Request for Qualifications: South Haven, Michigan Public Art

South Haven VanBuren County Convention and Visitors Bureau, working together with the South Haven Center for the Arts, is seeking qualifications for an artist or artist teams to create proposals for a site-specific sculpture and public artwork in South Haven, Michigan.

The artwork should celebrate what is special about South Haven, including the lakefront location, landmarks, natural landscape, and flora and fauna. The piece must include the words "South Haven, Michigan" where viewers can photograph with it, enhance the experience for visitors and residents, respond to and function in the chosen location visually and physically, succeed artistically in day and evening, inspire photography, encourage conversation, and may include functional components such as seating. The work must be safe to touch, use durable materials requiring minimal maintenance, and be repairable if damaged.

Up to three artists will be invited to visit South Haven and create location-specific proposals. Selected semi-finalists will receive $5,000 to cover all costs of proposal creation, including travel. The anticipated budget for each artwork installation is $50,000; creative and engaging concepts up to $100,000 will be considered. All expenses for the selected design, fabrication, and installation are the responsibility of the artist/team. The selection committee will select one to three proposals for design, fabrication, and installation, and reserves the right to move forward with none of the proposals. Artists invited to submit proposals will be notified at the end of April, will travel to South Haven in May and June 2022 to select their site, and will submit complete concept proposals by a date agreed upon at selection. Selected artists will be notified in summer 2022 and must install artworks by June 1, 2023.

Eligible artists or artist teams must be over 18, reside in the US, and be able to travel to South Haven if selected as a semi-finalist. Application requirements include contact information, statement of interest, artist resume/CV, and 5-10 JPEG images of existing artwork with date and location. Semi-finalists will be selected based on technical skill, authenticity, originality, artistic practice, resume experience, and demonstrated connection to project themes and goals.