City of San Jose Kit of Parts Roster 2008

The City of San José Public Art Program is inviting artists from Santa Clara County to apply for a Kit of Parts Roster. This roster will be used to select artists for a range of artist-designed amenities commissioned by private housing developers and public agencies. The program is intended for artists working in all media and is particularly appropriate for artists new to the public art field, as projects tend to have smaller budgets and scopes of work. Examples include two-dimensional designs that could be cut into steel surfaces or translated into tile mosaics, as well as three-dimensional designs for objects such as door handles and architectural appliqués.

The "Parts" projects that artists will design include functional elements for buildings, streetscapes, parks and trails such as benches, fences, bike racks, and interpretive signage. Selected artists will be placed on a roster for both developers and public agencies to access when creating these types of functional elements. Accepted applicants are required to attend the Kit of Parts Artist Training Workshop on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The workshop will focus on teaching artists about the opportunities of the San Jose Public Art Program, with presentations from local artists, fabricators, project administrators, and housing developers. Participants will gain knowledge about general specifications for elements, how to create designs that can be readily translated into fabricated parts, and how to work with housing developers and public agencies.

Artist eligibility: Artists who live and/or work in Santa Clara County and are U.S. residents or have a US Social Security or Tax Identification Number by the application deadline. Applications must be submitted online via CaFÉ. Each application must include a one-page cover letter (2000 character maximum), five images with an image list that includes title, date of completion, dimensions, medium, and budget information if applicable, and a professional resume of no more than two pages (4000 character maximum). There is no application fee. A panel comprised of developers, fabricators, artists and arts professionals will review applications, with final selections approved by the San Jose Public Art Committee. Notice of acceptance will be sent the week of October 27, 2008.