Spenard Road Public Art: Municipality of Anchorage Public Art Program

The Municipality of Anchorage is announcing a call for qualified artists to create artwork for the Spenard Road Reconstruction project in Anchorage, Alaska. The art selection jury intends to commission two or multiple art installations totaling $85,000 to be permanently installed at various locations along Spenard Road.

There are two approaches to this call. Approach 1 offers two separate commissions: one at the Photo Avenue location ($55,000) and one at the Bosco's location ($30,000). Photo Avenue is located on the East side of Spenard Road at the intersection of Spenard and Benson Blvd and will be transformed into a circular plaza with approximately 3,000 square feet of available space. The Bosco's location at 2301 Spenard Road shares grounds with a comic shop and has approximately 900 square feet of available space. Approach 2 is for one progressive art installation at multiple identified locations along Spenard Road from Hillcrest to Benson Blvd for $85,000, with five areas identified for art interventions. The jury is interested in sculptural interventions that transform and highlight these spaces. Electrical components are possible at the Photo Avenue and Bosco's locations.

The jury seeks artworks that "tell the story and capture the cultural essence of Spenard." Spenard began as a lumber camp named after Joe Spenard, an early Alaska entrepreneur. Today it is a destination with local businesses, restaurants, music establishments, and arts spaces, home to a culturally and socioeconomically diverse population of approximately 12,108. Artists working individually or as teams are invited to apply, and emerging artists are encouraged.

The budget of $85,000 includes all costs of design, fabrication, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation, and an identifying plaque. Artwork must be durable with minimal maintenance requirements and designed to last permanently. This is an earthquake area and must meet IBC 2009 building code standards as amended by the Municipality of Anchorage. Sculptures taller than 6' must be engineered and permitted through the MOA system. Artists will be selected based on artistic merit, appropriateness of medium and style to project goals, and experience with similar-scale projects and the public art process. Eligibility is limited to Alaska residents only. Project construction began in summer 2017 with landscaping planned for summer 2018 and artwork installation intended for summer 2018.