OVERVIEW

This project proposes a public art installation co-designed by a panel of neighborhood residents and stakeholders to communicate the history, culture, and identity of the residents of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood. With coordination by the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, a Public Art Panel of neighborhood stakeholders will convene to select an artist, contribute to the content of the mural, and approve the final design. This project is a part of the series of HCD’s Action Activities and Public Art Projects along Stone Avenue, the Old Pascua neighborhood and other Thrive in the 05 neighborhoods. 

In addition to the art that is incorporated into many of the Action Activities, this project specifically engages residents in the placement, selection, and design of art that tells the history of not just the commercial corridor, but also the places and people central to the neighborhoods. A desire to build community through art has been a consistent theme in feedback from Thrive in the 05 neighborhood surveys and from transformation team meetings. In recent years, areas around downtown Tucson have seen increased enthusiasm for investment in projects that celebrate the culture and unique aesthetic of Tucson and its neighborhoods. This project seeks to kickstart that vision with an influx of often-hard-to-come-by public art funding and the opportunity to build a coalition of arts-focused stakeholders who will guide and direct arts projects throughout implementation of the Transformation Plan.

PUBLIC ART COMPONENT 

This opportunity was initiated to serve as creative placemaking for the Sugar Hill Neighborhood, the easternmost neighborhood of the Thrive in the 05 area. A Public Art Panel of community stakeholders will be assembled to select the artist and work with the artist to co-design the content of the mural using submitted historic photos and community feedback. This project will specifically engage past and present residents of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood. The goal is to connect people with the history of the area and raise the visibility of this historic neighborhood, prompting residential and commercial investment, social cohesion, and neighborhood confidence in the planning process. 

The mural will be located on the West facing wall at Max’s Center Attractions located at 2032 N Stone Ave. The Sugar Hill Neighborhood is bounded by Grant Road to the North, 4th Ave to the East, Seneca Street to the North, 1st Ave to the East and Lee Street to the South. For more information on the historical and geographical context of the area click here.

TIMELINE

This is a fast-track project. The selected artist must be able to attend weekly design meeting and install the mural within a 6–7-week period during Oct-Nov. Dates are subject to change. 

Thursday, July 11, 2024	Call to Artist Guidelines Posted
Tuesday, August 13, 2024	Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Arizona Time
August 2024	Application Review Stage Self-paced online application review.
September 2024	Artist Selection Meeting 1: Select 3 finalists.     2 Hours – Hybrid In-Person & Virtual Zoom Public Meeting. Review all application scores and select 3 finalists.   Artist Selection Meeting 2: Finalists Presentations and Interviews.  2 Hours – Hybrid In-Person & Virtual Zoom Public Meeting. Presentation and Q/A from each finalist.  Public Art Panel selects one Artist/Artist Team.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024	Present selected artist at PACDC Public Meeting.
October 2024 – November 2024	Artwork Design Phase: Weekly Public Art Panel meetings, community engagement.
November 2024	Fabrication, Installation.

PROJECT PLANS 

West facing wall, Max’s Center Attractions, 2032 N Stone Ave

Boundaries of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood; Grant, 4th Ave, Seneca, 1st Ave, Lee St, Stone

ARTWORK BUDGET

The all-inclusive maximum budget listed above is for all artworks and related costs. This includes the artist fee, insurance, stamped engineering plans, tax requirements, research, community engagement, contract, labor, fabrication, platforms, earthwork, lighting, permits, and all related costs required for the installation of the artwork(s). Please note that raw material prices may change during the scope of this project.

ELIGIBILITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST  

This public art opportunity is open to all professional artists and artist teams. 

Any person in a position to receive financial gain from the selection of artist(s) will be ineligible to serve on a Public Art Panel. All Public Art Panel members must declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves if a conflict of interest arises.

Applications must be completed solely by the artist or team lead applying for the project. Applications submitted from Artists’ representatives, managers, or galleries will not be accepted. Artist teams are required to select a team lead that will contract directly with the city to become a vendor. The city will disburse funds only to this individual. The team lead will also be the point of contact for all communications. Artists applying as a member of a team are not eligible to apply as an individual.

PUBLIC INTERFACE AND EXPECTATIONS 

Community feedback and participation are essential to creating artwork that represents neighborhood identities and cultures in the design of the artwork. The selected artists may be required to attend one or more public meetings for the project. The artist must attend a public meeting to present a drawing and/or render of the proposed artwork.

ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS

Artists are selected through a fair and equitable selection process by a Public Art Panel of seven or more individuals including local artists and art professionals, project stakeholders and members of the community. New Public Art Panels are formed for every public art project. Arts Foundation staff do not directly participate in the art selection process. Our role is to facilitate the process in accordance with the City of Tucson Public Art Program. The Public Art Panel will review all artist submissions and conduct two artist selection meetings to determine the Public Art Panel’s recommended artist for this project. The first artist selection meeting will determine three artists/artist teams as finalists. The three finalists will provide a presentation on their scope of work and interest in this specific project to the Public Art Panel, followed by a Q&A session. The Public Art Panel recommendation for the commission will be presented at the PACD public meeting listed above.

Evaluation Criteria  

The following criteria will be considered during the review of applications: 

1. Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to translate artistic concepts into materials that are appropriate for public space, taking into consideration long-term maintenance, safety, and suitability to the Sonoran Desert climate?  
2. Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to work with the community to produce artwork designs that reflect local, cultural, and historical themes of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood, Tucson, and Southern Arizona?  
3. Does the applicant demonstrate a high probability of successful completion for the scale and scope of this specific project? 

Once the artist is selected, the Public Art Panel will convene as many times as necessary throughout the project and specifically to: 1. Review all design concepts. 2. Recommend any changes to designs based on their expertise and the response to community input. 3. Recommend that the artist proceed to Risk Management Review and production when satisfied that all design issues have been resolved, consensus on the final design achieved, and that the Public Involvement Plan has been implemented in accordance with the Public Art Program Selection Policy. 

Finalist Interview Questions 

If you are a finalist for a public art project, you will be asked to present to the Public Art Panel with the below criteria and questions: 

1. Format: You will provide a 15-minute presentation, followed by a 10-minute Q&A with the Public Art Panel. The meeting will take place via virtual Zoom.  
2. Presentation Preparation. For your presentation, you will share examples of your work as well as your experience and methods in public art. You will also share with the Public Art Panel why you are interested in this particular project. You may use any format for your presentation.  
3. Please address the following questions in your presentation.

a. Describe your interest in this particular project opportunity. 

b. How do you approach developing your design concepts?  

c. How do you engage with the community in public art projects?  

d. What methods and tools do you use to stay on schedule and within budget? 

*Additional questions may be asked if appropriate to a specific project. 

Presentation preparation tips 

• Provide a diverse range of examples of your work in your presentation. Read through the Public Art Component in the CTA to identify appropriate artwork mediums specific to the public art project.  
• Research the area of the project, potential significant history, culture, and the users of the site of the public art project you are applying to. Panelists appreciate candidates who have done their research and know what they are signing up for. 
• Provide specific examples of community engagement tools that you have utilized during your work as an artist and/or for public art projects.  
• Take time to prepare your responses and presentation. We give you the questions ahead of time so you can provide thoughtful answers. 

HOW TO APPLY

Carefully review the eligibility, expectations, and scope of this opportunity prior to submitting your application.   

Prepare Application   

1. Prepare your artist statement. The statement must include your particular interest in this project and your connection to or interest in the project location.   
2. Prepare your resume. Two page maximum. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf   
3. Prepare six (6) image samples of your artwork. Images must represent completed work by the applicant(s). Proposals or renderings will not be accepted. Acceptable file types: .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png. For each image submitted please include the title, date, location, dimensions, materials used, budget, and your role in the project.  

Submit Application  

1. Go to Submittable:  artsfoundtucson.submittable.com/submit   
2. Select the project from the list.   
3. Login or sign up for an account.    
4. Complete the eligibility requirements.    
5. Complete all applicant Information.   
6. Submit your artist statement.    
7. Upload your resume. 
8. Upload (6) artwork image samples and details.    
9. Complete demographic data.   
10. Review your application and submit form.  

A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you used to create your Submittable account.    

You may be contacted regarding your application via Submittable, email, or by phone.

Application Help

If you have questions about the application process or content of your application, please email us at publicart@artsfoundtucson.org or call (520) 624-0595. If you encounter any technical issues with the online application platform, please email the Submittable at support@submittable.com or call (855) 467-8264.  To find out more about our public art opportunities, sign up for our monthly newsletter here https://artsfoundtucson.org/newsletter .