Art in Public Buildings RFQ: Northwest College Student Center

Northwest College, located 70 miles from Yellowstone National Park in Powell, Wyoming, is seeking artists for a public art commission in its new Student Center. The facility will replace the current building constructed in the 1960s and will serve primarily students, staff, and faculty, with a community center for public events. The building features a two-story great hall with a floor-to-ceiling, double-sided fireplace and an adjacent two-story wooden wall. The committee is interested in commissioning work integrated into either the fireplace or the wall, with particular interest in a wrap of the lower fireplace structure and mantel or another type of proposed finish. Proposed artwork should not conflict with the building's natural materials (dark metals, exposed structure, concrete, natural woods, exposed wood trusses) and should maintain the light, open, welcoming feel of the facility. Artists will not be able to change the shape, structure, or size of the fireplace or wall.

The total project budget available for artwork is $90,000.00. Selected finalists will be invited in January 2023 to submit a complete formal design proposal, including budget, timeline, and references. Proposal packets must include additional lighting needs, signage, foundation or structural support if needed, design fees, material costs, labor for fabrication and installation, and all necessary costs for planning, completion, delivery, and installation. Substantial completion of the building is expected in mid-2024 with occupancy by fall 2024. A specific timeline for fabrication and installation will be established upon selection of the finalist(s).

This is a regional call open to artists in western continental states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Wyoming artists will be given preference. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents, minimum 18 years of age, demonstrate previous experience through portfolio submission, be willing to meet project deadlines, work closely with project managers, and travel for presentations if selected as a finalist. Final artwork becomes the property of the Wyoming State Museum; artists retain copyright while the State of Wyoming receives permission to use images for publicity purposes.