Call for Public Art: Wayfinding, Ann Arbor, MI

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is seeking to commission an artist or artist team to design and install a wayfinding system connecting the Ann/Ashley Parking Structure to the Farmers Market in Ann Arbor, MI. The installation area will start at the parking structure, follow the south side of Miller Ave/Catherine St to 4th Ave, and continue to the Farmers Market. The DDA is open to proposals from different types of artists (including 3D-based artists, 2D-based artists, and designers) and desires a family-friendly, playful, and engaging work that visually connects pedestrians and cyclists throughout the entire path.

The budget for this commission is $150,000, inclusive of all costs including design fee, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and contingency. The installation area includes the parking structure (tower, facade, interior), sidewalk amenity zones, light poles, and potentially private buildings along the path. Artwork cannot be installed in bike lanes, on traffic poles, or in the 6 ft public right-of-way unless it is flat groundwork. All flat groundwork must be slip-resistant and able to withstand winter conditions. The DDA encourages visual-based artwork rather than text-based work. Designs may not include logos, trademarked materials, commercial imagery, sexual imagery, violence, religious or political content, or sacred imagery. All artwork must be original and fabricated from highly durable, low-maintenance materials.

Applications must include a written proposal statement with visual support, CV/resume, 3 references, artist bio, and 5-10 past work images (videos permitted). Eligibility is open to any artist or artist team residing in the United States, including those on a U.S. Visa who can legally work in the country. The selection process is two-stage: initial applications reviewed by a panel, with three semi-finalists selected to develop site-specific proposals and renderings. Semi-finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium. The submission deadline is October 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Semi-finalists will be selected in early December 2024, with interviews in early January 2025, finalist announcement in February 2025, and project completion in Summer 2025.