Albany County Courthouse North Entrance Public Art Commission

Albany County is commissioning a statement work of public art for the North Entrance of the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming. The courthouse, designed in 1931 and completed in 1932, is undergoing renovations to improve ADA accessibility, upgrade building security, and correct structural problems. The new entrance will feature a high-ceilinged, well-lit interior space suitable for incorporating artwork. Work may be 2D or 3D, with installation opportunities including floor and wall space. An 18 in. x 24 in. bronze plaque acknowledging the Downey family will occupy one interior wall. The artwork should reflect some aspect of Albany County, such as its history, people, geography, and lifestyle, and should engage viewers, encourage interaction, and generate civic pride.

The budget for this project is $44,000, inclusive of all expenses including artist fees, travel, fabrication, installation, insurance, and maintenance contingency. The call is open to all artists age 18 and over, with preference given to Wyoming residents. A Selection Committee will evaluate submissions based on artistic merit, artist history of completing large-scale work, and interest in the prompt. Three finalists will be selected to prepare proposals and will each receive a $500 stipend plus covered travel expenses. Finalists will tour the space, meet with community constituents, and present proposals in person to the Selection Committee and Board of Commissioners. One artist or artist team will be selected for the final commission.

Submissions must include a letter of interest (one page/500 words), CV/resume (2 page limit), three professional references, 2-5 digital images of completed artwork, and up to 3 video or audio files. A media script with short descriptions of each artwork (200 words per artwork) must be included, detailing project budget, team members, materials, and location. Applications are accepted online only. The submission deadline is March 1, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Finalists will be notified by April 8, 2021, with interviews and presentations scheduled for June 21, 2021. The selected artist(s) will be announced by July 6, 2021, with artwork installation by March 30, 2022.