UPMC Hamot Patient Care Tower Call for Artists

Erie Arts & Culture, on behalf of the Hamot Health Foundation and UPMC Hamot, is requesting qualifications from artists or artist teams to create an original art installation inside the newly constructed UPMC Hamot Patient Care Tower in Erie, Pennsylvania. A preference will be given to artists or artist teams with a portfolio reflecting work created and installed within a healthcare environment. The finished artwork should translate UPMC's central values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into a visual narrative.

The artwork will be installed in a first floor hallway spanning approximately 140 feet in length. The hallway is configured into six panels ranging from 21.5 to 27 feet in length, with a height above the handrail of 59 inches. LED tubed lighting is recessed into the ceiling and between wall panels. The installation may consist of 2D work, 3D work, or a combination of both. Artwork should be constructed of durable, easy-to-clean materials suitable for a healthcare setting; avoid colors, shapes, and textures that are triggering; be appropriate for all ages; be modular to allow for future reconfiguration; and complement the space while integrating UPMC Hamot's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The budget for this project is $50,000, inclusive of all expenses including artist fees, travel, fabrication, installation, insurance, and maintenance contingency. A Selection Committee will evaluate submissions based on artistic merit, artist history of completing installations of similar scale and scope, and interest in creating a statement work. Three finalists will be selected to prepare proposals and will each receive a $1,000 stipend. Finalists will tour the space, meet with community constituents, and present proposals to the Selection Committee. One artist or artist team will be selected for the commission. Application materials must include a letter of interest (one page/500 words), artist bio (one page/500 words), CV (two pages), professional references with contact information for three references, and five digital images with descriptions of relevant completed artwork (200 words per artwork). Image descriptions should include project budget, team members if collaborative, materials, and location.