Spokane Arena Art Project

The Spokane Public Facilities District (PFD) and the Spokane Arts Fund are requesting qualifications from artists or artist teams for a commission to create a new interior entry artwork for the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. This is a request for qualifications only; specific proposals are not being requested at this time. The project is intended to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Arena and will be revealed at a special event on or about September 15, 2015.

The project is particularly suitable for painters, photographers, and those who work with relief sculpture or mobiles. While sculpture can be part of the portfolio, the work will be installed on wall surfaces or hung. The estimated budget is $45,000 including design, materials, engineering, sales tax, and all applicable expenses. The artwork will be located in the main entry area of the Spokane Arena and will be seen by all Arena guests, tenants, and staff. The artwork should be welcoming and an enhancement to the visual appearance of the Arena, appeal to a broad age range, and be uplifting and stimulating to the spirit, intellect, and physical senses. The artwork should show a connection to the region and the unique attributes of the City of Spokane, work well with existing electronic signage, and enhance the Arena guest experience.

Artist/artist teams both emerging and established are encouraged to apply. Artists working as a team should submit their qualifications as a package. A pre-proposal workshop will be held at the Arena main NE entrance on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. The deadline to receive qualifications is 10 AM July 17, 2014. Artist selection will be completed by Friday, September 12, 2014. Installation of the artwork must be completed before September 15, 2015. The selection committee will base its choice on the experience and qualifications of the artist/artist team, the quality of representative past work, and the artist/artist team's expression of their philosophy, vision, and spirit. Final selection criteria will include artistic merit, relationship to the site and project intent, demonstrated ability to carry out the project, ease and cost of maintenance, and safety of the artwork.