Clinch Park Tunnel Art Exhibition

The Traverse City Arts Commission is seeking to commission a new work of art for the Clinch Park Tunnel, a pedestrian tunnel located under Grandview Parkway at the intersection of Cass Street in downtown Traverse City. The tunnel provides a safe pedestrian connection between downtown and the waterfront, providing access to over 300,000 people annually. The mural will be unveiled in a public ceremony in Summer 2019 and will exhibit for a minimum of 3 years and maximum of 5 years, ultimately becoming part of the exhibition's permanent collection.

The Clinch Park Tunnel Art Exhibition is a collaborative project with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The artwork will be reflective of the history and culture of the Grand Traverse Band and the Woodland Indians of the Great Lakes. The project will include two murals totaling 589 square feet—one nine-panel mural on the east tunnel wall and one ten-panel mural on the west wall, with each panel measuring 47" x 95". The mural art will be printed on vinyl and adhered to 6MM Alupanel, mounted to the concrete wall using stainless steel standoffs. The Arts Commission will cover all costs including design, permitting, mounting, printing, and installation. The project also includes proposed lighting enhancements and the opportunity for audio and choreographed sound art.

The project is open to all qualified artists age 18 and over. Artists who understand the history and culture of the Anishinaabek and Woodland Indians of the Great Lakes are encouraged to apply. Teams of artists are welcome. Work sample requirements: 10-16 images, 0-1 audio file, 0-3 videos, for a total of 10-20 samples. The selected artist must carry Liability Insurance in the amount of $2,000,000 per incident during production, with the City of Traverse City named as additional insured. Copyright remains with the artist, while title and ownership of the artwork passes to the City of Traverse City upon acceptance and payment. The City retains the right to reproduce the artwork in any form with artist credit and copyright notice.