Central Plaza - Signature Sculpture

Marion, Iowa is seeking artists to create a signature sculpture for the Central Plaza, a new public gathering space in Uptown Marion. The sculpture will be located in the northeast corner of the plaza near 7th Avenue and a newly constructed pedestrian crosswalk, with a 360° view and a base area of approximately 12' in diameter.

The Central Plaza will serve as a destination for outdoor day-to-day use and special events, featuring live performance areas, public seating, water features, interactive sculptural play equipment, an ice-skating loop, and festival lighting. Artists are encouraged to create work that creates a sense of place while considering themes of nature/growth or people, is interactive or playful in character, or connects to the surrounding environment. The sculpture may cantilever beyond the identified perimeter, but a minimum height of 8' from grade is required for any part extending beyond the 12' diameter area. Lighting is permitted but should not flash or scroll. The artwork must be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance material suitable for permanent outdoor display and Iowa weather conditions.

The allocated budget is $60,000 for artist commission, materials, footings if required, labor, and engineered structural plans. Three to five finalists will be selected and receive a stipend to create detailed proposals. Finalists will be interviewed virtually, and the final selection will be presented to the Mayor and City Council. Applicants must be at least 18 years old with previous experience creating sculpture for outdoor installations. Submissions must include a statement of interest, background information (no more than 2 pages), up to six images of previously completed work (at least two public art installations), and three professional references. The deadline for initial submissions is April 15, 2024.