Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission

Public Square Project

Request For Qualifications – RFQ #06-26
National Call To Artists

Sandra Duncan, Metro Nashville Arts Commission
Stan Melton, Division of Purchasing and Contract Management

§1 Introduction and Overview

A. Project Summary

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (hereinafter Metro) through the Metro Nashville Arts Commission (MNAC) Public Art Committee is soliciting Statements of Qualifications/ SOZ (submissions) from interested and qualified Respondents (artists) to infuse art into the design and architecture of the new Public Square, a four-acre park adjacent to the Metro Courthouse, which is currently undergoing major restoration. The Public Square area is located at Third and Union Streets in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. An artist member of the Public Square architectural design team developed an art plan that identified areas for integration of artwork with a budget for each (see G. Art Plan Premise). The MNAC Public Art Committee selected the following three projects for implementation:

B. Budget

C. Scope of Work

(To see Nashville downtown map, color site plan with seating areas labeled, Courthouse images and other related images, refer to MNAC’s website at www.artsnashville.org/pubartprogram/ for the on-line version of this call.)

An artist or artists will be commissioned to integrate artwork into two adjacent quiet courtyards with seating areas at the southern edge of the Square. With a budget of $150,000 for each of the courtyards, the artwork should enhance the spaces in a way that creates a different but compatible personality for each area. From the seating areas, visitors will have grand views of the historic art deco Courthouse as they look north across a ceremonial lawn lined with trees on its east and west edges. The courtyards will be flanked by linear reflecting pools, enhanced by at-grade “bridges” that bisect the pools and lead to seating areas under the trees.

For either of the courtyard projects, an artist my choose to enhance a) the reflecting pools, b) the two bridges that bisect the pools and/or c) the seating areas under the trees in ways that work together with the design intent to expand and deepen people’s conceptual and physical experience of the place. The projects may include light, sound, motion, water and/or sculptural elements. Each area may be designed by a different artist, however the two should be complementary, which may require some initial meetings between the artists. Streetscape furniture is part of the design, but enhancements may be applied to the tables, chairs or other surface areas.

The third project is for dispersed artwork designed by a Tennessee artist that is creatively located throughout the site, adding subtle liveliness to the square. The dispersed artwork would be an invitation to explore the physical place as well as gather a variety of stories and insights into Nashville, based on local history and culture, music, geography, plants, animals and/or architecture. The Metro Arts Commission will provide an individual with expertise for research in the artist-chosen theme.

This RFP/National Call to Artists will result in a short list of three to six semi-finalists, who will receive a commission of $1,500 plus travel for the courtyard projects to visit the project site, develop final proposals and make a presentation to the selection committee in Nashville. For the dispersed artworks project, a short list of three to six semi-finalists will receive a commission of $1,000 including travel to visit the project site, develop final proposals and make a presentation to the selection committee in Nashville.

Submission deadline: Materials must arrive at one of the addresses listed in Section II. E.7. of this RFQ not later than

Friday, April 28, 2006, by 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time

D. Project Goals

The artwork should:

• resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds
• help the public square become a central public gathering space and a comfortable and stimulating place,
• one that people want to visit and return to often.
• create a 24-hour place that shifts between a daytime and nighttime presence
• imbue the square with a conceptual richness

and may:

• refer to the images on the Courthouse exterior symbolizing wisdom, strength, protection, courage, loyalty, law, justice and security.

In a broader sense, the project may:

• contribute to the visual character and texture of the community
• foster collective memory
• give meaning to place by recalling local and regional history
• use public art as a means to further the community’s sense of spirit and pride
• stimulate social interaction

E. Site History

The existing art deco Davidson County Courthouse and Public Building built in 1936 is currently closed for restoration. Its adjacent surface parking lot is being converted into the new Public Square with a multi- level 1400-space parking garage underneath.

The Courthouse, one of Davidson County’s few examples of art deco architecture listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the fourth one to occupy the site set aside for this purpose in the original plans of Nashville. The Courthouse’s original public square was to the north and east, with the whole site bounded by 19th century commercial buildings, many of which were demolished in the twentieth century.

The north end of the city’s square was sliced off with the construction of the Victory Memorial Bridge and James Robertson Parkway in the 1950s. The rest was lost to parking lots in the 1970s, leaving Nashville without a square as its center for only a relatively short period of time – 30 years out of 200.

F. Current Environment

This four-acre site at the terminus of Deadrick Street is on axis to the west with the state’s War Memorial Building and Plaza. The space commands excellent views of the Cumberland River and Shelby Street Bridge, a former vehicular bridge which was converted in 2004 to a pedestrian bridge and serves as a link to the greenway on either side of the river. On the south side of the Public Square, the historic Stahlman office building is being renovated and converted to residential apartments. The Downtown Greenway runs between the Public Square and the Cumberland River, creating a pedestrian connection from the Square to the river’s edge. Courthouse restoration and the new Public Square are scheduled for completion in the summer of 2006.

G. Art Plan Premise

The projects should focus attention on the centerpiece of the site – the Courthouse building. This historic building beautifully expresses a solid physical presence within the site. As such, the building houses concrete daily activities understandable to employees and citizens. These activities are essential to the running of the civic life of Nashville.

Physically, the building sits on high ground, with the Public Square in the foreground. The open space of the Square sets up the approaches to the building, while the perimeter trees of the Square frame and filter the views to dramatize the perspective of the building. Balancing the relationship of the Courthouse and the Public Square is critical.

The Courthouse incorporates design details and decorative art that symbolize values and ideas of governing. Protection, wisdom and strength are represented in the three alternating figures at the cornice level outside, respectively the lioness’ head, a snake and a bison’s head. On the bronze doors are six figures symbolizing courage, loyalty, law, justice, security and wisdom.

Another way of looking at the relationship of the building to the square is as a solid to the ephemeral, or solid to lightness. The new square will stand in relation to and balanced with the solid presence of the building. As such this space will provide an excellent forum for presenting the “lightness” of the conceptual ideas and symbols of the building through the design for the plaza and integration of public art.

The environment will reflect different daytime and nighttime personalities from the business taking place in the building during the day to its role as a part of the nightlife of the surrounding city. Creating a public place that works successfully through both cycles of time will establish the square as an important civic and social place downtown.

H. Eligibility

The two courtyard projects are open to established visual artists living in the United States with a minimum of two years professional experience. The dispersed artwork project is open to professional visual artists living in Tennessee. Artists with conflicts of interest as outlined in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County’s Public Art Guidelines are ineligible for public art commissions or projects. Artists may reference Section VII of the Public Art Guidelines (www.artsnashville.org/pubartprogram/pubartguide.php).

I. Budget

The project budget allocates $350,000 for the art projects. This figure includes artists’ fees, overhead and operating costs, fabrication costs, project-related travel that is required to follow Metro Travel Policy guidelines, any installation and site preparation costs not already included in the design budget, insurance, plus other artist- related costs.

J. Metro Nasville Arts Commission and Public Art Program

The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission (MNAC) is a department of the Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County created in 1978 for the purpose of promoting, preserving and expanding the cultural and artistic interests of the general public. The MNAC public art program was established in June 2000, with the passage of a public art ordinance. The ordinance dedicates one percent (1%) of the net proceeds of general obligation bonds issued for construction projects to fund public art. The MNAC established guidelines (www.artsnashville.org/pubartprogram/pubartguide.php), and named a Public Art Committee (PAC) as a standing committee to oversee the public art program.

§2 Submission Instructions

A. Project Timetable

The following projected timetable should be used as a working guide for planning purposes. Metro reserves the right to adjust this timetable as required during the course of this Request for Qualifications process.

B. Selection Criteria

Artists will be selected on the basis of the following criteria (in order of priority):

• artistic merit
• broad experience as a professional artist
• references
• experience applicable to this project
• expressed interest in and understanding of the project

C. Inquiries

Direct all questions related to this RFQ/National Call to Artists to the MNAC staff via e-mail only: arts@nashville.gov

D. Compliance with the RFQ

Submissions must be in strict compliance with this Request for Qualifications. Failure to comply with all provisions of the RFQ may result in disqualification.

E. Response Format and Sending Submittals

Please submit the following materials to the address below (all text must be printed on single-sided pages):

1. A brief, one-page printed letter of interest addressing selection criteria and highlighting particular qualifications for the position and perceptions about the project. Begin by saying for which project(s) you are applying: courtyard(s) and/or dispersed artworks.
2. Up to twenty (20) images of recent work. Artists may submit slides or digital images according to the instructions below. Team submissions should not exceed a total of twenty slides.
   SLIDES
   1. Slides must be in a clear plastic sheet.
   2. Label all slides using a permanent marker with an arrow indicating top of slide, the artist’s name and number corresponding to number on slide list.
   DIGITAL
   1. Submit only high-quality JPEGs on a CD-R disk (not CD-RW or any other media), with 800 x 600 pixels maximum width and height respectively.
   2. Each file should be titled with artist’s name, a number corresponding to the number on the slide list, with a zero (0) in front of single digit numbers, and the file extension “.jpg” (e.g. smith_01.jpg, smith_02.jpg, etc.). Label both the CD-R and its case or sleeve with artist’s last name, contact information, and number of images.
   3. Do not embed images in a PowerPoint presentation.
3. Printed, single-sided, annotated image list, including:
   1. artist(s) name
   2. title of artwork or project
   3. date of artwork or project completion
   4. medium(s)
   5. dimensions (H x W x D)
   6. location, if permanently sited
   7. project budget
   8. project description
   9. client
   10. For projects involving teams, integrated artwork, or collaborations with architects or others, please specify what your contributions as the artist were.
4. Current résumé, not to exceed four printed, single- sided pages. If applying as a team, each team member may submit a four-page résumé.
5. References, on one page:
   1. List three people with whom you have worked on a public art project who can describe your participation. Artists applying for the dispersed artworks project may list client or gallery references.
   2. Include name, title, address, e-mail and current daytime telephone number for each reference.
6. Self-addressed and stamped envelope for return of materials if you want them returned.
7. Mail submissions to:

   Mail submissions to:
   Metro Nashville Arts Commission
   P.O. Box 17287
   Nashville TN 37217-7287

   Alternate address (to be used for UPS, Fedex, etc.):
   Metro Nashville Arts Commission
   800 2nd Avenue South, 4th Floor
   Nashville TN 37210

8. Submission deadline: All submittals must be received no later than

Friday, April 28, 2006, at 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time

The Contract Specialist at the Metro Division of Purchasing & Contract Management will ensure that only submissions received by the deadline will be accepted.

Incomplete or ineligible submissions will not be reviewed. Every effort will be made to insure the safe handling of submitted materials; however, the Metro Nashville Arts Commission will not be responsible for any loss or damage.

§3 Selection Process

A. Method Of Source Selection

The Department is using the Competitive Sealed Proposals method of source selection, as authorized by Section 4.12.040 of the Metropolitan Procurement Code, for this procurement.

B. Selection / Evaluation Committee

The Metro Purchasing Agent will appoint an evaluation committee (hereinafter referred to as selection committee) to evaluate the submissions. That selection committee will be proposed by MNAC staff for each project and recommended to the Purchasing Agent by the Public Art Committee (PAC).

The selection committee for this project will have five to nine members including at least one visual artist, a representative of Metro Parks and Recreation Department, arts professionals, a representative from the community, and a regionally or nationally recognized public artist or public art professional. The chairperson of the selection committee will be the public art committee chair or designee, serving as an ex-officio, non-voting committee member. The Purchasing Executive assigned to each project will serve as a non-voting advisory member of the selection committee and be charged with the responsibility of monitoring the process.

C. Selection Process

Responses to this Request for Qualifications will be evaluated by the selection committee according to the project selection criteria to develop a short list of three to six semi-finalists. Artists on the short list for the courtyard projects will receive a commission of $1,500 plus travel to visit the project site, develop final proposals and present them to the selection committee in Nashville. Artists on the short list for the dispersed artworks project will receive $1,000 commission including travel to visit the project site, develop final proposals and present them to the selection committee in Nashville. The selection committee will recommend artists for award of these projects to the PAC for their action and referral to the MNAC, for final approval and issuance of an Intent to Award Letter based upon successful contract negotiation.

§4 Rules and Guidelines

A. Requests for Clarification of Submission

MNAC may check references to assist in the evaluation of any submission.

B. Submissions, RFPs, and Presentation Costs

The Metropolitan Government will not be liable in any way for any costs incurred by any artist in the preparation of its proposal in response to this RFQ, nor for the presentation of its submission and/or participation in any discussions.

C. Validity of Submissions

All proposals shall be valid for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days from the due date of the Request for Qualifications.

D. Rejection of Submissions

The Purchasing Agent or designee reserves the right to accept or reject in whole or in part any or all proposals submitted.

E. Americans With Disabilities Act

The successful contractor (artist or team) shall assure to Metro that all services (including but not limited to the design services, as well as any construction, repair, or other infrastructure improvements) made through this contract, if an award is made, shall be completed in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, Federal Register 36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191, Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities; Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Guidelines; proposed rule published in the Federal Register on July 23, 2004, as has been adopted by Metro.

Questions, concerns, complaints, requests for accommodation, or requests for additional information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act may be forwarded MNAC's ADA Compliance Coordinator: Teri McElhaney, 800 2nd Avenue South, 4th Floor, P.O. Box 196300, Nashville TN 37219-6300. Phone: (615) 862-6720.

Individuals who need auxiliary aids for effective communication in the programs, services or activities of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission are invited to make their needs and preferences known to the ADA Compliance Coordinator. This notice can be made available in alternative formats through the office of the ADA Compliance Coordinator, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

F. Non-Discrimination

It is the policy of the Metropolitan Government not to discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin or disability in its hiring and employment practices, or in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services and activities. With regard to all aspects of this Contract, the artist or artist team certifies and warrants it will comply with this policy.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Contract, no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, be discriminated against in the admission or access to, or be discriminated against in treatment or employment in Metro's contracted programs or activities, on the grounds of handicap and/or disability, age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other classification protected by federal or Tennessee State Constitutional or statutory law; nor shall they be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in the performance of contracts with Metro or in the employment practices of Metro's Artists/Contractors.

Accordingly, all artists/contractors entering into contracts with Metro shall, upon request, be required to show proof of such nondiscrimination and to post in conspicuous places that are available to all employees and applicants, notices of nondiscrimination.

Further the Metro Nashville Arts Commission does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. The Metro Nashville Arts Commission does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.

Inquiries concerning non-discrimination policies other than ADA compliance should be forwarded to: Delaine Linville, Department of Human Resources, 222 Third Avenue, Suite 200, Nashville TN 37201, (615) 862-6640.

G. Call to Artists & Presentation Costs

Metro will not be liable in any way for any costs incurred by the artist in the initial response to the Request for Qualifications. Metro will commission the semi-finalist artists for presentation of their proposal to the selection committee.

H. Public Disclosure

All submissions are considered public and subject to review upon request after an intent to award has been made.

END OF RFQ #06-26

© 2008 Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission 800 2nd Avenue South, 4th Floor P.O. Box 196300 Nashville TN 37219-6300	Page revised: 25 Sep 2007 arts@nashville.gov (615) 862-6720 fax (615) 862-6731
Americans with Disabilities Act