Request for Qualifications - Western State Colorado University, Quigley Hall Public Art Commission

This is a Request for Qualifications for a public art commission at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. The project involves a renovation of Quigley Hall, the music and art building on campus, slated for completion in Fall 2016. The Art Selection Committee is seeking to commission an outdoor, 3D sculptural artwork for the exterior of Quigley Hall, specifically outside the entrance to the building's art galleries. The panel is interested in artwork that engages with the space of the building but is not attached. Kinetic and interactive artworks are highly encouraged. The artwork should consider Quigley Hall's role as the hub for the music and arts programs on campus in a more abstract than literal fashion.

The public art budget is $151,600, covering all costs including artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and project documentation. Selected semi-finalists will be invited to propose artwork and will receive an honorarium of $1,000 for in-state artists and $1,500 for out-of-state artists. Travel expenses may be reimbursed. The selection panel will evaluate submissions based on artistic excellence, technical competence, suitability to site, conceptual compatibility, scale, material, form and content, appropriate relationship to site function, contribution to diversity of the state's public art collection, structural and surface integrity, accessibility, resistance to wear and vandalism, ease of maintenance, and compliance with public safety codes.

All applicants must be legal residents of the United States with skills and experience commensurate with completing a major public art installation. The program is open to all artists regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or mental or physical handicap. The Art Selection Committee reserves the right to give preference to artists residing in Colorado. Applicants must submit four to six digital images of previously completed artworks (video submissions optional, up to two), a resume, a statement of interest in 250 words or less, and responses to specified questions via the CaFÉ online application system. There is no application fee. The selection schedule includes semi-finalist notification in August 2015, campus visits in September/October 2015, presentations in November/December 2015, contract execution in February 2016, and installation in Summer/Fall 2016.