McKinley County Courthouse Rotunda – Site-Specific Commission Project

The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee of McKinley County seek to commission 1 to 3 artists to create and install original artwork in specified areas of the McKinley County Courthouse Rotunda in Gallup, New Mexico. Artworks will be permanently installed indoors in one or more of three identified areas within the rotunda. The Local Selection Committee is interested in artwork of all media including weaving/fiber, sculpture, installations, painting, photography, drawing, printmaking, and new media in 2D or 3D form, representational to abstract in style. Artwork should incorporate a theme of people, place, and culture of McKinley County, capture the spirit of the community, and celebrate the diversity and pride of living in McKinley County.

Artwork must be constructed from materials that can survive permanent indoor installation in a high-traffic public area with regular exposure to sunlight. Murals or artwork directly drawn/painted onto walls/windows will not be considered. Artwork must fit the allotted installation area and cannot incorporate water features or kinetic/interactive elements. The project must be durable, low-maintenance, permanent, safe for children and adults, and meet all applicable code requirements including ADA compliance. At the selected artist's expense, artwork may require certification by a licensed engineer in New Mexico and review by a professional fine art conservator if applicable.

$97,825 is available to commission 1 to 4 artists/artist teams after finalist presentation fees. This amount includes all fees and expenses: materials, equipment, labor, permits, engineering documents, insurance, taxes, travel, installation, shipping, identification plaque, and documentation. Up to five finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal and receive a $1,000 honorarium for a written proposal, presentation, maquette, and/or digital rendering. Finalists must attend an in-person presentation at the site. A travel stipend will be provided based on distance: $250 for 50-300 miles one-way, $450 for 301-800 miles one-way, and $900 for 801+ miles one-way. Work sample requirements: 1-20 images, 0-5 videos, 1-25 total samples maximum.