Traffic Tribunal Public Art Commission

The Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal (RITT) is commissioning public artwork for a new facility under Rhode Island's Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to public art. The new RITT will be located at 670 New London Avenue in the John O. Pastore Government Center in Cranston, with completion projected for winter 2006. The facility will contain approximately 86,000 square feet across two floors above grade and will house 7 courtrooms, administrative support facilities, and record storage. The building processes approximately 500 to 1,000 visitors per day and handles all non-criminal traffic violation matters for Rhode Island.

Artists are invited to submit work samples for consideration in this two-stage selection process. Initial submissions must include six digital images of work completed within the past five years, a current resume, a written statement (not exceeding 2000 characters) addressing the artist's preliminary concept for the project, and an indication of which sites within the RFP the artist wishes to address. All submissions must be made through the CaFE online platform by November 10, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. MST. No slides or hard copy materials will be accepted. The selection panel will review applications to assess the artist's ability to carry out commissioned work at the project site. Finalist presentations are scheduled for January 2006, with contract approval for recommended artists in February 2006.

A total of $135,000 is available for artwork acquisition, which must cover all costs including artist fees, fabrication, installation, transportation, and site work. The five-member selection panel, composed of representatives from the Judiciary, community, two artists selected by the Arts Council, and the project architect, seeks artwork that respects the formality of judicial proceedings while providing relief and a sense of inclusion and well-being to visitors. The panel is interested in work that challenges artists' skills and ideals while contributing positively to the courthouse environment.