PROJECT DESCRIPTION / SCOPE OF WORK
Florida Blue, via the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s City of Jacksonville Public Art Program, is accepting proposals from Northeast Florida sculptural artists (and artist teams pairing a 2D creator with a 3D fabricator) for a three-dimensional, public art piece which will front the parking infrastructure enhancements recently completed by Florida Blue at 800 Forest Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204 in the Brooklyn neighborhood near Downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It is important the finished artwork for this project be viewable from Forest Street and assist in enhancing this redeveloping neighborhood and its new parking garage – now open to the public annually, after 6pm on weekdays and 24 hours per day on weekends.

Art themes desired for inclusion are health, vitality, tranquility, and unity. The sculpture should stand a minimum of 12’ in height, including the base, and kinetic submissions are favorable.

Northeast Florida artists (or artist teams) are defined as artists living and working in the State of Florida counties including Duval, Baker, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, Flagler, Putnam, Union, and Bradford.

We are looking for Northeast Florida sculptural artists (or artist teams pairing a 2D creator with a fabricator) able to produce a concept design and fabrication documents for the creation of a three-dimensional work of art that evokes one or all of the themes desired for inclusion: health, vitality, tranquility (peace of mind), and or unity. And, for this project, having a three-dimensional artwork style and track record is not mandatory. Painters, graphic artists, and other artists who typically work in 2D are encouraged to team up with a fabricator who can prove his/her track record creating and installing mid-large scale, outdoor, sculptural work.  CONTACT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL PUBLIC ART TEAM FOR REFERRALS TO FABRICATORS SHOULD YOU NEED THIS ASSISTANCE. Jen@culturalcouncil.org
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Florida Blue and the Public Art Program stand behind equal opportunity and the support of artists from diverse backgrounds.    We encourage minority artists working and living in Northeast Florida (definition above) to apply.
Artists (or artist teams) will submit their project sketch/rendering, portfolio, CV, an artist statement, letter of interest, references, and any other relevant information to establish their project concept. From this, the Florida Blue Artist Selection Committee - comprised of company and public art staff as well as neighborhood stakeholders - will choose the final artist’s concept most qualified for this project to join the Public Art Program project management team.

CITY OF JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Facilitated by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the intent of the City of Jacksonville’s Public Art Program is to utilize public art as a catalyst to ignite Jacksonville, Florida’s identity and civic pride by creatively highlighting all the region has to offer: natural resources, a vibrant arts and cultural scene, healthy living assets, and a rich and varied history. Please visit  https://www.culturalcouncil.org/permanent-collection.html for works from our permanent public art collection.

PROJECT BUDGET
The budget for the completed artwork and its components is up to $75,000, included, but not limited to, all expenses related to art project completion, site preparation, design fees, materials, engineering, fabrication costs, documentation, transportation, installation, and travel. The Public Art Program project management team will assist Florida Blue in the allotment of monies in the final budget to address all necessary design components to achieve the desired transformation at the site. Budgeted amounts are projections only and may change at the discretion of Florida Blue. The final design will be subject to the engineering limitations of the site.

ELIGIBILITY
This call is open to all Northeast Florida-based professional artists. The Cultural Council, Public Art Program staff, Cultural Council Board, Art in Public Places Committee members, the Florida Blue Artist Selection Committee, or their immediate families, are not eligible to apply for this project.

SELECTION PROCESS
The Florida Blue Artist Selection Committee will review submitted project proposals, artist applications, and images of prior works accomplished and installed, and select the finalist for the project. The Public Art Program project management team will facilitate the project and Florida Blue will contract with the artist (or artist team) directly for payment.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Northeast Florida-based artists (or an artist team) who don't have experience in sculpture fabrication can team up with a fabricator to produce and install the final work of art. The artist or artist team will be selected on the basis of the following criteria, as evidenced in application materials and conversations with listed references: artistic merit in design and fabrication;  vision to incorporate the desired themes into the submitted project concept and demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget. Florida Blue and the Public Art Program stand behind equal opportunity and the support of artists from diverse backgrounds. We encourage minority artists working and living Northeast Florida to apply.

MAINTENANCE, SAFETY, MATERIALS AND LONGEVITY
Artists (or artist teams) must demonstrate the ability to translate an artistic concept into materials that are appropriate for public space, taking into consideration maintenance, safety and longevity. The longevity or lifespan of each work and its maintenance to sustain excellent condition will be discussed at the outset of negotiations to produce a Maintenance Plan. The artist (or artist team) will take this into account, including warrantee, when developing and executing the required work.
SITE LOCATION 
Urban core of Jacksonville, FL along Forest Street near the corner of Riverside Avenue in the Florida Blue pocket park fronting the new parking garage, 1⁄4 mile from the St. Johns River.

Sculpture will sit center inside circular, landscaped pad seen here. Landscaping to be modified or removed as needed to accommodate selected sculpture based upon best design aesthetic.
Electricity is immediately available at the site and can be incorporated into the sculpture. 

PROJECT TIMELINE – 2021
 
February 2                   Call to Artists initiated for Request for Proposals
March 19                    Artist application/sculpture proposal submission deadline
April 9                         Finalist is notified
August 9-13                Delivery and installation of sculpture will occur
Fall 2021                     Dedication Ceremony
 
TO APPLY
Applications must be received by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville at midnight, Eastern Standard Time (EST), on March 19, 2021. There is no application fee to apply or use this online application system. 
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The following materials will be required to be uploaded to the Call to Artists:
  • Include an artist concept sketch or rendering of your proposed idea for this site including the themes of health, vitality, tranquility, and unity. The sculpture should stand a minimum of 12’ in height, including the base, and kinetic submissions are favorable.
  • A letter of interest (1,000-character max) outlining the artist’s interest in this project and addressing selection criteria with references to previous artworks in public places. Applicant(s) may apply as a single artist or team. If applying as a team, identify all team members and their proposed project role (i.e.: lead artist, fabricator, etc.) in the statement.
  • A current professional resume or CV and artist statement. If applying as a team, submit a resume and artist statement for each team member.
  • Three professional references who can speak to the artist’s ability to meet deadlines, work with the community, and create innovative work as part of a design team. Include name, organization, phone number, and email.
  • Portfolio: (4) four to eight (8) images of recent related artwork. Please provide the artwork title for each image upload and submit a separate image list including title of work, date, media, size, site, client, and budget.

POLICIES:
 
The Florida Blue Artist Selection Committee and Public Art Program reserve the right to reject any application, to initiate an alternate Selection Process, or to reissue the RFP for additional pre-qualified candidates.
 
Except as provided herein, the Artist retains all reproduction rights under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C., sections 101, ET. seq.  If applicable, it is the intention of the parties that the Artwork shall be unique.  The Artist hereby agrees not to make an exact duplicate or a duplicate that is substantially similar to the Artwork or permit others to do so without the written permission of the Review Panel, which may be granted or withheld in Review Panel’s sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at all.  The Artist hereby grants permission to the Review Panel to make photographs or other two-dimensional reproductions of the Artwork for non-commercial purposes, including but not limited to reproductions to be used in promotional materials, catalogues or media publicity, provided these rights are exercised in a tasteful and professional manner.  All reproductions featuring the Artwork as the focus of such reproduction (but excluding any such reproductions in which the Artwork appears in the background or as ancillary item) shall contain a credit to the Artist.
INFORMATION: For additional information, please contact: Jen Jones Murray, Public Art Program Interim Director Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville 
Jen@culturalcouncil.org
www.culturalcouncil.org