Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library Plaza Installation

The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library is seeking artists to create a monumental public art installation for a new plaza at the Main Library located at 800 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. This is part of the Library's decade-long Building the Next Generation Library renovation initiative. The art installation will serve as a unique and iconic work on the public plaza that invites interaction and delight from audiences of all ages.

Successful artwork should be welcoming, inclusive, intriguing, and engaging to individuals of all abilities, speaking to "Minds of All Kinds." Color and light are critical elements that should draw attention while softening the built environment. Artists should consider the history of the architecture and artistically communicate "nodding to the past while looking to the future." The piece should be equally engaging and magical for Library visitors by day and by night, with particular importance placed on nighttime illumination. The artwork should exist in the plaza space without overly impeding sightlines or obstructing views to the Library entrance, and should not be climbable. The piece must be durable, easy to maintain, and made from materials suitable for a permanent public art installation.

The selected artist or artist team will receive a design fee of $1,500 for Phase 2 proposal development. The total budget for artwork completion is $215,000, covering design, materials, labor, fabrication, shipping, and installation. The artist/team will be integrated into the Library's renovation design team and work closely with partner designers and architects. Community engagement sessions will be conducted, and the selected artist should demonstrate willingness to incorporate community and partner committee feedback during design development. Phase 1 (RFQ) closes September 28, 2021. Three artists will be selected to advance to Phase 2 (RFP) by November 21, 2021, with proposals due December 10, 2021. Fabrication and production are scheduled for March-December 2022, with installation in April-May 2023.