Mecklenburg County Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center Public Art Opportunity
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 31, 2015 – 11:59 p.m. EDT
Background
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is accepting qualifications from professional artists or teams of artists in response to a public art opportunity for Mecklenburg County’s Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center.
Constructed in 1956, the original Double Oaks Pool was always a place to cool down and interact with neighbors for Charlotte’s African American communities along the Beatties Ford Road and Statesville Avenue Corridors. The Charlotte Housing Partnership purchased the Double Oaks Apartments site, adjacent to the original pool, in 2007 and has been actively engaged in comprehensive redevelopment. This redevelopment has revitalized the area, bringing approximately 1,000 new housing units, parks and greenways, and properties to accommodate shops, restaurants and offices.
The new Double Oaks Aquatic Center will be a centerpiece of the area revitalization that draws on the tradition of the original Double Oaks Pool. The new facility, to be located across Statesville Ave from the original pool, will boast an array of family aquatic features. Visitors will enjoy a fun zone activity pool with zero depth entry, a themed spray/water play structure and 25 foot water slide. Competition swimming, exercise and swim lessons will take place in a 25 yard, six lane pool. Other amenities include a pool deck, restrooms, and sun shade structures.
Project Description
The selected artist or artist team will be invited to create an engaging and inviting experience to the entry of the new Double Oaks Aquatic Center site. This public art opportunity will have an impact on the surrounding neighborhood and should be visible to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Particular focus should be given to the functional and aesthetic treatment of hardscaping and gateways that visitor will use to enter the site. The feature could possibly flow into the interior of the facility or influence features of the facades.
The selected artist/artist team(s) must take into consideration specific site conditions, including but not limited, to security and traffic sight lines. All considered media must be durable, low maintenance, and of a permanent nature.
BUDGET
An amount not to exceed $85,000 is allocated to include all artists’ fees, design, fabrication and installation. Engineering fees and all requirements for code shall be included in this amount.
Minimum Eligibility
- Professional artists who have experience managing, designing and completing public art project commissions within the past five (5) years are eligible.
- Must reside in the United States.
- Artists, contractors, designers or architects who are currently under contract with the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the City of Charlotte or Mecklenburg County or who have completed contracts within the past three (3) years with any of the above listed agencies are not eligible to apply. City or County staff, Public Art Commission members, ASC Board members, ASC staff, and their immediate family members are not eligible.
- Architects interested in applying must have successfully completed at least three (3) public art projects (that are distinguished from infrastructure design) within the last five (5) years to be considered eligible to participate in this opportunity. Eligibility must be demonstrated in the application materials submitted.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
Credentials: a Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) demonstrating professional history and skills or experience as a professional artist (maximum two pages)
Statement of Interest: a brief introductory narrative that also provides insight about your interest in the project
Images: up to ten (10) images or three (3) digital video or movie files limited to two minutes each – of recent work completed within the past five (5) years
Annotation: titles, date, media and dimensions of artwork
References will be requested from the finalists.
APPLICATION/Submission Process
Participants must submit all required materials through SlideRoom. (https://artsandscience.slideroom.com), an online application system.
Please be sure to allow adequate time to submit your application as technical difficulties can occur. Applications that are mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered will not be considered.
Selection Process
This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the Public Art Commission to identify the most highly qualified artist(s) for this opportunity. A panel of local and national arts professionals and community stakeholders appointed by the Public Art Commission will review eligible artists’ applications, determine a shortlist of finalists, interview three to five finalists and select one (1) artist or team of artists. The selected artist or team of artists will be recommended to the ASC Board of Directors to enter into agreement for this project.
Deadline: August 31, 2015 – 11:59 p.m. EDT
LATE AND INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.
APPROXIMATE PROJECT SCHEDULE
The Mecklenburg County Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center is scheduled to open before May 2016 in order to meet the 2016 swim season. The following schedule is subject to change:
Deadline for Artists Submissions – August 31st, 2015 Artist Selection – September 2015 Artist Contract – October 2015 Final Design – December 2015
SlideRoom technical support is available Monday – Saturday by email until 8 p.m. (CDT) at support@slideroom.com.
Questions: randella.foster@artsandscience.org