DIA Urban Arts Project Phase II

The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Art in Public Places and the Downtown Investment Authority announce a Call to Artists for Phase II of the DIA Urban Arts Project. The call solicits artists who can address streetscape aesthetics with functional and interactive public art that serves to draw attention to an outdoor urban area utilized during both daytime and nighttime. Artists are encouraged to explore ways to integrate public art with technology and renewable sources of energy. This urban arts project is located near the St Johns River in an area that received significant environmental impact from Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Phase II is located within the entertainment district of downtown Jacksonville known as The Elbow at the entrance to downtown from the iconic Main Street Bridge. The area encompasses jogging and walking sidewalk paths used day and night, with a concentration of bars, music halls, restaurants, and the historic Florida Theatre. Artists or artist teams with a comprehensive vision to activate the site with innovative lighting techniques and inventive ecological ideas for public art are encouraged to apply. The four categories of public art include: vinyl wrapped traffic signal cabinets (5 locations), sculptural bicycle racks (10 bicycles), interactive environmental outdoor sculpture with lighting elements, and 2-D art with lighting, projection or luminescence. Individual artists or artist teams may apply to address multiple categories and media. For environmental sculpture and 2-D art, preference will be given to artwork that incorporates lighting or luminescent elements and/or projection or other electronic art. Artists may apply for more than one category and may be selected for more than one category.

The total budget for all categories combined is $104,718. A single artist or artist team addressing the entire site with a comprehensive environmental impact scheme would receive the full amount for design, fabrication and installation. The local electrical authority is partnering with the project to provide financial assistance and technical expertise with lighting. This is a national call open to experienced local, regional and national artists or artist teams. Artists must be of appropriate status and generally recognized by art professionals as artists of serious intent and recognized ability, and shall not be a member of the project architectural, engineering, or design team or of the Art in Public Places Committee, Art Selection Panel or the Cultural Council Board or their respective staffs. Submissions must include 4-8 images, 0-2 audio files, and 0-2 video files (12 samples maximum). Up to 5 applications are allowed per artist.