Glass City Metropark Public Art Project

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo's Art in Public Places Program has partnered with Metroparks Toledo to commission a new work of public art for the Glass City Metropark. The theme celebrates the unique past, present and future contributions that glass has provided to the local community and the world—contributions that are historical, environmental, cultural and craftsman in nature.

A Design Review Board will select three artists to design site-specific public art installations for one of three sites at the park. Finalists will be paid a $2,000 stipend to participate in the concept proposal process, which includes touring Glass City Metropark, exploring optimal siting, and meeting with the Design Review Board and community members. The selected artist or team must have experience integrating public art into park environments and be willing to learn in-depth about the community and its relation to surrounding areas of Toledo. The budget for the artwork component is $400,000, including all expenses related to project completion, site preparation, design fees, engineering, materials, equipment, fabrication costs, documentation, transportation, and installation. Up to $1,000 will be reimbursed for expenses related to site visits, including travel, lodging and food.

The project is open to all artists in the United States, age 18 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. Artist teams from multiple disciplines are eligible. Submissions must include a one-page letter of interest, current resume(s), 5 digital images of recent professional work, an annotated image list with title, date, medium, size, location and commission budget if applicable, and a list of at least three professional references with complete contact information. The deadline for submissions is August 28, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Finalists will be notified September 29, 2021, with site visits scheduled for October 13, 2021, and proposal presentations on November 12, 2021. Winning proposals will be announced November 19, 2021, with installation planned for Summer 2022.