OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS

Kendrick Park Public Art Project

For Amherst Public Art Commission

Artists should submit all materials via the online submission form here

(Directions to mail submissions are included below.)

Application Deadline is May 14

The Town of Amherst, the Amherst Public Art Commission, together with the Amherst Business Improvement District invites artists from the BIPOC community to submit applications for a single commission to create a temporary or semi-permanent artwork that recognizes the experience and culture of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Amherst, for installation in Amherst’s Kendrick Park. This opportunity is funded in partnership with the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Amherst BID, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).  For more information, please contact Gabrielle Gould, BID Director here: gabrielle@amherstdowntown.com

APAC Mission & Core Values. The purpose of the Amherst Public Art Commission (APAC) is to foster a greater community awareness of the interaction with public art, and through public art, promote cultural diversity and an improved quality of life for Amherst's residents.  The APAC recognizes the value and potential of public art as a meaningful activator to support the downtown and village centers as a cultural destination and to help enliven public spaces.

To that end, APAC seeks artwork that recognizes the experience and culture of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Amherst, and the interconnectedness of our lives and futures.

PROJECT DETAILS:

PROJECT GOALS: Creatively engage visitors to the park to recognize the cultural, social, economic, and/or environmental impact of BIPOC who call(ed) Amherst their home, their influence, and/or their importance to the story of Amherst. 

Be inclusive and welcoming, and appropriate for all ages.

Have a 3-dimensional design. Be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials, suitable for climate conditions, resistant to UV damage, safe for public interaction. This project is in the public realm and may therefore be exposed to physical stresses, as well as be subject to vandalism. Possibly allow for audience interaction and community engagement. APAC and the BID would like to plan community-wide events around the installation (optional). Be ADA accessible and not impede any walkways in the park.

LOCATION: Kendrick Park: Google Map – See link for location.  Kendrick Park is located along North Pleasant Street (Map 11C, Parcel 244), at the north end of downtown Amherst.

MEDIUM: Projects must have a three-dimensional element. All visual arts medium or materials must be suitable for outdoor display for at least 4 months. Note: access to electricity or water will not be available at the site. Projects proposals that will be deemed ineligible include: 2-D murals (mural arts may be a part of a 3-D installation, but cannot be the whole project); One-time events/performances/ artists may activate an installation with performance, but performance cannot be the whole project.

SELECTION: Selection will be based on the proposal that scores the highest on our selection rubric (included below). Selected artist, or team of artists, will be recommended by the Art Jury to APAC and Town Manager for final approval.

BUDGET: The budget for this project is $10,000 including labor and materials.

SITE PREP: Artwork will need to be able to attach to an approximately 4’ x 4’ concrete foot pad provided by the town of Amherst. Amherst Town Department of Public Works (DPW) staff will be available to assist the artist/team with the installation and deinstallation of the art piece.

TIMELINE:

Call for Artists: Posted by April 3, 2023, with press release and announcement on town website and associated social media channels. Proposals will be accepted through May 14, 2023 at noon.

Artist Notified By: June 20. Selected artist(s) will be announced publicly to follow.

Grant Agreement Executed: June 30

Initial Design Due: INCLUDED in application

Final Designs Due: August 1

Fabrication Period: August 7 - September 30

Installation Period: October 1 - October 28

Display Period: November 2023, with public unveiling and community celebration. Project will be on display through at least July 2024

ARTIST SELECTION CRITERIA:

Artist selection will be based on the following criteria. Please contact Gabrielle for a copy of the selection rubric.

Application: The application must include all required information (see application requirements below). Unreadable or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Qualifications: The artist(s) proposes a project concept that:

• Has a three-dimensional element
• Is able to be installed on a (approximately) 4’ x 4’ concrete foot pad/concrete base
• Is able to withstand various weather conditions for a minimum of 4 months.
• Is ADA compliant and suitable for installing in a public park
• is fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials, suitable for climate conditions, resistant to UV damage, safe for public interaction. This project is in the public realm and may therefore be exposed to physical stresses, as well as be subject to vandalism.
• Be inclusive and welcoming, and appropriate for all ages.

Selection Criteria:

• Impact.  How well does the proposed project concept creatively engage visitors to the park to recognize the cultural, social, economic, and/or environmental impact of BIPOC who call(ed) Amherst their home, their influence, and/or their importance to the story of Amherst. 
• Community Engagement. Possibly allow for audience interaction and community engagement. APAC and the BID would like to plan community-wide events around the installation (optional). Be ADA accessible and not impede any walkways in the park.

Priorities:

• Local BIPOC Artists. Applicants who identify as BIPOC who call(ed) Amherst their home.

A detailed project plan is not necessary at this stage. If selected, project feasibility, sustainability, and safety will be reviewed in the initial design phase.

Application Requirements and Submitting Qualifications:

Proposals must be received by the BID by noon on May 14, 2022 and must include:

• Contact Information: Artists name, email, and phone number. If a team is applying, the names and contact information (names, emails, phone numbers) of all team members, and identify the point person for the application (required)
• A short bio (2 paragraphs) (required)
• Resume or CV (2 pages, max) (optional)
• Work Samples: 3 - 5 digital images of applicant’s related work that include title, year, and medium. Images can be uploaded in jpg form to the online form, or copied into a single pdf and included with printed application materials to be mailed (required)
• Link to artists website or online portfolio (optional)
• Please list contact information (names and email addresses) for 2 references who are familiar with your work
• Project Concept: Conceptual description of your project, including artistic medium (required) and (required) a conceptual sketch of the proposed project, please include a statement by the artist on what you think the impact of this project will have for raising BIPOC voices and experiences in Amherst

• A detailed project plan is not necessary at this stage. Please see the artist description criteria above for details

Project proposals may be submitted online through the online application here: https://forms.gle/GUrtWbJScUYgsHvg6

Or mailed to
Amherst Business Improvement District

ATTN: Gabrielle Gould

35 South Pleasant Street

Amherst, MA 01001

Please submit all application materials in one pdf if sending via email.

Questions about the project, or requests for site tours, can be directed to Gabrielle Gould via email: gabrielle@amherstdowntown.com or phone 508.901.1180

All applications must be received by the proposal deadline of May 14, 2023.

Kendrick Park Public Art Selection Rubric

Appendix A:

Sample Art Jury Scoring Rubric

Artist Name: _____________________________________

1. Application

2. Proposed Project Qualifications (60 points)

3. Project Impact (40 points)

Overall Score

Additional Comments, if any:

Appendix B: EXAMPLE ARTIST GRANT AGREEMENT (This is a generic form - To be provided)