Public Art – Call For Artists
The City of Elgin Cultural Arts Commission (ECAC) announces its’ third annual Call for Public Art. The ECAC is searching for two new pieces of public art as part of the “new works program” as outlined in the City’s Public Art Plan: one 2D piece and one 3D piece.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 4 Mar 2019
Available locations for the 2D work include the first floor of the Spring Street Parking Deck and the Highland Avenue bridge underpass along the riverwalk. Available locations for the 3D works include Newsome Park, Walton Island, or a pedestal on Riverside Drive. As part of the application, the artist must select a location from those available and propose their new public art piece specifically for that location. Artists must provide a completed application along with a narrative, design illustrations, budget, resume, work samples, references, and supporting materials (if applicable). The honorariums offered are $6,500 for each of the two new pieces of public art.
Applications are scored blindly by the ECAC based on the following criteria: artistic excellence, technical competence, narrative support, appropriate relationship to the function of the site, and long-term feasibility. City staff, to ensure installation feasibility, will evaluate the top three pieces scored. The ECAC will make a final determination based on the scores and recommendations by staff. Winners of the honorariums will be announced in late spring. After selection, production of the new works is expected to begin in early summer and be completed and installed in time for the annual Art Harvest event in late October.
Public Art Artist Benefits
Selected artists will receive an honorarium of up to $6,500 for their work and the support of the City of Elgin for their project. Being that the artist can select the location from those listed on the application, it is up to the artist to determine how they wish their work to impact the community. Once installed, the work will be on display for a length of time set by the artist. It will be included in the city’s public art map and online database. The work will be officially unveiled at the annual Art Harvest event at the end of October. Art Harvest is a family-friendly event that encourages our community to visit the public art installations around the downtown area. It is attended by about 400 people each year.
About the City of Elgin
The City of Elgin tasked it’s Cultural Arts Commission with creating a public art plan in 2016. Part of that process was to determine the needs of the community and how best to fit those needs. Components of the plan include other projects such as utility box wrapping and neighborhood public art grants. Since the plan’s implementation in 2017, the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission has selected and installed five new pieces of public art. The community has been extremely vocal not only in support of the pieces that were selected, but also in support of public art and how it impacts their daily lives.
For more information, contact harris_a@cityofelgin.org.
