About the Facility

Casper College is one of Wyoming’s eight community colleges and is located in the central part of the state. Casper College has more than 140 academic transfer and technical and career programs. Located in Casper, Wyoming, the campus consists of 28 buildings on more than 200 acres. The grounds are distinctive, with terraces that surround the modern buildings. With a population around 58,000, Casper is the second largest city in Wyoming. For more information about Casper College, visit their website.

The new Visual Arts Building is a two story facility with studio and classroom space that supports instruction in painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, metalwork, woodwork, photography, welding, and museum studies. The Visual Arts Department manages the College’s permanent collection of 2D and 3D work. Work from the collection not on loan or on view on campus will be stored in the new facility. A climate controlled storage and exhibition prep space is adjacent to the gallery and includes a floor to ceiling window that allows students and visitors to see into the space. The new facility includes a two-story atrium in the lobby entrance that is directly across from the gallery. The Visual Arts Department rotates exhibitions monthly and includes a visiting artist program.

The Visual Arts Building is located at the northeast entrance to campus. It is designed with clean and simple materials in order to serve as a backdrop for the art being created and displayed. There is a lot of natural light and large windows to allow the outside in, to give students natural light and good views, and to allow those outside the ability to see in.

For images and a site plan with identified locations for artwork, visit the Arts Council website.

Artwork

The committee is interested in exterior, site specific work. There are several locations in the south plaza that could accommodate large sculptural work. Artists may consider one or more of these locations. Work in this area would be highly visible when approaching campus, and would be visible from inside the building from the second floor. There is also the possibility for work on the northeast corner of the site in front of the large metal paneling that surrounds the outdoor kiln yard.

The committee would like to see artwork that connects to the college and the Visual Art Department’s emphasis on teaching foundations, and/or offers a conceptual approach to the landscape, environment, and sense of place. The committee would like to see work that appreciates the clean and simple design approach of the building and utilizes it as a backdrop, work that is colorful and unique, and contemporary. The committee is not interested in representational work.

The committee is particularly interested in artists who are willing to work with students during the fabrication or installation processes, or be willing to provide public art talks or lectures.

All styles, genres, conceptual approaches, and mediums will be considered. All proposed artwork must be durable, structurally sound, secure, site appropriate, built to withstand the environment, and easy to maintain. Additional drawings, site plans, and information will be provided to the artists invited to submit complete proposals.

Casper College’s core values are: Integrity, People, Diversity, Forward Thinking, and Community. The committee encourages artists that reflect these values to apply.  Casper College is an equal opportunity institution and as such, does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its educational programs or activities.

Project Budget

The total project budget available for artwork is $51,750.00. The committee is primarily interested in commissioning work that is site specific, but will consider purchasing existing work if it fits with the scope of the project.

Timeline

The selection committee will review the submissions to this RFQ in December 2021. Following review, select artists will be invited in January 2022 to submit a complete formal design proposal, including a budget, timeline, and references. Proposal packets and budgets for finalists must include additional lighting needs, signage, foundation or other structural support (if needed), design fees, material costs, labor for fabrication and installation, and all necessary costs involving planning, completion, delivery, and installation of the project. It is the responsibility of the artist to budget accordingly.

If decided by the committee, in-person or video presentations may take place. There will be modest financial compensation for final design proposals and in-person presentations. Any other travel is the responsibility of the individual artist.

A decision will be made by February 2022. Substantial completion of the building is expected in July 2022 with occupancy by the fall 2022 semester. Installation of artwork is planned for August 2022. A specific timeline for development, production, and installation will be established upon selection of the finalist(s). This timeline is subject to adjustment.

The Committee

Artists’ submissions will be reviewed and final selections will be made by a committee appointed by the Wyoming Arts Council and the State of Wyoming. The committee for this project includes administrators, faculty, and staff of the college, artists, community members, architecture and construction project managers, and a Wyoming Arts Council board member.

Application Requirements

Submissions to the RFQ are due December 10, 2021 and must be submitted via CaFÉ. Artists are asked to submit the required documents and images to demonstrate their interest and expertise.

• In reviewing submitted RFQ materials, the committee will consider the following:
• The quality of the artist’s portfolio or previous work samples submitted
• The artist’s cover letter and how well it addresses this particular project
• The artist’s experience working with the public art process and demonstrated ability to work with the project architect and facility managers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and a minimum of 18 years of age.
• Applicant must demonstrate previous experience and expertise through a supporting portfolio submission (resume and images of current or previous work).
• Applicant must be willing to meet project deadlines.
• Applicant must be willing to travel for presentations if selected as a finalist.
• If selected for the project, applicant will sign a contract with the State of Wyoming.
• Final artwork becomes the property of the Wyoming State Museum. While artists retain copyright, the State of Wyoming will receive permission to use images of the artwork for state purposes such as publicity of Art in Public Buildings projects.