Eastern New Mexico University – Ruidoso Branch Community College Public Art Commission

Eastern New Mexico University – Ruidoso Branch Community College is seeking an artist to create a public artwork for the campus. The overarching mission is to enhance the lives of students and the community while emphasizing liberal education, freedom of inquiry, cultural diversity and student life. The artwork should embody the distinct characteristics of an educational experience in a remote region of the state with a diverse cultural and ethnic population, increase visibility of the college from Mechem Drive, and make the campus more accessible to pedestrians and motorists using this main thoroughfare.

Opportunities for artwork placement include the front façade of the building, the main entry vestibule, and the small courtyard adjacent to the entrance. The selected artist may use any or all of the available space to illustrate this theme. Artists using innovative concepts and materials are encouraged to apply. Media must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, suitable for outdoor display, safe for both children and adults, and ADA compliant. The selected artwork may require certification by a licensed structural engineer and a review by a professional Fine Art Conservator at the selected artist's expense.

$54,300 is available for this project, including all fees and expenses: materials, equipment costs, fees, labor, insurance, taxes, travel, installation, project plaque, and written and photographic documentation of the completed project. This project is open to all artists who currently reside in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. Artists submitting qualifications should be experienced in creating public funded commission projects on a similar scale. Finalists may be required to submit verifiable proof of residency prior to being awarded a contract.

Up to three finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal for the project. Finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium for a written proposal and a maquette of the proposed artwork. One site visit will be required of each finalist to include a personal presentation to the selection committee and the public. All maquettes, samples, and written proposals will become the property of ENMU-Ruidoso. Each finalist will receive a travel stipend based on map mileage: $250 for travel and lodging between 50–300 miles one-way; $450 for 301–800 miles one-way; $900 for over 800 miles one-way.

Submission requirements include a letter of interest or statement of qualifications, a current resume demonstrating relevant work experience (particularly public art or privately funded commission projects), an annotated image list containing title, media, dimensions, year of completion, and project description/budget/commissioning agency if applicable, and ten images of previously completed work. Submission deadline is midnight Mountain Time, April 9, 2009. Finalists selected for this project and the artist ultimately selected for the commission will be required to enter into a professional services contract with the State of New Mexico.