Municipality of Anchorage: AWWU Ship Creek Trail Public Art Commission

The Municipality of Anchorage is seeking qualified artists to create artwork for the Ship Creek Trail as part of the Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility project. The art selection jury intends to commission one art installation totaling $80,000 to be permanently installed along the Ship Creek trail in a light industrial area where the trail passes over both Ship Creek and the Alaska Railroad train tracks.

Two location options are available: Option 1 is a retaining wall approximately 171 feet long and 24 feet tall at the highest point, suitable for murals, floating surfaces, or attached sculptural artwork. Option 2 is a landscaped area with native and non-native plants offering nearly 360-degree viewing angles and approximately 24 feet of elevation change. Artists may propose for either location or both (requiring separate applications for each). The jury seeks artwork reflecting themes of environmental stewardship, sustainability, and clean water access, with preference for work acknowledging indigenous values associated with land use and stewardship.

Artwork must be durable with minimal maintenance requirements and designed to last the life of the structure. This is an earthquake area and must meet IBC 2009 building code standards as amended by the Municipality of Anchorage. Sculptures taller than 6 feet must be engineered and permitted. The $80,000 budget includes all design, fabrication, installation, documentation, and plaque costs. Artists must pay any permitting, engineer, or structural modification fees. Artists or artist teams may apply. Submission requirements include six digital portfolio images, a 1-2 page resume with three professional references, an artist statement addressing interest and qualifications, and a brief conceptual proposal identifying location, medium, and thematic relevance. Contact: Gideon Gerlt, Curator of Public Art, (907) 343-6473.