Call for Artists: Rhode Island College Craig-Lee Building Public Art Commission

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts seeks artists for a public art commission at Rhode Island College's Craig-Lee Hall, located at 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. This call is open to artists from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, and Maine. Undergraduate students are not eligible. The project budget is $100,000 all inclusive.

Artwork will be commissioned through Rhode Island's Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to public art. Craig-Lee Hall, built in 1958 and renovated in 2019, houses six departments and serves as a central campus location with 39 classrooms and communal spaces. Potential artwork locations include the first floor commuter lounge, gardens and plaza areas adjacent to the west and south sides of the building, or the south-facing exterior wall. Artwork might reflect themes of empowerment, transformation, inclusion, and opportunity; be thought-provoking; celebrate RIC's diversity; or create a welcoming atmosphere and sense of community.

Initial submissions must include six images of work completed within the past ten years and a written statement describing the applicant's interest in the project and anticipated interaction with the student body. Three finalists will be selected and invited to visit the site and develop a detailed proposal with budget, models/renderings, and project description. Each finalist will receive a $2,500 stipend to cover all travel expenses. As a required component of the commission, selected artists must define how they will make their creative process visible to the RIC community through student and alumni engagement. Application deadline: April 15, 2024. There is no charge to apply or submit digital images.