Freedom: A Shared Dream

The Farhang Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating Iranian art, culture and history, is seeking professional public artists for a major public urban art competition in Los Angeles, California. The project has been inspired by the Cyrus Cylinder's visit to the Getty Museum in 2013 and seeks to commemorate the concepts of religious diversity and freedom as human rights, inspired by the ideals of Cyrus the Great.

The artwork will be a permanent installation on a median strip in west Los Angeles with maximum dimensions of 15' (H) by 12' (W) by 20' (L). The estimated budget for design, fabrication and installation is not to exceed $300,000. The selected artwork must reflect concepts of religious diversity and freedom, resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds, be visible for both vehicular and pedestrian viewing, and be suitable for outdoor environments capable of withstanding local weather conditions and earthquakes.

This competition is open to experienced professional public artists, sculptors, or visual art professionals with experience in public art projects and installation management. Artists must be at least 18 years old. The selection process occurs in three phases: Phase One (deadline August 1, 2014) requires resume, professional references, and up to eight digital images of recent work; Phase Two (deadline October 27, 2014) requires sketches and narrative explaining the proposal; Phase Three (deadline January 19, 2015) requires detailed proposals with conceptual designs, material descriptions, written proposal, estimated budget, and timeline. Five to seven finalists will each receive a $5,000 honorarium upon Phase Three submission. The selected artist will receive the commission to design, fabricate and install the artwork. For more information, visit www.farhang.org/freedom or contact [email protected].