PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITY – please forward
Deadline for submissions: August 11, 2008
COMMUNITY MURAL PROJECT
The City of Ventura’s Public Art Program invites proposals from artists
for a unique mural project. The selected artist will create a community
based project and process for working with local youth combining two
grants awarded to the City of Ventura by the National Endowment for the
Arts.
The grants include:
1. Community Mural Award
The City of Ventura was awarded a grant to commission an artist to
create a large outdoor mural to be located in Ventura’s renowned
Historic Downtown Cultural District. The mural may include a broad
range of media and usage of spray paint is especially encouraged. The
content of the mural is to be created through a series of at least four
workshops with local youth. Local youth may also participate in the
creation of the mural or the artist may carry it out singularly.
2. Big Read Award
The City of Ventura was awarded a grant to participate in the Big Read.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts
designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The
program occurs in communities across the United States who create
programs over a month-long period to encourage reading and discussion.
In partnership with local libraries, the City of Ventura has selected
one of the most widely acclaimed works of Chicano literature as the
focus of our Big Read program.
The work is entitled Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. More
information about the Big read and this book is available online at
http://www.neabigread.org/. The City of Ventura is looking for an
artist to combine these two grants into a major project in our city.
The proposal should include a process by which the artist or artist
team intends to work with ten to twelve high school students to read
Big Read selection “Bless Me, Ultima” and develop a mixed media mural
from the values and ideas in the book. This project is intended to
introduce local teens to a variety of media and process of mural making
while also instilling youth with the joy of reading. The public art
program desires to create a fresh and innovative work of art and
strengthen the community by offering local youth a legal avenue for
self-expression.
This temporary mural will be on display on panels in a pocket park off
Main Street in historic downtown Ventura. Ventura’s Historic Downtown
Cultural District extends for ten city blocks and is an area rich in
early California history. Home to Mission San Buenaventura, the
historic City Hall building, Ortega Adobe, and the nation’s largest
Morton Bay Fig Tree, Downtown Ventura is a thriving arts center known
for its galleries, theaters, museums, locally owned boutiques, cafes,
and eco-businesses.
The Artwork
Commissioned artist will be responsible for developing and conducting
workshops with local youth and creating the mural. The selected artist
will complete the final product of the mural incorporating ideas from
the students, but the students are not required to paint the final
mural, only to learn about the process. The City will select the youth
to participate in the program based on recommendations from teachers,
youth programs and a two-page essay submitted by the student as to why
they want to be part of the project.
A broad range of artistic styles, forms, materials, and conceptions
will be considered for this commission; however, the mural must include
an element of spray paint as one of the media involved in the mural.
Artwork will be displayed on panels for approximately six months, and
then moved to various temporary locations through out the city.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to interested artists residing in Ventura,
Santa Barbara and Los Angeles Counties.
Selection Process
The selection panel will include members of the Public Art Commission,
community representatives, and arts professionals familiar with the
field of public art. The panel will have the option of selecting an
artist or artist team based on initial proposals or of selecting a
small group of finalists to interview prior to making a recommendation.
The criteria used by the panel will include: artistic merit, relevance
to site, positive community impact, proven ability to undertake
projects of a similar scope, concept as evidenced by the submitted
materials, and demonstrated ability to work with government agencies
and the community in the creation of an art project.
The artist will be required to present their ideas for working with
community youth to the Public Art Commission for approval prior to
project initiation.
Budget
The selected artist or artist team will be awarded a $7,500 contract.
The commission includes artist honorarium, design, student workshops,
travel and paint. The City will coordinate and pay for milling,
priming of mural panels, installation and marketing of the project.
How to apply
Interested artists must submit the following by August 11, 2008
1. Letter of Interest
2. Project Proposal
3. Resume for each artist including past work with community youth
4. Itemized budget including workshops, materials, supplies, artist
honorarium and travel
5. Digital images of previous artwork and work with students imbedded
in a PowerPoint presentation (10 images maximum)
6. Digital images list (indicating title, dimensions, materials, date
of work, and location of each work)
7. Proof of liability insurance (if applicable)
8. Self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of application
materials
SUBMITTAL DELIVERY
Submitted materials may be hand delivered or mailed but must arrive by
August 11, 2008. Postmarks are not acceptable.
Send materials to:
Public Art Program
City of Ventura
PO Box 99
Ventura, CA 93002-0099
Hand-deliver applications to:
Public Art Program
City of Ventura
Ventura City Hall
501 Poli Street, Room 226
Ventura, CA 93001
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Depending upon the scope of the project, some artists may be required
to hold general liability insurance in order to participate. The City
of Ventura will assess submissions and notify artists if this
requirement will be applied.
The City of Ventura reserves the right to reject all submittals and not
award a contract for this project
For further information contact Robin Elander at (805) 658-4736 or by
email: relander@ci.ventura.ca.us or Denise Sindelar at (805) 658-4793
or by email: dsindelar@ci.ventura.ca.us
PROJECT TIMELINE
Proposals due: August 11, 2008
Panel Review: August 14, 2008
PAC approval of artist: August 19, 2008
Contract with Artist Early September
Workshops & Creation of Mural October – November
Mural Installed Week of December 1st
Mural Reception TBA
Santa Barbara Visual Arts Alliance
Web Site: http://www.sbva.org
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