Artistic Planter Murals CALL TO ARTISTS Request for Proposals/ Request for Qualifications
Request for Proposals (RFP) / Request for Qualifications (RFQ): In partnership with the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority and private sponsors, Charleston Main Streets West Side requests proposals and qualifications from artists for the design and implementation of murals to be installed on on-street steel construction planter boxes. The planter boxes will be placed throughout the Elk City Historic District on Charleston's West Side and will be situated on the street so that murals will be visible from all four sides. Each proposal must include renderings for all four panels of the planter box. The dimensions of the planter boxes are 4 x2 x3, totaling 36sqft. To-scale renderings of the planter boxes are below. FRONT ANGLE VIEW 2 3 4 SIDE ANGLE VIEW 2 3 4 2
A conceptual rendering of how murals will be installed on the steel planter boxes is below. A total of ten (10) steel planter boxes will be installed throughout the Elk City Historic District and will be installed in batches of five (5) as funding becomes available. The first five (5) are fully funded and are scheduled to be installed in the spring of 2017. Organic material (plant life) will be maintained by local business owners. Location Overview: The planter boxes will be installed at various locations within the Elk City Historic District along any of the following streets/blocks; 600-700 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue South, 200-400 blocks of West Washington Street, 700 block of Bigley Avenue, 600 block of Tennessee Avenue, 600 block of Ohio Avenue. Placement of planter boxes will be dependent on 1) the business responsible for plant life maintenance, and 2) keeping in compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations. The organizers of this project ask that all details regarding the mural remain confidential until an announcement has been made to the public. A formal press release will be distributed once the artist has been chosen for the project. Response to this RFP/RFQ signifies confidentiality between the organizers and the artists involved in this process. 3
Project Scope, Deliverables, and Timeline: In partnership with the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority and private sponsors, the project shall achieve the following goals: 1. Improve the overall aesthetic of Charleston's Elk City Historic District; 2. Help brand the Elk City district as a new, upcoming, hip district seated within a historical environment; 3. Assist in creating a sense of "place" within the Elk City district (and the general West Side) so that residents and business owners alike feel pride in their surroundings; 4. Generate and continue interest in public art as an important revitalization strategy on Charleston's West Side; and 5. Continue the dynamic public art initiatives now underway in the Elk City district. The project timeline is as follows: 1. Proposal Submission Deadline: March 6, 2017 at midnight 2. Proposal Review and Selection: March 8, 2017 The Charleston Main Streets West Side (CMSWS) Urban Design Committee will be reviewing proposals at their regularly scheduled March meeting. Artists will be notified whether or not they have been selected for the first round of planter box installations no later than Friday, March 10, 2017. 3. Artist Agreements Established: No later than April 4, 2017 Each artist will be required to complete a W-9 tax form to receive payment. 4. Beautification Commission Approval: April 4, 2017 Chosen concepts will be presented to the City of Charleston s Beautification Commission for approval at their monthly April meeting. 5. Mural Completion Deadline: May 31, 2017 Budget: Each artist will be awarded $500. Anti-graffiti coating will be applied by the CMSWS Urban Design Committee. Payments will be made in two $250 installments. 4
Proposal Guidelines: The artist's response to this Request for Proposal/Qualifications should include: 1.) Explanation of artist's previous work that would demonstrate his/her qualifications for this project; 2.) Guarantee of availability to complete his/her planter box by May 31, 2017; 3.) Contact information including email and cell phone; 4.) Explanation of artist's inspiration for all four panels of his/her planter box; 5.) Sketches and/or renderings of all four panels of his/her planter box concept. 6.) DESIGN RESTRICTIONS: a) a white background must be used; b) black may be used to create line, and; c) color use is restricted to red, yellow, and blue. *See the conceptual rendering on page 3 for an example of how to incorporate restrictions. Proposals and Submissions: Proposals for this project must be submitted by 11:59 PM on March 6, 2017. Each application must include a visual representation of the artists mural concept. The chosen artist will be notified by March 10 th. Proposals may be submitted in person or via email to: Charleston Main Streets West Side Attn: Steven Romano 303 Washington Street West, Suite 207 Charleston, WV 25302 For questions, please contact Steven Romano at Steven@CharlestonMainStreets.org or 304.720.3161 5