RISCA: Paul W. Crowley Met Center Public Art Commission

This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for public art at the Paul W. Crowley Met Center East Bay Campus in Rhode Island. The Met Center, named after late State Representative Paul W. Crowley, is committed to excellence in public education and community growth. The building is designed as the first net zero State facility, maximizing renewable energy sources including solar, wind, and geothermal energy, with forward-thinking design elements such as passive solar space, geothermal walls, and exterior terraces designed to maintain solar heat.

Artists or artist teams are invited to submit qualifications for a substantial public art commission with a budget of $60,000. This preliminary stage requires submission of six images of current work (completed within the past five years), resumes, and a brief written statement (not exceeding 2000 characters) addressing preliminary concepts for site-specific public art. Possible themes include "Inside/outside," Community, Environment, Path, School as an idea generator, and "One Student At A Time, Real World Learning." Possible sites include walls on the 2nd floor, stairwell spaces, atrium space, or a "rhizomatic" approach with small pieces throughout the school. The ocean view should not be blocked in stairwell or atrium installations. No flooring projects will be considered.

Selected finalists will be paid an honorarium of $2,500 to develop detailed proposals including itemized budgets, scale models, renderings, and in-depth project descriptions. This stipend covers all travel expenses for site visits and presentation meetings. The selected artist(s) must be prepared to engage with the school community and comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Designs should prioritize durability and sustainability with minimal maintenance requirements. The design process must include representatives of the school and surrounding community. All applications must be submitted digitally through CaFÉ. The final commissioned work will be owned and maintained by the State of Rhode Island.