Calls for Art Proposals:

Each applicant will submit a blind proposal for a public artwork and each proposal shall include:

1. A narrative description
2. Graphic material
3. Information on conservation and maintenance
4. Estimated costs/budget
5. Information about the artist(s)

See full guidelines for submission of public art proposals below.

Artist-initiated Proposals:

Applicants may choose to submit a blind or an open proposal. 

See full guidelines for submission of public art proposals below.

Guidelines for Public Art Proposal Submissions

Note: The Commission for Public Art requires applicants to choose materials, design, execute and install artworks in such a way that they do not harm the environment or endanger any species in Evansville or anywhere else.

Applicants will select one of the two following procedures and submit proposal:

PROJECT PROPOSAL METHOD A (NO PUBLIC INPUT):

All project proposals from artists who design without public input will include a narrative description of the intended work, graphic material, information on conservation and maintenance, costs/budget, and material about the artist.

The Narrative Description will include a description of:

• Intended work’s physical attributes (materials, fabrication methods, size and configuration, method of installation)
• Artistic intent of the work and how viewers will relate to/interact with the work
• Site and how the work will address the intended location, and why the location was selected (if applicable)

The Graphic Material will include a body of material sufficient to convey the essential characteristics of the proposed work and its intent including:

• Site plan and location map
• Drawings and/or models of the artwork
• Other renderings as may be useful to convey the artwork’s features

The Information on Conservation and Maintenance will include a description of:

• Appropriate maintenance procedures and materials
• How the design and materials of the artwork itself will minimize damage and future repair needs resulting from possible vandalism, weathering and public use
• Durability of the artwork/the work’s practical lifespan
• Safety of the work including the work’s ability to withstand public use such as touching it, climbing on it and attempts to damage it

The Costs/Budget will describe the funding source(s), fall within the limits of the funding, and include estimated costs for the:

• Design, fabrication and installation of the work
• Site preparation and site restoration
• Maintenance and conservation of the work (both initially and long-term)

Information about the artist(s) will include:

• Documentation of the artist’s(s’) body of work
• Her/his experience with public art
• Her/his curriculum vitae

PROJECT PROPOSAL METHOD B (WITH PUBLIC INPUT):

Artists who include members of the public in the design and/or execution of public artworks cannot provide descriptions of pieces that have yet to be designed with public input.  These artists should provide modified versions of the above listed requirements.

The Narrative Description will include a description of:

• Types of non-artists/members of the public to be included, e.g., members of the neighborhood where work will be located, school children, etc.
• The charrette method or other means of including non-artists in the process
• How non-artist participation will impact the design and execution process
• How the artist will ensure the aesthetic integrity of the artwork
• Project timeline, indicating the degree and frequency of participation in the project by specified non-artists
• Aesthetic and non-aesthetic goals of the project
• How the work/design process will address the intended location, and why the location was selected (if applicable)
• Types of media that might be appropriate for the site and why

The Graphic and Other Materials will include a body of material sufficient to document:

• Artist’s(s’) aesthetic competency
• Her/his facilitation ability and/or ability to design curricula/activities to achieve aesthetic goals of the project
• Her/his facilitation ability and/or ability to design curricula/activities to achieve non-aesthetic goals of the project

The Information on Conservation and Maintenance will include a description of:

• Conservation and maintenance information on earlier works by the artist(s)
• How the design process and choice of the materials will minimize damage and future repair needs resulting from possible vandalism, weathering and public use
• Design techniques and approaches that ensure the safety of the work and the work’s ability to withstand public use such as touching it, climbing on it and attempts to damage it

The Costs/Budget will describe the funding source(s).  The artist(s) will estimate costs based on the artist’s(s’) previous experiences fulfilling the commitments of project timelines, use of media, and installation of works.  This cost projection should fall within the limits of the funding.  Describe the funding source(s) and include estimated costs for:

• Design, fabrication and installation of the work
• Site preparation and site restoration
• Maintenance and conservation (both initially and long-term)

Information about the artist(s) will include:

• Documentation of the artist’s(s’) body of work
• Her/his experience with public art
• Her/his curriculum vitae

Contact Information

Send letters of intent from artists for consideration of their work in public venues in Evansville to:

Evansville Public Art Commission

c/o Mayor’s Office

One N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Rm 302

Evansville, IN 47708