2024 Call to Teaching Artists  TRANSPORTATION ART BY YOUTH (TABY) SUMMER PROGRAM 

PROJECT OVERVIEW

In collaboration with City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM), and City of Tucson Ward 4, with funding from the Pima Association of Governments (PAG), the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona (Arts Foundation) is seeking a qualified Teaching Artist to lead an twelve-week summer program to work with youth artists through the public art design process and production of artwork in a public transportation setting.  

Project Goals

The goals of the project are to provide youth with an opportunity to be employed and participate in all phases of the design and creation of a public artwork under the guidance of a professional artist. The outcome will be artwork of a quality comparable to current public art standards with the teaching artist serving as a mentor to youth artists. 

Artwork Theme and Medium

Teaching and Youth Artists will paint designs on up to 6 double-sided interactive puzzle murals. Mural surfaces will be made of recycled metal street signs. Designs will include imagery of dogs as a place-making and wayfinding strategy and the Ward 4 Office’s vision to invite people to the new Wagging Tails dog park.

Artwork Placement and Work Site Location

The final artwork will be located in the medians north of the entrance for the Wagging Tails Dog Park at Lower Lincoln Park (8330 E Escalante Rd). The exact location of work site location (e.g. city owned facility) will be confirmed in coordination with the City of Tucson.

PROJECT TIMELINE 

Public art project timelines follow the schedule of the larger improvement. Dates are subject to change. 

Friday, March 8, 2024	Call to Teaching Artist Guidelines Posted
Monday, April 8, 2024	Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Arizona Time
April 2024	Application Review Stage Self-paced online application review
April 2024	Artist Selection Meeting 1: Select 3 finalists    2 Hours – Virtual Zoom Public Meeting Review all application scores and select 3 finalists.
May 2024	Artist Selection Meeting 2: Finalists Presentations and Interviews 2 Hours – Virtual Zoom Public Meeting Presentation and Q/A from each finalist. Panel selects one Artist/Artist Team.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024	Present selected artist at PACD Public Meeting
May 2024 – June 2024	Artwork Design Phase: Panel Meetings, Broader Public Meetings.
June 2024 – July 2024	Fabrication, Installation.
By July 31, 2024	Dedication/Event

ARTWORK BUDGET AND ARTIST STIPEND

The artwork budget of $15,500 must cover all costs related to: materials, production, transportation and installation of the artwork; permits, taxes, and insurance that may be required by the City of Tucson or Pima County; soil analysis, engineering, footing and base for the artwork. 

The artist stipend budget of $25,000 covers all costs related to: Artists’ fee.

TEACHING ARTIST ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. 

1. Collaborate with program partners in preparatory work, project development and hiring of Youth Artists.
2. Collaborate with the Team Coordinator and six to eight youth artists in the design, production, and installation of the artwork. Youth artists may be between 16 to 18 years old.
3. Complete all phases of the project in alignment with the City of Tucson Administrative Directives, including artwork design, risk management review, maintenance review, fabrication/ construction, installation, and completion.
4. Develop and implement public art workforce skills building curriculum, highlight mentorship goals and design and deliver pre- and post-skills self-assessment. 
5. Create and manage project timeline and budget. Complete project on time and within budget.
6. Prepare and submit monthly invoices to the City of Tucson throughout the project. 
7. Provide onsite instruction to youth artists Monday through Friday, Morning (e.g. 830 am to 1230 pm) for twelve weeks, during the summer.
8. Maintain weekly office hours as needed for project planning and team meetings.

ELIGIBILITY

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, certification and/or ability required. The selected Teaching Artist will need to provide written documentation of the following before contract begins. 

1. Education BA or AA in related field OR
2. Experience Teaching Equivalent to 2 years (e.g. Visual Arts curriculum)
3. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience working in public art
4. Valid Arizona driver’s license
5. Proof of Auto Insurance
6. General Liability Insurance
7. Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC) https//www.azdps.gov/services/public/fingerprint

Preferred, but not required:

1. Current Basic First Aid Certificate
2. Current Basic CPR Certificate 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST  

Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona employees, board members, and their immediate family members are prohibited from applying to this project. Any person in a position to receive financial gain from the selection of artist(s) will be ineligible to serve on a public art project panel. All 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 

The Teaching Artist, Youth Artists, and Team Coordinator will adhere to protocols outlined in the City of Tucson Public Art Program Administrative Directives throughout the scope of the project. The selected Teaching Artist will contract directly with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility. 

The goals of the project are to provide youth with an opportunity to be employed and participate in all phases of the design and installation of a public artwork under the guidance of a professional artist. The outcome will be artwork of a quality comparable to current public art standards. The Teaching Artist will mentor youth artists and collaborate with staff from the Department of Transportation and Mobility, Ward 4 City Council Office, the Public Art Project Panel, and the Arts Foundation to determine the final design of artwork. 

Community feedback and participation is essential to creating artwork that represents neighborhood identities and cultures in the design of the artwork. The final design must be approved by the Public Art Project Panel with a majority vote prior to any fabrication or production of the artwork. Special consideration must be given to the sustainability and maintenance of the artwork.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this role, you must be able to lift/move up to 25 pounds and may be required to meet physical demands such as walking and standing for long prolonged periods of time. Specific vision abilities required for position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Must be comfortable working alongside the roadway with vehicular traffic. Ability to work evening and weekends, as needed. Works outside in inclement weather frequently.

SELECTION PROCESS 

Artists are selected through a fair and equitable selection process by a panel of seven or more individuals including local artists and art professionals, project stakeholders and members of the community. New 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 panel will review all artist submissions and conduct two artist selection meetings to determine the 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 panel, followed by a Q&A session. The panel recommendation for the commission will be presented at the PACD public meeting listed above. 

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 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 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. 

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 list the title, date, medium, and short description.

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.  
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. 

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