Edgar Allan Poe Foundation: Poe Square Public Art Commission

The Edgar Allan Poe Foundation of Boston, Inc., in coordination with the Boston Art Commission, seeks qualifications from artists, artisans, and/or designers to develop public artwork celebrating Edgar Allan Poe and his creative work. The artwork will be installed at Edgar Allan Poe Square, located in Boston, MA at the southeast corner of Boylston Street and Charles Street South, between Park Square and Boston Common. The roughly triangular brick paved plaza covers 1,700 square feet.

The Foundation seeks public artwork(s) celebrating Poe, inspired by his literary achievements and his life in Boston. The artwork (which could include auditory elements) should increase the animation of the site, provide visibility during day and night, create a sense of direction through the space, and increase linkages between this space and other public artworks and interpretive plaques nearby. This public art commission is open to all professional artists, artisans, architects, landscape architects, or teams thereof, capable of designing the piece and arranging for fabrication and installation. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Priority will be given to artists/designers/teams who are not currently working on a public commission in Boston or who have not had a public art commission over $100,000 installed in Boston within the last two years. There are no geographic limitations, though the Foundation cannot provide housing or transportation.

The proposed budget is $100,000 for artwork or work of design, covering all expenses including design, labor, materials, contracted services, installation, permits, taxes, insurance, landscaping modifications, and transportation. Any expenses exceeding the contracted amount are the artist's responsibility. Up to three artist/designer/teams will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 to develop and present site-specific proposals. Applications must include up to twenty digital images of relevant work, a resume for each artist, and an artist's statement not exceeding 4,000 characters. There is no application fee. Artist notification will be by email on September 16, 2011. Contact Jean Mineo, Project Manager, at [email protected] or 508-242-9991 for further information.