Maternal & Infant Health Innovation Authority Public Arts Inclusion Hanging Interior Sculpture

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, on behalf of the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the NJ Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA), is soliciting Expressions of Interest from prospective artists to design, fabricate, and install a hanging interior sculpture for the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center (MIHIC) being constructed in Trenton, New Jersey at 1 Pennington Ave. This is part of the New Jersey Arts Inclusion Program.

The commission entails design, fabrication, and installation of a hanging sculpture inside a large skylight space measuring approximately 12' wide x 9' 5" deep x 17'-20' high. The sculpture must be constructed of durable materials. Works that are open, airy, and take advantage of the light in the space are of particular interest. Both abstract and representative themes are welcome; artists are encouraged to consider works that bring vibrance to the space and to consider the purpose of MIHIC, MIHIA's mission, and/or the local community in their submission materials. Artwork must not be generated by artificial intelligence.

The project budget is $180,000 all-inclusive for a completed permanent sculpture, installed. This covers all costs including design, revisions, fabrication, engineering, transportation, installation, contracting requirements, documentation, plaque/signage, permitting, copyright registration, and special installation costs. Prevailing wages are anticipated for installation and on-site work. Three selected finalists will each receive a $2,000 stipend for proposal preparation expenses.

Eligibility: Applicants must be regionally based, residing no more than 150 miles from Trenton, New Jersey, and over 18 years old. Employees of the State of New Jersey are not eligible. BIPOC and women artists, and those based in Trenton are strongly encouraged to apply. Submissions must include a portfolio of past-completed work and profile, reference, and contact information. Work samples must include 4-8 images and 0-1 video (4-9 total samples). The Art Selection Committee will shortlist artists to receive a formal request for proposals. Selected finalists will be provided with evaluative criteria and additional architectural details. Upon selection, artists must complete a contract with NJEDA, register in the State's procurement system (NJSTART), and follow State procurement processes.

Timeline: Call closes November 17, 2025. Artists will be notified of EOI outcomes no later than February 2, 2026. Q&A meeting scheduled for week of March 2, 2026. Final proposal presentations mid-April 2026. Selected artists notified by May 18, 2026. Anticipated installation winter 2026/27.