Church Street Public Art Project

The Anderson Arts Center and the City of Anderson, South Carolina are requesting proposals from qualified artists to create a permanent public art installation for the Church Street Heritage Project. The project seeks appropriate physical element(s) and sculpture with an emphasis on outdoor public art display to be located in Church Street Park. The installation will commemorate the once thriving business community of black entrepreneurs located on Church Street in Downtown Anderson from circa 1900-1975, when it was a regional center for African American commerce, arts, and culture.

The goals of this project are to recreate the vibrancy and economic success of Church Street, inspire a new generation of leaders and entrepreneurs, attract visitors to Downtown Anderson, and commemorate the economic and cultural contributions of African American citizens to the community. Artists are asked to utilize the Trading Church Street documentary for historical reference and to design work that is generic rather than specific to an individual. The design should consider materials suitable for outdoor exposure and potential theft or vandalism, and include a method of installation and maintenance plan appropriate for these conditions.

Submissions must be completed through CaFÉ and include digital images (maximum 6), resume, statement of interest, overview of previous experience, list of comparable projects, project narrative with scale model or computer-generated design, itemized budget, project timeline, and maintenance plan. The total artist's fee is $75,000, which must cover all associated costs including design, materials, fabrication, travel, insurance, shipping, and installation. The project must be completed by September 30, 2017. This opportunity is open to professional artists with experience working on public art projects and creating site-specific works. Selection will be made by a panel including stakeholders, design professionals, city representatives, and arts community members, who will evaluate the merit of the artist's work, past experience completing projects on time and within budget, sensitivity to the site and surroundings, and ability to collaborate effectively within the project timeline.