Municipality of Anchorage 1% for Art: Romig Middle School Renovation

The Municipality of Anchorage is announcing a call for qualified artists to create artwork for Romig Middle School in Anchorage, Alaska, in accordance with Municipal Code 7.40. The art selection jury intends to commission two art installations totaling $44,000 to be permanently installed at interior locations in the remodeled middle school located at 2500 Minnesota Drive.

Location 1 (North Facing Wall, $22,000): The North Facing Wall in the new CTE (Career Technology Education) addition hallway measures 27'3" (w) x 11' (H). This hallway connects to the back entrance and existing school, with students entering and exiting through this entrance. An "Exit" sign is located in the top left corner, with a fire alarm and accessible door control at the bottom right. Location 2 (West Facing Wall, $22,000): The West Facing Wall in the new CTE addition corridor measures 30'4" (w) x 10' (H) and is located across from classrooms. Project construction began in summer 2015 and will be completed by summer 2016, with artwork installation likely in summer 2016.

Themes discussed by the jury focus on: (1) Career technical fields taught in the new addition (technology, culinary arts, video arts, medical arts) and (2) Cultural Diversity, Alaska, Anchorage, Romig's significance in Anchorage history, Alaska Native Heritage, and Romig's 50th Anniversary. The jury encourages proposals involving participation of Romig Middle School students, but this is not required. There are no restrictions on style or design, but artwork must be durable with minimal maintenance requirements. The installation must be permanent and designed to last the life of the building. This is an earthquake area and must meet IBC 2009 building code standards as amended by the Municipality of Anchorage. All suspended pieces must be at least 18" lower than the sprinkler system. Sculptures taller than 6' must be engineered and permitted through the MOA system, with permitting fees paid by the artist.

The total budget of $44,000 includes all costs of design, fabrication, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation, and an identifying plaque. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and prevailing wage rates, may apply. Artists will be selected based on artistic merit, appropriateness of medium and style, experience with similar projects, communication skills, and diversity of artists and media. Artists with no prior public art experience will be seriously considered. Applicants must submit six digital images of past work (with title, materials, dimensions, and value), a current 1-2 page resume with three professional references, an artist statement describing interest and qualifications, and answers to required questions about location, medium, and commission level. For additional information, contact the Curator of Public Art at (907) 343-6473 or (907) 249-7567 (FAX).