Evergreen Cemetery Veterans Monument RFQ

Historic Evergreen Cemetery, the City of Gainesville's municipal cemetery, is a 164-year-old, 56-acre historic landmark located in East Gainesville. The cemetery is the final resting place for more than 1,000 Veterans from every conflict from the 2nd Seminole War to more recent conflicts in the Middle East. The Evergreen Cemetery Association of Gainesville, Inc. (ECAGI) and the Gainesville Art in Public Places Trust (APPT) are issuing a Request for Artist Qualifications (RFQ) to select 3 or more artists to submit proposals to design and fabricate a monument to be the focal point of a new Veterans Monument and Veterans Yard area.

The monument will be situated adjacent a majestic oak at the end of a block-long, rectangular yard reserved for the interment of United States Military Veterans. ECAGI and APPT are looking for artists or design firms with significant experience creating public art, outdoor sculpture, or cemetery monuments and work that responds to themes fitting the profound nature of this project. The design may be a freestanding piece or a concept that incorporates the surrounding environment and seating for event attendees. Artists or design firms must submit an artist's statement, resume, list of past projects, and up to 9 representative images of previous work.

The privately funded project budget for the monument is $45,000 all inclusive, covering design, fabrication, footing, base, plinth, transportation, installation, and all associated costs. The monument must be created of material appropriate to an outdoor environment with suitable construction to last for decades with minimal maintenance. Given Gainesville's hot, humid climate with intense sun, seasonal heavy rain, and winter temperatures in the teens, materials must resist rust, fading, and hurricane force winds. The exterior site must use vandal-resistant materials and consider pedestrian safety. A $500 fee will be provided to each of the 3 or more finalists selected to submit proposals. The finalist artists or design firms will present proposals in an online session, and ECAGI and APPT will select the artist or design firm to negotiate for design, fabrication, and installation. RFQ Response Deadline: April 18, 2021. Finalist Notification: May 6, 2021. Proposal Deadline: June 13, 2021. Award Notification: June 30, 2021. Monument Installation Complete: October 27, 2021. Project Dedication: November 11, 2021.