REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Artistic Signature Piece Glazer Children s Museum Tampa, FL 1. Summary The Glazer Children s Museum seeks an innovative, creative and whimsical proposal for a long-term signature sculptural installation in the museum s two-story, glass-enclosed lobby. The museum is particularly interested in interactive, three-dimensional artwork that is inviting to visitors both inside and outside the museum which is located in the vibrant Waterfront Arts District alongside the Tampa Riverwalk in downtown Tampa, Florida. The museum is re-imagining the lobby and entrance experience and the sculpture would be an iconic centerpiece to our lobby. 2. Glazer Children s Museum Named one of the top five Children s Museums in America, Glazer Children s Museum is an innovative educational and culture resource for the Tampa region. Opened in Downtown Tampa in 2010, the Museum sits among skyscrapers as well as green space, and is a central part of the cultural corridor featuring other museums, libraries and a performing arts center. The mission of Glazer Children s Museum is to create learning environments where children play, discover and connect to the world around them in order to develop as lifelong learners and leaders. The hands-on, minds-on Museum attracts more than 210,000 visitors annually with a 53,000 sq. ft. building full of themed galleries and 170 interactive exhibits for children aged birth to ten. A combination of permanent and traveling exhibits, comprehensive year-round educational programs, and dynamic special events provide children, parents, caregivers, and teachers a rich, cutting edge, ever-changing environment for playful learning. Glazer Children s Museum, a 501c3 non-profit, also offers over 5,000 sq. ft. of event space, 2,500 sq. ft. of classroom space and a 1,000 sq. ft. rooftop terrace overlooking the picturesque Downtown Riverwalk, along the Hillsborough River. 3. Project Goals & Requirements The signature sculptural piece must: be an eye-catching piece of interactive art; appeal and be accessible to the museum s diverse visitors; allow for visitor interaction as well as have a dynamic non-visitor mode during closed hours; be viewable from outside the museum (particularly at night); be artistically engaging, stimulate conversation, and evoke appreciation; be durable, low maintenance, and safe for visitor interaction integrate into lobby in terms of scale and design and in a way that doesn t interfere with museum operations
Additional consideration will be given to proposals that incorporate mathematics, music generation, kinetic movement, visitor collaboration, and/or dynamic lighting. The museum will retain the intellectual property and the source code behind the installation. 4. About the Site The available space is roughly 10 feet by 10 feet enclosed by the Museum s glass facade on two sides and open to the museum interior on the remaining sides. There is approximately 14 feet of vertical space between the level concrete floor and the ceiling above. There is flexibility in the sculpture extending out larger than the 10 foot by 10 foot space across the ceiling as long as the area below is kept clear. Ample light spills in from the windows facing Ashley Drive. Electrical service is available in the ceiling but material and installation costs for any fixtures should be included in the project budget. Labor and expense for operations and maintenance should be minimal so that the existing operations staff of the museum can maintain the sculpture. 5. Budget The total budget is $200,000 towards the commission and/or acquisition of this site-specific sculpture. All costs associated with the sculpture should be inclusive of, but not limited to, artist design fee, structural engineering, materials, fabrication, lighting, transportation, installation/de-installation, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other costs related to the sculpture. Any attachments or modifications to the existing structures must be approved by Glazer Children s Museum s architect. 6. Timeline All applications must be submitted electronically by 5:00pm EST on August 31, 2017. Please submit files in a single PDF file where possible. July 31, 2017 Announcement of RFP Aug 18, 2017 Deadline for intent to submit and questions regarding RFP Aug 31, 2017 Deadline for receipt of proposal materials Sept 1-8, 2017 Review of proposals Sept 11-15, 2017 Interviews of up to 3 semifinalists Sept 18, 2017 Selection and notification of winning proposal Dec 1-31, 2017 Installation of artwork 7. Proposal requirements A one-sentence summary describing the proposed work Contact information for all team members Biographical information or resumes including previous experience for principal team members A written narrative describing your proposal (300 words or less) At least three sketches or images of the proposed work (JPEG or PDF), showing scale, dimensions, and elevation
Proposed installation plan including key dates Line itemized budget Up to 5 images (JPEG or PDF) of previously completed work. If artwork is kinetic, video may be submitted in addition to images. Portfolio of work (electronic); At least two professional references. 8. Selection The committee will use the following criteria in the selection process: Submittal of all required application materials as outlined in this RFP; Success in addressing the Project Goals and Requirements; Originality--innovation and creativity; Quality and craftsmanship exhibited by past work; Appropriateness of artwork media and scale for the site and for the museum s audience; Maintainability, durability, and operational considerations; Feasibility--artist's proven track record/ability to complete the work on time and within budget. The Glazer Children s Museum reserves the right to choose any or none of the submittals for any reason. There is no fee or compensation to be paid to the respondents to this RFP. The selected submittal will be bound to the proposal for 60 days from the Submission Deadline listed. 9. Contact Submit to: John Shaw Glazer Children s Museum Email: jshaw@glazermuseum.org Larger files can be submitted via DropBox link or similar. Visits to the museum can be arranged by contacting John Shaw, above. All questions should be directed to John Shaw at the email address above. Respondents should not contact other members of the Glazer Children s Museum about this RFP. Answers by others should not be considered formal responses. 10.Images Images of the proposed location are below. Renovations are planned and these images should be reviewed for scale / contextual purposes only. A sample rendering is also attached.