THRIVE IN THE 05 TRANSFORMATION PLAN
The Thrive in the 05 Transformation Plan describes an ambitious vision to cultivate sustainable, community-driven, equitable change in the city’s historic northern gateway: “The Thrive in the 05 is a safe, affordable, inclusive neighborhood that cultivates sustainable transformation through resiliency, reinvestment, and shared leadership; a community that honors our unique history and cultural identity, where multiple generations share the means to THRIVE.” The Plan was adopted by the City of Tucson Mayor and Council on March 9, 2022.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Overview
This community design opportunity was initiated to serve as creative placemaking for the Sugar Hill Neighborhood, the easternmost neighborhood of the Thrive in the 05 area. 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. 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. Thrive in the 05 seeks to kickstart that vision with an influx of often-hard-to-come-by 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.
Project Theme
This project specifically engages past and present residents of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood through a call for submissions of historic photographs. A project panel of community stakeholders will be assembled to select the artist and will also work with the artist to co-design the content of the banners using submitted historic photos and community feedback. The goal is to connect people with the history of the neighborhood and raise the visibility of this historic neighborhood, prompting residential and commercial investment, social cohesion, and neighborhood confidence in the planning process.
Project Location
This community design opportunity will be placed on light pole banners along the east side of Stone Ave from Grant Rd to Lee St. 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.
Artist Stipend
The selected Artist will receive a stipend of $10,000 to produce digital artwork that will be co-designed with the community panel. The designs will be printed on up to 10 double-sided banner signs and installed on light poles.
PROJECT TIMELINE
This is a fast-track project. The selected artist must be available to attend both in-person and virtual meetings. Dates are subject to change.
| January 19, 2024 | Call to Artist Guidelines Posted |
| February 20, 2024 | Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Arizona Time |
| March 2024 | Artist Selection Phase: Online applications review and finalist interviews. Meetings may be in-person, virtual or hybrid. |
| March-April 2024 | Artwork Design Phase: Design and Content Meetings. Meetings may be in-person, virtual or hybrid. |
| April 2024 | Banner Installation. |
ELIGIBILITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST
This community design opportunity is open to all artists or artist teams that reside in Southern Arizona.
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 artists is ineligible to serve on the 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 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 acting as point of contact for the project. The team lead will contract directly with the City to become a vendor. The City will disburse funds only to the team lead. Members of a team are not eligible to create additional separate as individual artists.
PUBLIC INTERFACE AND EXPECTATIONS
Community feedback and participation is essential to creating imagery that represents neighborhood identities and cultures in the design of this project. The selected artists may be asked to attend one or more public meetings for the project.
SELECTION PROCESS
A panel comprised of Sugar Hill community members and stakeholders will be assembled for this project. The panel will review applications and select up to three applicants to interview as finalists. The interview may be in-person, virtual or hybrid. The panel will then select one artist or artist team to co-design the banners. The panel will be asked to consider the following questions when reviewing applications:
1. Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to develop visual branding content that communicates visual storytelling?
2. Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with community to create content that reflects local, cultural, and historical themes of the Sugar Hill neighborhood?
3. Does the applicant demonstrate a high probability of successful completion for the scale and scope of this specific project?
HOW TO APPLY
Prepare Application
Carefully review the eligibility, expectations, and scope of this opportunity prior to submitting your application.
- Prepare your artist statement. The statement must include your particular interest in this project and your connection to or interest in the project location. 300 word maximum.
- Prepare your resume. Two page maximum. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf
- 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
- Prepare your image list. List each image sample of your artwork. For each image submitted please list the title, date, your role in the project, and provide a thumbnail of the image. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf
Submit Application
- Go to Submittable: artsfoundtucson.submittable.com/submit
- Select the project from the list.
- Login or sign up for an account.
- Complete the eligibility requirements.
- Complete all applicant Information.
- Submit your artist statement.
- Upload your resume.
- Upload six (6) image samples of your artwork.
- Upload your image list.
- Complete demographic data.
- 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.
CONTACT US
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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