Scottsdale Museum of the West - Outdoor Public Artwork

Scottsdale Public Art is seeking artist proposals to design, fabricate and install a permanent outdoor public artwork for the new Scottsdale Museum of the West (SMoW), located in downtown Scottsdale, Arizona. The museum is currently under construction at the site of the former Loloma Transit Station. SMoW is designed to LEED Gold standard and will incorporate work by recognized artist Vito Acconci with the new building's contemporary architecture.

Due to the short timeline for this project, SPA is requesting preliminary proposals which may be of an already completed work of art or a preliminary idea that can be completed in the timeline. There are three possible placement locations for a contemporary, exterior work of art on the grounds of the facility. A selection panel composed of individuals from the City of Scottsdale, the museum's architectural firm Studio MA, the SPA Advisory Board, and others will choose finalists to be invited for a site visit prior to final selection. The art should address and creatively reflect the character of Scottsdale's Museum of the West, the City of Scottsdale, its residents, and visitors. The work should be accessible for children and adults and be viewed as an educational opportunity.

The budget for the project will not exceed $120,000.00, which is to include artist fee, fabrication and installation, taxes and insurance. The budget includes travel when necessary and conference calls/meetings between the artist and public art staff. The City's general contractor will install conduit for lighting the artwork in the designated location once the artist proposal has been accepted, with this cost covered outside of the public art budget. Selection criteria include the applicant's professional qualifications, proven ability to undertake projects of similar scope, artistic merit as evidenced by submitted materials, and demonstrated ability to work with government agencies and/or focus groups. The artist must be able to meet a fast-track timeline for installation to meet the opening of the Scottsdale Museum of the West. Initial artist selection panel for finalists is scheduled for mid-May 2014, finalists site visits for late May 2014, and final artist selection panel with artist interviews via Skype for June 2014, with installation targeted for December 2014.