[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation invites artists (meaning both individual artists and artist teams) with interest and professional experience in creating public art and site-specific commissions, to submit qualifications for exterior public art features at the Marlow Heights Community Center.

The project includes two separate components:

1. A free-standing sculptural element on the plaza which must fit within a 10’x10’ area and not to exceed 18’ in height. The selected artist for the sculptural element will design, fabricate, and install the art feature, which may be glass, metal, stone, concrete, wood, mixed media, or lighting suitable for a low-maintenance exterior application.
2. A functional bench enhanced by mosaic elements. Individual artists or artist teams will be selected to develop a proposal for the mosaic application to the bench. The foundation for the bench will be fabricated and installed by the project’s construction contractors and thus require close coordination with the Design/Construction Team members.

Click here for the application / registration

Apply by: 14 August 2023

While there is no specific requirement regarding theme or subject matter, the artworks for the Marlow Heights Community Center should have the potential for becoming landmark identifiers for the surrounding community, and be suitable for display at a family friendly facility.

Artists may submit qualifications for either or both projects; however, artist candidates will be potentially selected as a finalist to execute only one of the projects. The selected artist candidates will be invited to develop and present their proposal to the Marlow Heights Design/Construction Team and community stakeholders. A stipend of $2,000 will be paid for the development of artist project proposals.

• Art Opportunity #1 – Free Standing Artwork. Budget: $150,000
• Art Opportunity #2 – Mosaic Application to Bench. Budget: $80,000

About The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a bi-county agency established in 1927. It serves both Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland by providing long-range planning, park acquisition/development, and administration of the Prince George’s County public recreation program.

The Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation is a well-respected leader in the field with an unprecedented six national gold medals for excellence. It operates and maintains more than 27,000 acres of parkland throughout the county, including land developed to provide parks, picnic areas, athletic fields, historic sites, community centers, and recreation facilities. In an effort to maintain the county’s natural beauty, a large percentage of the land has been left undeveloped to serve as buffers and to provide natural open spaces.

For more information, contact alec.simpson@pgparks.com.