Munson Park Public Art Commission

The Norfolk Public Art Commission and the Munson Park Planning Committee seek to commission an artist to design and create artwork for Munson Park, a small neighborhood park in the Park Place neighborhood of Norfolk, VA. The park is being renovated with new landscaping, a community garden, basketball court improvements, and state-of-the-art playground equipment for children ages 5-12, including those with special needs. The entire park will be surrounded by a new waist-high PVC coated chain-link fence.

The committee seeks strong, bright, fun artwork that represents children, families, community, and the people of Park Place. The work should be thought-provoking and inspire viewers of all ages. Artists should be willing to work with the neighborhood and may incorporate ideas and actual pieces of residents' artwork into the final piece. Artwork may be designed into the fence, borders for the garden, along pathways, and/or in the center 13-foot diameter circle in the existing concrete walkway. The artwork should be large enough to be seen by vehicular traffic and must be durable, made of permanent materials, safe, and easily maintained, as it will be touched, climbed, and played on.

The total budget for the completed, delivered, and installed artwork is $80,000, covering artist's honorarium, fabrication, materials, shipping, insurance, travel expenses, project plaque, final documentation, and incidental expenses. The selected artist must hire a Virginia licensed contractor for installation and will be asked to present an educational workshop or presentation to the community. A city contract will be issued with a design phase requiring review and approval by the Public Art Commission prior to fabrication. The selected artist must carry Commercial General Liability Insurance naming the City of Norfolk as an additional insured. Up to three finalists may be selected for interviews via Skype. Selection will be based on artistic merit, professional experience, and appropriateness of materials, style, and concepts. Completion of artwork is expected by Spring 2019.