Alaska State Council on the Arts: Mat-Su Day School and Valley Pathways School

The Alaska State Council on the Arts on behalf of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District requests qualifications from Alaska artists for new interior and exterior art at two new schools: Mat-Su Day School and Valley Pathways School, both in Wasilla, Alaska. This RFQ is open to all professional artists residing in Alaska. Applications are accepted online only through CaFÉ.

Mat-Su Day School will be a 21,500 square foot special education school at 3901 E. Bogard Rd, Wasilla, serving approximately 100 students from kindergarten through twelfth grades. Valley Pathways School will be a 47,792 square foot special mission school at 1150 N. France Road, Palmer, serving approximately 200 students from grades 9-12. The total budget for art is $97,132 for Mat-Su Day School and $178,691 for Valley Pathways School. Selected artists will be responsible for all costs related to the project including design, fabrication, insurance, shipping, travel, installation, documentation, and other associated work. The installed artwork must be permanent and designed to last the life of the building. Artwork of all media will be considered. Viewers may touch artwork if installed in accessible locations, so artwork within reach must endure substantial public use.

Artists are required to submit: a one-page letter of interest describing your approach to public art, connection to project themes, and how your work would suit the building and community; 10 digital images of past work created in the past 10-15 years; a resume no more than two pages; and names, titles, and phone numbers for three professional references. Selection criteria include quality, appropriateness, and originality of past work; technical appropriateness to building materials; durability and maintenance requirements; and ability to complete work on time and within budget while coordinating with the construction timeline and design team. The Mat-Su Day School project is scheduled for construction between June 2013 and August 2014.