RFQ Public Water Feature Skagit Riverwalk Plaza

The Mount Vernon Arts Commission invites professional artists residing in Washington State to submit qualifications and proposals for a site-specific water-inspired art installation in the newly completed Riverwalk Plaza in downtown Mount Vernon, adjacent to the Skagit River. The sponsors encourage proposals that are mindful of the Skagit River's significance to Mount Vernon and the Skagit Valley.

The Art Project Budget is $30,000, inclusive of design, fabrication, delivery to the City, installation, travel, and Washington State sales tax. An additional Installation Budget of $5,000 is available for reimbursement upon receipt of written invoices for installation costs only. The water-inspired work of art must operate on a 7-day programmable timer with the ability to shut off at night and must be shut down and winterized each Fall/Winter. Non-potable water and electricity are available at the designated site. Artists are encouraged to visit the site prior to submitting a proposal.

A selection panel will review all eligible applications and select up to three finalists to interview. Finalists will receive a $650 honorarium to present their site-specific design concepts in digital format. The panel will select one artist or team of artists for the commission and reserves the right to make no selection. Selection criteria include ease of maintenance, quality and strength of past work, command of dynamic spatial relationships, related experience with similar artwork and public installations, and project timeline availability. Extra consideration may be given to eco-friendly designs activated by weather patterns. Applicants must submit a two-page maximum résumé, one-page letter of interest, 10 digital images of past work, and an annotated image list with artwork details. Proof of Washington State residency may be requested.