Call for Proposals
2024 Temporary Public Art Installation
Waterville, Maine

Overview

Waterville Creates invites proposals from individuals or groups for temporary outdoor public art installations for display in Downtown Waterville between June 1 and October 31, 2024 (this is the minimum timeframe; dates may be extended upon mutual agreement by the artist, Waterville Creates, and the property owner). Proposals may be submitted by individual artists, artist collaboratives, and/or arts organizations. The minimum award is $25,000; maximum award is $50,000. The application deadline is December 31, 2023.

In its 2021 Strategic Plan and in anticipation of the opening of the Paul J. Schupf Art Center on Main Street in December 2022, Waterville Creates established a goal to “make strolling downtown a delight with art ever-present.” The intent of this call is to identify and fund one or two significant, highly visible public art installations designed to inspire joy and curiosity and invite engagement by visitors of all ages.

Media + Scope

Proposed installations may include a variety of media and formats, including sound, projection, light, sculpture, etc. While one-time performances and events are not eligible for funding, activities related to or occurring within or around the installation may be included as part of the overall project. Proposals may include one site or multiple sites (i.e., a series of related installations along Main Street).

Proposed work must be suitable for all ages and must remain on display for the full exhibition period (June-October 2024). Applicants are encouraged to include interactive elements that invite the community to engage with the work.

Siting

Projects must be installed within the downtown district. Priority will be given to the following locations: Castonguay Square, Levine’s Park, Main Street sidewalks, and The Concourse parking area. While applicants are encouraged to propose specific sites for their installations, proposals may alternatively include general site requirements (greenspace vs. hardscape, square footage requirements, etc.).

Waterville Creates staff will be available to assist successful applicants in securing necessary permissions to use the public property spaces listed above and potential downtown sites not listed.

Funding

Stipends will range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $50,000 per approved project. Should Waterville Creates or the City of Waterville choose to purchase a piece for permanent display, the stipend shall serve as a deposit toward the total purchase price. Any private purchase will be independent of this process and arranged directly between the purchaser and the artist. Awards are inclusive of all project expenses. No additional funds will be provided for travel or installation expenses, which should be incorporated into the overall project budget.

Installation

Artists are responsible for transporting, installing, and removing the artwork after the exhibition. Exterior artwork should be durable, weatherproof, and require minimal maintenance during the exhibition period. Waterville Creates will work with the City of Waterville to provide site specific installation assistance as required. Attention to public safety issues and resistance to vandalism are also important considerations. Approval of artwork will be contingent on satisfactorily addressing liability issues and assuring structural integrity.

Review Criteria + Process

Proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee comprising representatives from Waterville Creates, the City of Waterville, and other community arts partners. Proposals will be scored based on:
• Overall quality of the proposal
• Project feasibility within provided budget, timeline, and site.
• Artistic excellence
• Visibility / visual impact
• Appropriateness / availability of the site (if one has been identified)
• Evidence of durability / public safety

The selected Artist(s) will be encouraged but not required to participate in at least one associated program and/or artist talk during the period of June 2024 through October 2024.

Waterville Creates will notify applicants of funding decisions by February 1, 2024. Staff will work with successful applicants to schedule, place, and/or refine projects as needed to ensure successful implementation.

Timeline

• October 16, 2023 Call for Proposals opens
• December 31, 2023 Proposals are due
• February 1, 2024 Applicants notified of selection
• May 2024 Installation of work
• June – October, 2024 Exhibition period
• After October 31, 2024 Removal of artwork

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should provide the following:
• Letter of interest. No longer than 2 pages, including the following:
o Identification of lead applicant and any partners to be involved;
o Brief summary of proposed project, including timing and desired location or location requirements.
o Explanation of why you’re interested in this opportunity.
o Explanation of how the community will be invited to interact with the piece.
o Experience with similar temporary public art projects, if applicable.
• Proposed budget. Please provide a budget for the proposed project and clearly state the amount of your request. The minimum request is $25,000, and the maximum is $50,000. Please include all project related expenses, including travel and installation.
• Current resume of any proposed artist(s), and links to artist’s website if applicable. Include information about previous work, commissions, public art installations, and/or exhibitions.
• Support Materials. Digital images (high-res jpgs preferred), videos (not to exceed 3 minutes), website links that will help to illustrate your proposal. Please submit no more than 5 total files. Each image and video should be considered one file. Please include title of work, date of work, dimensions of the work, and materials used.
• Accessibility. To request an accommodation or to receive CFP materials in an alternate format, please contact [email protected] at least two weeks prior to the CFP deadline.

All materials must be emailed to [email protected] by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2023.

About Waterville Creates

Through its three divisions, the Maine Film Center, Waterville Opera House, and Ticonic Gallery + Studios, Waterville Creates offers high quality, year-round film, visual, and performing arts programming for people of all ages from its new home in the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, which opened to the public in December 2022.

MISSION
Arts experiences for all

VISION
A community where all people enjoy transformative experiences in the arts

VALUES

Community
We are building a thriving, connected, and equitable community through shared experiences in the arts. By presenting arts programming by, with, and for our community, we promote growth and well-being.

Creativity
We recognize the vital role creative expression plays in a fulfilled life and a vibrant community, nurture individual artistic endeavors at all levels, and encourage all creative outlets.

Collaboration
We connect and work with creatives, arts and cultural organizations, and other strategic partners to energize and enrich our community through the arts.

Diversity, Equity + Inclusion
We support, encourage, and honor diverse stories and perspectives. We provide relevant, accessible programming while making space for community conversations that deepen understanding and foster discourse around critical issues of our time.

The Carrollton Center for the Arts is accepting proposals from local and regional professional artists for a one-year public sculpture installation at Neva Lomason Memorial Library near downtown Carrollton, Georgia. The city considers the inclusion of public artworks to be an important addition to the area, enriching the downtown experience for both visitors touring the area and residents.

The selected sculpture will be installed on a 6′ x 6′ exterior concrete pad at the library for a one-year display. The selected artist will receive a $3,000 stipend to cover the lease and transportation of the sculpture and labor, equipment and any other costs of installing and removing the artwork. Sculptures should have a library, reading or books theme or be interesting to children and families. Originality and visual impact will be considered.

Artworks must be durable enough to last one year in an exterior, all-weather environment and not require surveillance or maintenance of any kind. All work must be safe with no sharp edges, loose or easily breakable pieces, easily scalable parts or other hazards that could endanger the public.

Work must be ready for installation and be able to be secured to the concrete pad with 3/8″ to 1/2″ anchor bolts or able to sit safely on the ground with no possibility of tipping. The artist must provide the tools and equipment needed to complete installation and removal of the piece.

Deadline for proposals – January 8, 2024
Selection announced – February 3, 2024
Planning and consultation – February/Early March
Installation date – To be scheduled with the artist. This should be completed before Art Takeover on March 28, 2024
Unveiling ceremony – March 28, 2024, Time: TBD

Proposal Requirements:
Complete the application at link provided.

Artists must be at least 21 years old and have previous experience with public art pieces. Only pre-existing pieces will be reviewed. City and library staff and an advisory committee will evaluate and select the artwork to be installed.

-A written description of the proposed artwork must include: title, medium, dimensions, weight, installation method and anchoring procedure, theme/concept behind the work and value of work.
*Selected sculpture should not be altered from the original submission description/design without approval of the selection committee. This includes changes in form, color or installation method.
-Describe the process, including how many people other than the artist will be needed, for installing and removing the work. The city may have staff onsite that can help depending on the requirements and scheduling, but the artist is responsible for making sure he or she has enough help to properly install and remove the work.
-Include photographs showing the proposed artwork from multiple angles.
-Provide a CV and short artist biography and/or statement.
-Include at least three images of past installed artworks demonstrating the artist’s ability to execute the current project. This can include a previous installation of the submitted artwork.
-Submit a schedule showing the estimated timeline needed to complete the project including the time needed to transport and install the work.

The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. Since inception, the Hero Initiative has been fortunate enough to benefit creators with more than $1 million worth of much-needed aid, fueled by your contributions! It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

FfAI is interested in practices that originate or end in the arts but also have broader effects and consequences. We focus on people, projects, groups, and institutions developing new and dynamic definitions of community and connectivity, especially those that foster collectivity.

Individual grants are made to artists, activists, researchers, writers, and others in the visual arts to pursue their research without institutional, governmental, or philanthropic preconditions.

Alternative forms of institutionality in the visual arts, their history, successes, and failures, the redefinition and use of archives, and new practices for the commons remain ongoing concerns.