Oakland Airport Connector Stations Public Art Commission

The Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) project will link BART's existing Coliseum Station with Oakland International Airport via an automated people mover system. Trains will leave every four to five minutes between the new Oakland International Airport BART station and the new Oakland Coliseum Connector Station. This RFQ seeks professional artists in the United States to create site-specific public artworks for the two new stations.

The public art allocation for each station is $150,000. Project budgets must include all costs related to design and project management fees, artwork fabrication, transportation, delivery, installation, subcontractors, project documentation, insurance, and all other associated costs. Artist design and management fees are anticipated to range from 15% to 20% of the total art project budget. Potential artwork areas include open steel trusses, exposed surfaces on steel columns, and metal insets for the railing system. Although station designs are nearing 65% completion, selected artists will collaborate with the project design team to identify sites and create bold, site-specific works.

Minimum eligibility qualifications include successful completion of at least three permanent, site-specific projects in exterior locations; experience working cooperatively with architects, engineers, and community members; aesthetic excellence; ability to install or oversee installation; and ability to meet project deadlines. The selection process begins with pre-screening by BART staff and arts professionals, followed by a Selection Panel review. Three artists or artist teams per station will be invited to develop conceptual design proposals. Finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium upon successful submission of a design concept. All artwork materials must have a 50-year lifespan and be relatively maintenance-free with no electrical components. Artists must waive rights of integrity as pertains to removal or repair under the California Art Preservation Act and Visual Artists Rights Act. BART retains copyright to all artwork; artists may reproduce images for non-commercial purposes. Selected artists must carry minimum $1,000,000 combined single incident general liability insurance, $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident automobile liability, and Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence.