Municipality of Anchorage: Girdwood K-8 Renovation 2014

The Municipality of Anchorage is announcing a call for qualified artists to create artwork for Girdwood K-8 in Girdwood, Alaska, in accordance with Municipal Code 7.40. The art selection jury intends to commission six art installations to be permanently installed in the remodeled school located at 680 Hightower Road. Project construction will begin in May 2014 and is scheduled to be completed by August 2015.

The six locations include: the proscenium area on either side of the stage (4½ feet wide by 12 feet high, 35 feet apart); a soffit area delineating the library space (approximately 3 feet tall, 52 feet long, 3 feet deep); stained concrete floors throughout the school (approximately 2,688 square feet in renovated areas); a wall area in front of the main restroom (5 feet high, 16 feet wide); a mini-commons wall on the first floor in the elementary wing (6-8 feet tall, 6 feet wide with extensions totaling 10 feet in width); and seven areas throughout student hallways including six rectangular benches (8 feet wide, 2 feet high, 2 feet deep) and one half-circle bench (approximately 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep). All wall surfaces are gypsum board over metal studs at 16" on center.

The total amount spent on art commissions will be between $160,000 and $170,000. Commission ranges by location are: proscenium $30-40,000; soffit $20-40,000; floor $10-30,000; restroom wall $20-30,000; mini-commons wall $20-30,000; benches $10-30,000. All costs must include design, fabrication, installation, permitting, photographic documentation, catalog documentation, and an identifying plaque. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and prevailing wage rates, may apply.

Eligibility is limited to Alaska residents, with preference given to Girdwood residents. Artists will be selected based on artistic merit, appropriateness of medium and style to project goals, experience with similar scale projects and public art processes, and communication skills. Diversity of artists and mediums is encouraged; artists with no prior public art experience will be seriously considered.

Submission requirements include six digital images of past work (identified with title, materials, dimensions, and value), a current 1-2 page resume, an artist statement describing interest or qualifications for the project, and answers to required questions including which location(s) you are applying for, proposed medium/approach, and commission range. Applicants may submit up to three applications. Contact the Curator of Public Art at (907) 343-6473 or [email protected] for additional information.