FORUM PARK Public Art Commission

The City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee is requesting qualifications from artists for a public art commission in a new park being constructed at The Forum, a 706-acre mixed-use development east of I-75 in Fort Myers, Florida. The artwork will be site-specific and installed in a 50-foot-diameter circle at the north end of the parking lot adjoining the pickleball courts and picnic area. The design should aesthetically enhance the park without including interactive features that encourage climbing or play, as vehicles will circumnavigate the circular installation area. Artists may incorporate kinetic elements, uplighting, and/or projection mapping, but should consider Southwest Florida's tropical climate with intense heat, high humidity, and susceptibility to tropical storms and cyclones.

The total project budget is $50,000, covering all costs including materials, fabrication, installation, permitting, documentation, and transportation. Artists must reside in the United States and meet at least two of the following criteria: completed other public art commissions of similar scale; received awards, grants, or fellowships; had works included in major private, corporate, or museum collections; or had at least one solo exhibition at an American Association of Museums accredited institution within the past five years. Submissions must include a letter of interest, three digital images with descriptions, and a resume of no more than three pages emphasizing public art experience.

Up to three finalists will be selected and paid a $500 design fee to develop a maquette or electronic proposal for presentation to the Committee in open session. The final selection will be based on the merits of the proposal, suitability of materials, and artist credentials. For further information, contact Donna Lovejoy, Public Art Liaison, at [email protected] or 239-321-7217.