Places Trust (APPT) is a City Commission appointed advisory body that evaluates and selects public art for select City projects.

VETERANS MONUMENT AND VETERANS YARD

The Veterans Monument and Veterans Yard Project is an initiative of ECAGI with a mission to remember and recognize U.S. Veterans for their service and sacrifice by commissioning a monument within Evergreen Cemetery and to help with the infrastructure creation of a Veterans Yard dedicated to providing a tranquil final resting place for Veterans and their loved ones.

A serene site for the Veterans Monument and Veterans Yard has been selected, which will not only be a place of reflection, peace and tranquility, but also be a place of patriotic celebration. Evergreen Cemetery annually hosts ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to pay tribute to members of our armed forces and their families. These programs involve local Veterans groups and community members, including volunteers placing flags on the graves of known veterans throughout the cemetery.  When this project is completed, these special events and others will be held at this place of honor and remembrance.

Information about Historic Evergreen Cemetery and the project can be found at: www.thiswondrousplace.org

VETERANS MONUMENT REQUEST FOR ARTIST QUALIFICATIONS

ECAGI and APPT are issuing a Request for Artist Qualifications (RFQ) with the intent of selecting 3 or more artists to submit proposals to design and fabricate a monument to be the focal point of the new Veterans Monument and Veterans Yard area. The monument would be situated adjacent a majestic oak at the end of a block-long, rectangular yard reserved for the interment of United States Military Veterans. It is the intent of the plan to reserve an area between the monument and the yard where attendees to events can be seated, with the monument and oak behind it as a visual “backdrop.”

ECAGI and APPT are looking for artists or design firms who can design, fabricate and install the monument at the identified location in Evergreen Cemetery. The artist or design firm must have significant experience creating public art, outdoor sculpture or cemetery monuments and have created work that responds to themes fitting the profound nature of this project. Where the monument may be a freestanding piece, ECAGI and APPT are also open to a design concept that considers the surrounding environment and incorporates seating for event attendees.

Artists or design firms are asked to submit an artist’s statement, their resume, list of past projects and up to 9 representative images of previous work. A review panel made up of representatives of ECAGI and APPT will score the entries and 3 or more applicants will be chosen to submit proposals for the project. A fee of $500 will be provided for the proposal. The review panel will then meet with the finalist artists or design firms in an online session where the proposal can be presented. ECAGI and APPT will then review and select the artists or design firm to negotiate for the design, fabrication and installation of the monument. ECAGI and APPT reserves the right not to select a proposal to move forward with for any reason.

PROJECT BUDGET AND DETAILS

The privately funded project budget for the monument is $45,000 all inclusive. This includes design, fabrication, the project’s footing, base, plinth, transportation and the monument’s installation, as well as all associated costs.

The monument/sculpture should be created of material appropriate to an outdoor environment, must be of suitable construction that will last for decades with minimal maintenance and be appropriate for public viewing. Gainesville, Florida is hot and humid with intense sun and seasonal heavy rain in the summer and temperature can be in the teens in the winter. Problems with rust and fading should be avoided. Resistance to hurricane force winds is important. The exterior sites for the project will be well traversed and must be of materials that are vandal resistant. Projects must also consider the safety of pedestrians. Sustainable construction with minimal maintenance will be encouraged.

PROJECT TIMELINE

RFQ Publication Date: Mar. 18, 2021

RFQ Response Deadline: Apr. 18, 2021

Finalist Notification: May 6, 2021

Proposal Deadline: June 13, 2021

Award Notification: June 30, 2021

Monument Installation Complete: Oct. 27, 2021

Project Dedication: Nov. 11, 2021

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria