Southern Utah University Music Center - Public Art Commission

Southern Utah University, in partnership with the Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums Public Art Program, requests qualifications from Utah artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site-specific artwork(s) for the new SUU Music Center in Cedar City, Utah. This project is open to artists/artist teams residing in or with connections to the state of Utah.

The new Music Building will provide a fully immersive environment for music instruction and will anchor North Campus as a growing Arts District. Located just north of the Southern Utah Museum of Art and the Shakespeare Festival Theatre, the building will contain a 550-seat concert hall for student performances and a 100-seat recital hall for smaller events, along with recording studios, practice rooms, and faculty studios. The Art Selection Committee is seeking a Utah artist who can create a work that enhances the carefully designed architectural elements. Preference will be given to artists who demonstrate high skill and mastery of medium, showing attention to detail and craftsmanship. The installation must not present a safety risk and must be durable enough for display in a public space. Installations may be static or dynamic. Work produced using artificial intelligence is discouraged; if AI is used, it must be disclosed and be an essential and integral element of the overall medium.

Suggested locations for installations include the outdoor plaza space, interior lobby walls, suspended elements, incorporated functional elements (flooring, handrails, glasswork, screen walls, ceiling treatment, lighting), or distributed throughout common spaces. Installations in faculty studios, practice rooms, the performance hall, or secluded areas are discouraged. A budget of $130,000 is available for all related expenses including artist fees, fabrication, support structures, insurance, shipping, travel, lighting, installation, and documentation. Complete application packages must be received by April 19, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. MT. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number and submit up to 10 images and/or 1 video file of previous work, a CV or resume, and a Statement of Interest. Semi-finalists will be asked to present a full proposal in July 2024 and will receive an honorarium to help defray proposal development costs.