CALL FOR ARTISTS REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS – Brandon Library Mural

August 13, 2024

CALL FOR ARTISTS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY is inviting interested artists to provide responses to this REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for a commissioned artwork/mural to be digitally printed on acoustic panels lining the vertical walls of the dome of the Reading Room of the Brandon Library Replacement located in Hillsborough County, Florida.

INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

PROJECT TITLE:  PUBLIC ART PROJECT FOR THE BRANDON LIBRARY REPLACEMENT

PROJECT GOAL:  TO PROVIDE AN ARTWORK/MURAL FOR THE NEW BRANDON LIBRARY

LOCATION: 304 W. LUMSDEN ROAD, BRANDON, FL 33611, near the intersection of W. Lumsden Road and S. Parsons Avenue.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:  MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, AT 5:00 PM

DELIVER PROPOSAL BY E-MAIL TO:  PublicArt@hcfl.gov 

PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF PROGRAM: DEPARTMENT OF CAPITAL PROGRAMS, PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, COUNTY CENTER, 22^ND FLOOR, 601 E. KENNEDY BLVD., TAMPA, FL  33602

1.0       PROJECT INFORMATION:

• The Brandon Replacement Library is now under design. The new library will be in central Brandon, an unincorporated suburb of Tampa located within Hillsborough County.  The County is requesting submissions from artists demonstrating their ability to provide completely realized artwork to be digitally printed on acoustical panels to be mounted on the vertical walls of the library’s octagonal dome. Each of the eight walls is approximately 14 feet high and 15 feet wide. The artwork should complement the neoclassical architectural style of the Brandon Public Library The dome will be within the library’s main reading room, beginning approximately 15 feet above the finished floor. The artist shall provide the commissioned artwork graphics as electronic files with sufficient detail that the work can be printed on the open-weave fabric surface of acoustical panels.  The artist shall observe the fabrication and installation of the panels to maintain the integrity and clarity of the artist’s original artwork. The library is scheduled to be substantially complete in the fourth quarter of 2026.
• The printed length of the artwork is 120 feet (15’x 8 panels). The printed height cannot be greater than 14 feet but may be less. The commissioned artwork shall contain sufficient detail to be reproduced at this scale.
• The commissioned artist(s) will be responsible for the artwork and for the production of electronic files necessary for the eventual printing. The artist shall also observe the fabrication and installation of the panels.
• The artwork will become part of the County’s permanent public art collection.
• The commissioned artist(s) shall provide an identification plaque.
• The project will have several stakeholders including the Hillsborough County Department of Library Services, the Public Art Committee, various other County Departments, and other interested community organizations and individuals.
• Artists are required to submit qualifications, and encouraged to provide illustrations (images, renderings), and a brief statement describing an initial concept or idea for this project.
• Up to four finalists will be selected to provide site specific proposals. Each selected finalist will be paid an honorarium of up to $750.00 (seven hundred and fifty dollars). Site Specific Proposals must include a site-specific maquette and/or other visual depictions of the proposed artwork.
• Design Criteria for Eventual Site-Specific Proposals:

1. The artwork will be printed on acoustical panels covering an area a maximum of 14 feet high and 15 feet wide on each wall of the octagonal dome. The dome will be within the library’s main reading room, beginning approximately 15 feet above the finish floor. The artist shall provide the artwork graphics as electronic files with sufficient detail that the work can be printed on the open-weave fabric surface of the acoustical panels.
2. The artwork should complement the neoclassical architectural style of the Brandon Public Library.
3. Artwork is to be an original design (not reproduced).
4. The artwork must be devoid of advertising, including charitable, fraternal, religious, or political signs, symbols, logos, banners or any other such device.

2.0       SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

2.1       Artists who wish to be considered for this project must submit the materials described below electronically.  Ensure that all files sent electronically have been scanned by up-to-date virus scanning software.  Files with detected viruses will be destroyed and will not be considered.  All images and documents must be accessible in the MS Windows environment. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

The following documents are required:

• A current professional resume of no more than two (2) pages for each submitting artist.
• A list of artwork/mural installations completed in the last 5 years. Please include owner contact information.
• A maximum of 8 digital images of completed artwork/mural installations. The images shall be in .JPG format. Any masking or borders should be black, not white.  Image files must be properly labeled each with artist’s last name and a number (1-8) assigned per image list. (e.g.: smith_1.jpg, smith_2.jpg).  Artist’s name should NOT appear on the image. The first five artworks presented should be those that are most related to this call.  Provide close-ups or multiple viewpoints of large or complex artworks.
• An Image ID sheet explaining the content and context of each image.
• The following documents are optional:
• A written description of proposed artwork for this project including the title, type of media, dimensions, and up to 8 images/graphics to convey the design intent of the proposed artwork.
• Scans of publications, reviews or other items that may assist the County in evaluation of the artist’s capabilities. (No more than 3 items of this type should be included in the submission.)
• Instructions for electronic submission:

2.3.1     Submissions may be made by e-mail to: Publicart@hcfl.gov.  Large files may be zipped.

2.3.2     As an alternative to email submission, a USB flash drive may be mailed to the address below:

Dan Myers, Public Art Staff

Capital Programs

22^nd Fl, County Center

P.O. Box 1110

Tampa, Florida 33601

2.4       Additional Information and Instructions

2.4.1     Proposals will be reviewed by a Site Advisory Committee and the County’s Public Art        Committee.

2.4.2     The intent of the review is to short list a group of up to four artists to provide more specific proposals for the artwork.  The County intends to contract with only one artist or artist group to fulfill the requirements of this project.

2.4.3     Hillsborough County does not guarantee that any commissions will result from this call.

3.0      BUDGET, SCHEDULE, AND SELECTION PROCESS:

3.1      Budget for the Commission:  $16,000.

Estimated Schedule:

September 23, 2024- Call for Artist submission deadline

First Quarter 2025- Artists are selected to provide a site-specific proposal.

Second to Third Quarter 2025- Review and ranking of artists’ proposals.

Third to Fourth Quarter 2025- Artists notified of rankings and an Agreement is      negotiated with top-ranked proposer.

Third to Fourth Quarter 2026 – Target date for installation

3.3       Selection Process:

3.3.1     For this project, a Site Advisory Committee composed of members of the public, Department of Library Services staff, the County project manager, and members of the Public Art Committee will initially review and rank the artists.  The Site Advisory Committee’s rankings will be considered by the Public Art Committee for final rankings and the selection of up to four artists to be short-listed.  Short-listed artists will be given further information on the project.  Using this information, each artist will develop a site-specific proposal.  Artists may use models, drawings, computer-generated imagery, and material samples to communicate their intentions. They must include in their proposals a working budget.

3.3.2     The site-specific proposals will be initially reviewed and ranked by the Site Advisory Committee.  The Site Advisory Committee’s rankings will be considered by the Public Art Committee as they make final rankings.

3.3.3     An Agreement will be negotiated with the top-ranked artist.  The Agreement will require the commissioned artist to provide the suitable electronic files for the complete artwork and meet all related costs for the files including materials and equipment required to produce the files within a mutually agreed time period and for a fixed fee. Progress payments are made over the course of the contract in accordance with a mutually agreed upon schedule. Compliance with financial arrangements between the artist and his/her subcontractors is the responsibility of the artist.

3.3.4     If an agreement cannot be successfully negotiated in a timely manner with the top-ranked artist(s), the County has the option to negotiate with the artist(s) next in order of ranking.

3.3.5    The negotiated agreement will be approved the Board of County Commissioners.

4.0       REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION/CLARIFICATION:

4.1       Any artist desiring additional information, interpretation, and/or clarifications relating to this Call shall make a written request addressed to:

Dan Myers, Public Art Staff, 22^nd Floor

P.O. Box 1110

Tampa, Florida 33601

e-mail: Publicart@hcfl.gov

4.2       If it is deemed necessary, an addendum to this Call for Artists may be issued through the Hillsborough County Art Council webpage at:

Opportunities – Hillsborough Arts Council

5.0       RISK:

5.1       Persons responding to this Call do so at their sole expense and risk.  The County reserves the right to change or cancel this Call at any time.

5.2       No proposer is guaranteed the award of a commission or any work as a result of being selected for this project.

5.3       Any changes made to this Call shall be made by means of a written addendum. It shall be the responsibility of the Artist to assure that all addenda have been received prior to submitting a proposal.

6.0        PUBLIC RECORDS ACT:

6.1       Pursuant to Florida Statutes, sealed responses to this Call to Artists are exempt from the public inspection requirements of the Public Records Act until such time as the announcement of a decision based on the proposals or within 30 days after proposal receipt date, whichever is earlier.

EXHIBIT A

LIBRARY LOCATION

Parcel at N.W. corner of Parsons Avenue and Lumsden Road

Principal (South) Elevation

Southwest Elevation

Section through Dome

END OF DOCUMENT