Ohio Creek Watershed Public Art Commission

The Norfolk Arts Commission, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town program and the Ohio Creek Watershed planning committee, seeks to commission an artist to design and create exterior artwork celebrating the Elizabeth River, the community, and the NDR Ohio Creek Watershed Project—a flood risk management and resiliency project.

The City of Norfolk is undertaking a major flood-resiliency project in the Ohio Creek Watershed, which includes two neighborhoods: Chesterfield Heights and Grandy Village. Chesterfield Heights, listed on the Historic National Register with over 400 homes originally laid out in 1904, features architectural styles ranging from Queen Anne and Revival styles to Craftsman-style bungalows. Grandy Village, a workforce community built in 1953 with 367 units, has been undergoing transformation since 2001. The project includes installation of more than 7,000 feet of earthen berms, approximately 1,000 feet of floodwalls, a resilience park, about 4,000 feet of living shoreline, a fishing pier, a flood gate, two large stormwater pump stations, and community gathering spaces. The project is bolstered by $112 million from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The selected artist will design public art reflecting the values, challenges, and stories of the community, celebrating diversity of culture and heritage while connecting the two neighborhoods. The artwork should be a fluid, thought-provoking example of resiliency. Potential sites include a wide pathway between Chesterfield Academy and a newly renovated park, and the end of Ballentine Boulevard, a major gateway into the neighborhoods. The artwork must be constructed of durable, permanent outdoor materials that are safe and easily maintained, detailed enough to be experienced by pedestrians, and may be large or an integrated series of solutions.

The total budget for the completed, delivered, and installed artwork is $135,000, 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 carry Commercial General Liability Insurance naming the City of Norfolk as an additional insured. Up to three finalists may be selected for virtual interviews with the Public Art Planning Committee. A city contract will be issued with a design phase requiring review and approval by the Norfolk Arts Commission prior to fabrication. Completion of art is targeted for April 2023.

Submissions must include: Statement of Understanding, Letter of Interest (500-word maximum), Resume (maximum two pages per person), up to ten artwork images and one video file (no longer than 2 minutes), and three professional references. Open to all artists and artist teams. International eligibility.