York Street Building Public Art Commission

The Norfolk Arts Commission and the York Street Building Planning Committee seek to commission an artist to design and create artwork for the York Street Building, a one-story 3,760 square foot historic structure built in 1946 located in downtown Norfolk's oldest standing neighborhood. The building is currently home to the Virginia Sinus Center and is highly visible from Brambleton Avenue, a major thoroughfare traveled by 31,000 cars daily. The artwork should attract attention to the building, inspire a sense of calm and positive energy, humanize and personalize the space, and serve as a landmark contributing to the character of Norfolk. The artwork could wrap around the corner and down the windowed side of the building, creating a sense of motion and pulling attention to the front.

The artwork must be large enough to be seen by vehicular traffic both day and night and made of durable, permanent materials—not paint. Artists may explore kinetic materials; electricity is available at the site. Artwork must be attached to the building through mortar joints and removable without damaging the brick. The committee is open to a variety of themes and styles, including abstract, symbolic, or work referencing Norfolk's history and African American healthcare. The selected artist will develop the design after researching Norfolk's history and conducting interviews with committee and community members.

This is a public/private partnership with a total budget of $50,000 covering artist's honorarium, engineering, fabrication, installation, materials, shipping, insurance, travel expenses, project plaque, and documentation. The artist must hire a Virginia licensed contractor for installation and carry Commercial General Liability Insurance naming the City of Norfolk as an additional insured. Up to three finalists may be selected for virtual interviews about past work and creative process. A city contract will be issued with a design phase requiring Norfolk Arts Commission review and approval prior to fabrication. Application deadline: July 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Submit to https://artist.callforentry.org. Required materials: Statement of Understanding, Letter of Interest (500-word max), Resume (2 pages max), up to 10 artwork images, and three professional references.