CeMar Trail Gateway Bridge Art Design - Request for Qualifications

The City of Marion is seeking qualified artists or artistic teams to create a gateway feature for the CeMar Trail pedestrian bridge over Marion Boulevard. The artwork should be interesting to both vehicular traffic below and pedestrian traffic on the bridge, creating a unique project that draws people to Marion.

The newly constructed bridge will be approximately 16 feet wide, spanning 240 feet with supporting columns outside the sidewalks. The trail will be concrete, 10 feet wide with 2-foot unpaved shoulders. Any art or features must meet minimum clearance requirements for the roadway beneath and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Enhancement lighting is encouraged but should not flash or scroll. Cor-ten steel is not encouraged directly over the roadway due to anticipated weathering. Artwork may be interactive if not deemed an unreasonable distraction to vehicular traffic. If artwork requires its own footings, engineer-signed plans are the artist's responsibility.

The proposed budget for bridge demolition and reconstruction is $1.5 million. Additional separate funding will be allocated for the artist commission, materials, labor, and any additional engineering design work. A budget for the art has not yet been established, but projects over $150,000 may require additional grants. Submitting artists must be at least 18 years of age. Submissions should include a statement of interest, background information on the artist or team (no more than 2 pages), up to 10 images of previously completed artwork including at least 2 public art installations with project details, and contact information for three professional references. The selection schedule runs from February 15, 2019 (call launch) through May 9, 2019 (artist selection by City Council). See the full Request for Qualifications at https://tinyurl.com/CeMarBridgeRFQ.