New Mexico State University Center for the Arts - Public Art Commission

The Art in Public Places program seeks to commission artwork for the New Mexico State University Center for the Arts Performance Hall. The Local Selection Committee is interested in commissioning artwork that enriches the architecture of the Performance Hall, evokes a sense of splendor before and after large performances, and supports intimate small group settings.

The project encompasses two sites for artwork placement. The primary location is an approximately 40-foot diameter space above the orchestra level seating that forms the ceiling of the theater. The secondary location is a series of large wall surfaces, 40 feet in height and approximately 90 feet in length, in the light-filled three-story atrium lobby. The selected artist or artist team may use any or all of the available space, though the LSC intends for artists to first address the theater ceiling and use the lobby walls as a complement. Media must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, suitable for interior display, safe for both children and adults, and compliant with building codes and ADA accessibility guidelines.

This RFQ is open to all professional artists or artist teams who are citizens of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and possess experience commensurate with the project scope and budget. Faculty and staff of New Mexico State University are not eligible. $276,800 is available for this project, including all fees and expenses. Up to five finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal and will receive a $1,000 honorarium plus a travel stipend. Submission requirements include a letter of interest, current resume or curriculum vitae, an annotated image list, and ten images of previously completed work. Submission deadline is September 30, 2010. Finalist presentations are scheduled for February 2011, with artwork completion and installation targeted for April 2012.