U-Med Transit Shelter Renovation - Public Art Commission

The Municipality of Anchorage is seeking qualified artists to create artwork for the U-Med Transit Shelter renovation project through its 1% for Art Program. The commission is for one art installation totaling $18,750 to be permanently installed.

The U-Med District Transit and Pedestrian Improvements project will provide a new bus shelter and enhance pedestrian safety and mobility through new pedestrian lighting and improved pathway circulation. Project construction will begin in Spring 2017 and be completed by summer 2017, with artwork installation likely occurring in the same timeframe. The bus stop is located on the north side of Providence Drive, bordering the University of Alaska Anchorage campus, and serves one of the highest ridership demand areas in Anchorage.

Artists may propose any type of intervention including shelter panels, canopy elements, lighting or projections, benches and furnishings, bicycle racks, sculpture, sound, or embedded print. Proposals must exclude modification of the prefabricated shelter structure, heavy weight on the shelter roof, and artworks exceeding the public use easement perimeter. The artwork must be durable with minimal maintenance requirements and designed to last the life of the building. 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, with permitting fees paid by the artist.

Eligibility is limited to artists from Northern Regions: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Yukon. The budget of $18,750 includes all costs of design, fabrication, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation, and an identifying plaque. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and prevailing wage rates, may apply. Artists will be selected based on artistic merit, appropriateness of medium and style, experience with similar projects, and communication skills. Artists with no prior public art experience will be seriously considered. Submissions must include six digital images of past work, a 1-2 page resume with three professional references, an artist statement addressing interest and qualifications for the project, and answers to required questions about location, medium, and commission level.