EASTWAY REGIONAL RECREATION CENTER

423 Eastway Dr., Charlotte, NC

An Arts & Science Council Project

for Mecklenburg County

SUBMISSION DEADLINE              

Friday, March 30, 2018 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Mecklenburg County, Park and Recreation is in the design phase for the first of four regional recreation centers. Eastway Regional Recreation Center will provide a variety of health, wellness and educational opportunities including; indoor aquatics, sports courts, fitness center, indoor track, multi-use event rooms, demonstration kitchen, arts/culture classrooms, and more. Programing at the center will be trend focused, innovative and responsive to the needs of the neighborhood’s diverse population. 

The facility will be located at the existing 90+ acre Eastway Park, 423 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, NC. A long winding drive will lead to the recreation center, offering a buffer from the surrounding cityscape, much of the property will remain a naturally wooded park.  This unique site combined with the facility’s robust programming opportunities will establish Eastway Regional Recreation Center as the common gathering place long-desired by the community.  Learn more at: www.eastwayrec.com

PROJECT OVERVIEW

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 Eastway Regional Recreation Center.    ASC is seeking artists or teams of artists with a demonstrated record of integrating artwork in a natural setting, while responding to infrastructure and community input.

The selected artist/s will be asked to create an artwork that can serve as a shelter and event/gathering space.  This artwork will become a signature feature of Eastway Regional Recreation Center and should be consistent with the center’s themes of healthy living, fitness, and strengthening community.  Artwork created for this project should be able to address multiple needs, and could be designed in multiple parts and/or to be expandable in the future.

Several locations around the site have been identified as possible opportunities for artwork placement, the artist/s will be active in directing the design and preparation of the site/s.

Art Goals and Criteria

This opportunity should achieve a cohesive and unique aesthetic experience that is distinguished from, yet sensitive to, the site and architecture of the Eastway Regional Recreation Center

• Artwork is constructed of durable materials and should be permanent in nature
• Artwork provides a degree of shelter from sun, rain, and wind
• Artwork can accommodate multiple uses such as outdoor educational programing, an area to rest from athletic activities, a performance space, and serve as a landmark in the park.
• Artwork should be able to accommodate at least 60 users at one time.
• Artwork should be lighted at night
• Artwork may not be attached to the building

BUDGET An amount of $352,120.00 is allocated to include all artists’ fees, travel expenses, design, fabrication and installation of the artwork.  Engineering fees and all requirements for code compliance shall be included in this amount.                                                                                                                                      

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

• Professional artists who have experience managing, designing and completing public art project commissions over $125,000.00 within the past five (5) years are eligible.

• Artists, contractors, designers or architects who are currently under contract with the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, 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.

SELECTION PROCESS

This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the Public Art Commission (PAC) 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 PAC and the ASC Board of Directors to enter into agreement for this project. 

PROJECTED TIMELINE

March 2, 2018                                   Request for Qualifications released.

March 30, 2018                Artist application submission deadline.

May 2018                                            Artists notified

Summer 2018                                    Design Development

September 2018                               Facility Construction Begins

Spring 2020                                        Final Project Deadline

TO APPLY

To view/begin the application, go to https://asc.slideroom.com and sign up for an account. Applications must be received via SlideRoom by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Savings Time on March 30, 2018. There is no application fee to apply or use the SlideRoom online application system. The following materials will be required to be uploaded to SlideRoom:

• 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 eight (8) 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

FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RFQ

For further information regarding the RFQ, please contact  Jonathan Pellitteri, Project Manager, Public Art, at (704) 335-3054 or by email at j.pellitteri@artsandscience.org.  A complete RFQ including images can be found at https://www.artsandscience.org/resources-for/artists/calls-to-artists/ .

ABOUT THE ARTS & SCIENCE COUNCIL

Since 1995, the Arts and Science Council has managed the public art programs for the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The Public Art Commission is responsible for the community-based artist selection and design review process for each public artwork. The commission is an appointed board of volunteer citizens from the arts, education and business sectors. In 2003, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners and the Charlotte City Council adopted ordinances that appropriate one percent of eligible capital improvement project funds for public art. The ordinance helps ensure that artworks enhance our public spaces and become an integral part of urban and economic development efforts. See more at: http://www.artsandscience.org/

The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is committed to serving a diverse range of individuals and organizations through its programs and services and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any characteristic protected by law.  

ABOUT MECKLENBURG COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department is home to 210 parks and facilities located on more than 21,000+ acres of parkland throughout Mecklenburg County. Parks in Mecklenburg County come in all shapes and sizes ranging from small neighborhood parks to large district parks.  Many parks have open space amidst shade trees and unique facilities.  The aquatics division offers indoor and outdoor swimming, adult/youth programs, swim lessons, special events, fitness classes and water exercise for all ages.

Randella D. Foster | Program Coordinator, Public Art

ASC. Culture For All.
227 West Trade St., Ste. 250, Charlotte, NC 28202
704.335.3262 | randella.foster@artsandscience.org
ArtsAndScience.org | CharlotteCultureGuide.com

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