Alameda County Arts Commission: Ashland Youth Center Small-Scale Artwork Commission Program

The Alameda County Arts Commission invites professional artists to submit qualifications for the Small-Scale Artwork Commission Program, administered with "Percent for Art" funds from County of Alameda capital projects. Four artists will be commissioned to produce a new series of two-dimensional or low-relief, wall-mounted artwork for the Ashland Youth Center (AYC), a new construction project located at East 14th Street at 163rd Avenue in unincorporated Ashland. The facility will serve youth ages 11-24 and is scheduled to open to the public in late 2012.

Artists must be making youth-focused artwork, interested in youth empowerment and working with diverse communities, and creating work that contributes to safe, supportive, and healing environments. Eligible artists must live, be permanently employed, or rent/own an artist's studio in Alameda County and maintain this status throughout the project duration. Alameda County employees are not eligible. Artists who have received contracts for other public art projects at the Ashland Youth Center are ineligible. The total budget is approximately $16,000, with two emerging artists commissioned to create series of artworks (up to 4 each) valued at approximately $3,000, and two mid-career artists commissioned at approximately $4,800 each. Commissioned artwork will be displayed on walls between 11" H x 11" W and 50" H x 50" W, may not exceed 2" in depth, and may not exceed 25 lbs in weight.

Applications must be submitted online through CaFÉ™ and include: a letter of interest (5,000 character maximum), ten images of past work created within the last five years, an annotated image list with artwork details, a current résumé (maximum four pages), names and contact information for three professional references, and selection of artist category (emerging or mid-career). There is no application fee. Selected artists may have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with local youth, though this is not required. The Arts Commission staff will work with selected artists to determine the number of artworks, dimensions, and contract value based on the artist's proposal and past sales.