NMSBVI Early Childhood Program Public Art Commission

The Art in Public Places program is seeking artists or artist teams to create a public art commission for the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NMSBVI) Early Childhood Program in Albuquerque. The newly constructed facility serves infants and children through age six who are visually impaired in the Albuquerque area.

The commissioned artwork will be highly interactive, providing a multisensory experience to engage students and members of the blind and visually impaired community. Artists using innovative concepts and materials that could be incorporated into the curriculum are encouraged to apply. Artwork placement opportunities include exterior locations: the front façade, main entry courtyard, secondary entry courtyard, landscaped area adjacent to the bus loop, and landscaped area bordering staff and visitor parking. Media must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, suitable for outdoor display, safe for children and adults, and ADA compliant. Artwork may require certification by a licensed structural engineer and review by a professional Fine Art Conservator at the selected artist's expense.

This project is open to all artists or artist teams currently residing in the United States with experience creating public funded commission projects of similar scope. A budget of $77,390 is available, covering all fees and expenses including materials, equipment, labor, insurance, taxes, travel, installation, shipping, project plaque, and documentation. Up to five finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal and maquette, and will receive a $1,000 honorarium plus travel stipend based on distance. Submission deadline is October 8, 2009. Submissions must include a letter of interest or statement of qualifications, current resume or curriculum vitae, annotated image list, and no less than ten images of previously completed work in digital format.