Texas State University Moore Street Residential Building Public Art Commission

Texas State University invites professional artists or artist-led teams to submit qualifications to design and fabricate sculpture or sculptures for exterior and/or interior public spaces on its campus in San Marcos, Texas. The site is a new residence hall complex currently under construction on Moore Street. The budget for this project is $358,508, derived from the 1% for public art portion of Texas State University's estimated construction budget. This budget covers all project-related costs including design, labor, fabrication, project management, materials, tools, subcontracted services, travel, transportation, delivery, installation, heavy machinery rentals, storage, permits, licenses, insurance, and documentation. Any expenses exceeding the contracted amount are the artist's responsibility. Skyline Art Services will coordinate installation in collaboration with the artist.

The artwork will be located in the public space between Moore Street and the front of the new residential complex, as well as potentially the interior entryway of the community building. Artists will work with the project design team and stakeholders to conceptualize the project, including determining sculpture location and site preparation. Artwork should be harmonious with the natural, geological, and ecological surroundings, as well as the diverse cultures at Texas State University. The work must be suitable for outdoor weather conditions and public interaction, durable, sustainable, and easy to maintain. Water features will not be considered. One or two artists may be selected. The selected artist(s) must return to campus after installation to attend a reception and participate in a formal discussion with students about the work.

Eligibility is open to all professional artists or artist-led teams with experience in similar projects. Professional artists are defined as skilled practitioners with an original self-conceptualized body of work, generally recognized by critics and peers as possessing serious intent and ability. Subcontractors may be used for technical implementation under direct supervision of an artist. Texas State University especially encourages submissions by women, artists of color, and artists from Texas. Existing sculptures as well as new proposals will be accepted. Applications must include: resume (4 pages maximum), statement of interest (1000 words maximum), biography/artist statement (500 words maximum), image list with title, media, year completed, dimensions, and price information, work examples (10 maximum images as JPEGs up to 5MB with minimum 1920 pixels on longest side, or up to 2 videos in specified formats up to 100MB), and 3 references. Shortlisted artists will be invited to submit formal proposals and will receive a $1,500 stipend to cover costs of time, materials, and travel. The Public Art Committee will select two or three artists for the shortlist and make final selections. Selection criteria include artistic merit and technical expertise, demonstrated successful and innovative approach to similar public art projects, ability to execute projects in culturally rich and complex areas, and expressed interest in the opportunity.