Benton Crossing Residences Permanent Outdoor Wall Installation

One Columbia for Arts and Culture and Benton Crossing Limited Partnership are seeking an artist for a permanent outdoor wall installation on the exterior of a parking garage at a residential apartment building in Columbia, SC. The project consists of seven side-by-side installations with the following dimensions: five panels at 7'8"H x 7'4"W and two panels at 7'8"H x 5'4"W. Artwork must cover the entire designated area and be permanently installed by the artist or their agent to the MDO (medium-density overlay) substrate. Artists with experience in polytab (parachute cloth), aluminum composite panels, glass panels, mosaic on board, mural on board, or screening are encouraged to apply. Creative installations and alternative materials are welcome, but artwork cannot be painted directly on the building surface.

The artwork must withstand high traffic, public environments and adverse South Carolina weather conditions including high UV exposure, humidity, and temperatures. Materials must be UV and graffiti resistant, able to withstand cleaning and routine maintenance. The selected artist will receive $15,000 to cover design, transportation, lodging, materials, equipment, labor, installation, insurance, and other associated costs. Payment will be made half upon contract execution and half upon satisfactory completion. Three artists will be shortlisted and each will receive $250 for conceptual designs. The artwork should be meaningful to residents, engaging to visitors, and reflective of the spirit of the Cottontown, Elmwood Park, and Earlewood neighborhoods, keeping with the local aesthetic of historic architecture and tree-lined streets.

Eligibility: Open to professional visual artists or artist teams (up to five members) living or working in the Southeastern United States (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia). Preference given to South Carolina-based artists. Must be a US citizen or authorized to work in the United States and have experience creating public art. Artists with more than three permanent artworks in Columbia's public art collection are not eligible. Application deadline: July 13, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Shortlist notification by July 28, 2023. Conceptual designs due August 18, 2023. Presentations August 21 – September 1, 2023. Final selection notification by September 8, 2023. Installation anticipated for Spring 2024.