City of Bethel, Alaska: Y-K Region Aquatic and Safety Center, Call for Art

The City of Bethel, Alaska and the Bethel Community Services Foundation are requesting qualifications from professional artists for artwork to be commissioned for the new Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Aquatic Health and Safety Center in Bethel, Alaska. This RFQ is open to all professional artists residing in Alaska. Applicants must be visual artists; applications from architects, landscape architects, or other design professionals will not be considered unless included as part of an artist-led team. Artists must have photos of their work to apply.

The total art budget is $90,000-$140,000, divided to commission artworks across multiple locations: Main Hallway Walls ($30,000-$50,000), Lobby/Pool Wall ($50,000), Exterior Site ($30,000), and an optional Additional Residency ($10,000-$15,000). Artists selected to submit proposals must include all costs of design, engineering, fabrication, installation, artwork transportation, special handling fees, special lighting (if any), photographic documentation, liability and automobile insurance in their budgets. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and payment of prevailing wage rates, may apply.

Artwork should have a connection to the Bethel region and invoke healthy lifestyles. The Art Selection Committee is interested in commissioning artwork appealing to the diverse community and related to the facility's mission. Artwork must be permanent and designed to last the life of the building, with minimal maintenance requirements. Natural materials subject to fading or deterioration will not be given strong consideration. The Art Selection Committee will review applications and contact finalists prior to August 31, 2017. Art should be installed before September 30, 2018 or as soon as artwork is complete and installation can be coordinated with the project manager and YKRAHSC staff.

Applications must include a one-page letter of interest describing your approach to public art, connection to project themes, why your medium would work with the building, and pricing/budget range, plus ten digital images of past work created in the past 10 years. Applications are accepted online only through CaFÉ at callforentry.org. Deadline for entries: June 21, 2017 at 9:59 p.m. Alaska Time.