Spartan Keyes Neighborhood Public Art Project

The City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, Redevelopment Agency, and the Spartan Keyes Neighborhood Association are seeking an artist to create a permanently-sited art installation for Bestor Art Park, located on Bestor between S. 5th and S. 6th Street. Up to four finalists will be selected to develop concept proposals and will each be paid $500. The budget for the actual project is up to $70,000 for design, fabrication, and installation.

The Spartan Keyes neighborhood is a vibrant, diverse community approximately one mile southeast of downtown San José, predominantly Hispanic/Latino with a significant artist population. Community members have identified goals for the art project to help build a sense of place and unity, amplify key aspects of the neighborhood's artistic character, and provide a visually dramatic presence. The park includes three sculpture pads and a small-scale art installation in the pavement created by San Jose State University art students.

Eligibility: Artists must live and/or have a studio space in Santa Clara County with proof of residency or studio space relationship. Artists must be eligible to work in the United States and have a valid U.S. Social Security or Tax Identification Number by the application deadline. Artists currently under contract with the City of San José Public Art Program are not eligible unless their current project will be complete by January 2011 or is suspended. If submitting as a team, a professional artist with public art experience must be the lead member. Selection criteria include aesthetic merit of past projects, appropriateness of work to project goals and setting, experience creating artworks in public settings, and demonstrated experience in collaborative situations. Artist selection is a two-phase process: Phase I (week of January 31, 2011) involves short-listing up to four artists for proposal development; Phase II (March 11-15, 2011) involves concept proposal presentations to the Public Art Committee.