Marshall N. White Community Center Public Art Commission

Ogden City's Public Art Program seeks to commission an individual artist or a group of up to three artists to create public art for the new Marshall N. White Community Center. The selected artist(s) will work with Ogden City Arts staff, project architects, and the Public Art Selection Committee to design and create artwork placed in three separate locations—both interior and exterior wall surfaces—in the new building.

Marshall White was a World War II veteran, youth mentor, and Ogden police officer killed in the line of duty in 1963. The original community center, built in his name five years later at 28th Street and Lincoln Avenue in a historically Black and Latino neighborhood, has served as a gathering place for swimming, art classes, boxing, and recreation for five decades. A new center designed by VCBO Architecture is under construction with an expected completion date of Spring 2025. The selection committee seeks timeless, forward-thinking work that highlights Marshall N. White as a person, his historical timeline, and his legacy to the Ogden community. Artists are encouraged to respond to themes relevant to the diversity and history of Ogden. The committee welcomes mural artwork of any durable, low-maintenance media, and metalwork for exterior portions. Exterior artwork should have significant presence in daylight and at night, with integrated or complementary lighting.

The total budget is $200,000, allocated as follows: hallway area (832 sq ft) $80,000; entryway area (286 sq ft) $20,000; exterior sculpture (25' wide x 16' tall wall) $100,000. This amount covers all costs including design fees, consultation, engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, permits, installation, and contingency. Prevailing wage requirements apply for work on city property. Applicants must submit a letter of interest (max 700 words), CV/resume (max 2 pages), up to three professional references, and ten images of previous site-specific public work. The project is open to artists nationally; Utah and local Ogden artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Ogden City Arts particularly welcomes applicants from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. Employees of Ogden City are not eligible. Submission deadline: January 31, 2024. Finalists will be notified February-March 2024, with presentations March-April 2024. Artist selection and notification: May 2024. Artwork installation: Late Fall 2024 to Early Spring 2025. Official unveiling: Spring 2025.