Call for Artists: Commissioned Public Art Piece - Sparks, NV

The City of Sparks Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) is seeking portfolios from artists or artist teams interested in designing and fabricating a large-scale public art piece to be installed in the Victorian Avenue Cultural District. The commissioned artwork will be a large-scale sculpture installed on an existing concrete pad adjacent to the public sidewalk in the heart of the downtown Arts and Cultural district. The pedestal is 20" tall with a circumference of 47' and is equipped with electricity and water access, though these utilities are not required for the design.

The $125,000 commission covers all services from design through final installation, including artist fee, fabrication, lighting, insurance, transportation, permitting, engineering, and installation. The artwork should create a gathering space in the downtown core and articulate the cultural identity of the City of Sparks. Three finalists will be selected by the selection committee and invited to present their design concepts in person or remotely. Finalists will receive a $1,000 stipend for proposal development. The final selection will be made by the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee and recommended for approval by City Council.

Applicants must be established professional artists currently living and working in the United States and at least 18 years of age. Artists with public art experience are preferred. Submissions should include 3-20 images and/or up to 6 videos of previous work, examples of work that have created community gathering spaces or articulated cultural identity, and a letter of interest addressing project approach and demonstrating understanding of the community's character. Timeline: Submissions due October 2, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT; three finalists selected October 2023; proposals developed October-December 2023; final selection December 2023; fabrication January-October 2024; installation October 2024. For questions, contact Raquel Monserrat at [email protected] or (775) 353-7856.