Kapor Center Building Facade Art Competition

The Kapor Center for Social Impact invites socially-engaged visual artists from the San Francisco Bay Area to submit entries for a two-stage competition to create art panels covering the first floor of their building at 2148 Broadway in Oakland, CA. The installation will remain in place from December 2013 until the building's renovation begins in late spring 2014. Artists in all career stages are welcomed, with priority given to entrants who live or work in Oakland.

The winning artist will receive a $7,500 artist's fee and up to $20,000 for production of the installation. The competition timeline includes: Stage I deadline of 11:59pm October 13, 2013 (submit six slides of previous work, resume of no more than three pages, and artist statement of no more than one page); five finalists selected by October 18th to submit ink sketches or formal renderings by November 1st (each finalist receives $150 honorarium); winner announced by November 6th; installation unveiled December 6, 2013. The winning artist is expected to install the work and be available to consult on maintenance for up to one year after launch.

Stage I entries are evaluated by Kapor Center staff and an artist consultant for engaging style and creative potential. Stage II entries from finalists are evaluated by a panel including Kapor Center representatives, Uptown/Lake Merritt Community Business District, City of Oakland, artists community, and building development team. Selection criteria include creativity of design, reflection of Kapor Center's core values of inclusion and innovation, incorporation of the organization's brand and mission of diversity in tech, reflection of Oakland's diverse and vibrant community, and suitability for the building and neighborhood. Designs must account for graffiti repair and deterrence, installation methods (some behind glass, some exposed to elements), access to building interior, and ease of installation and maintenance. Digital output at high resolution and 50% of actual size is strongly encouraged. The Kapor Center retains ownership of the final physical art panels; the artist retains ownership of their concept. The Kapor Center requests rights to use installation images in other projects and publications with proper credit to the artist.