Public Art Opportunity
County of Erie (New York) Arts in Public Places (AIPP)
Call Open: October 15th, 2024
Deadline for Submissions: December 16th, 2024, 12PM
Please Note: Only Erie County residents are eligible to apply
Click HERE for the downloadable flyer.
Project Overview:
The Erie County Arts in Public Places Committee seeks professional artists or artist-led teams to design, fabricate and install public art at the following locations:
- Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park
- Como Lake Park
- Ellicott Creek Park
- Erie County Health Mall
- Buffalo Convention Center
Artists and artist-led teams are invited to submit public art proposals for one or more of the above-listed locations. Proposals should include and consider the location, the history and background of the site. Please note that artists will not be selected to complete projects at more than one location.
Project Background:
In 2023, the Erie County Legislature passed a Local Law that provides ongoing financial support for public art to make art more accessible to all Erie County residents and visitors and to foster a sense of community connection and civic pride. The Arts in Public Places Committee was established to support the initiative by commissioning, selecting, placing, and preserving public art in a variety of media throughout the county.
Project Locations:
The Erie County AIPP Committee is seeking public art for the following county owned parks and facilities. Below is a short description of each location. Pictures and maps of each location are provided as downloadable PDFs.
- Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park
Address: 1670 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY 14210
Public Art Location in Park: Open grassy area in between playground and walking path at entrance to park.
Approximate Dimensions of Open Area: 70ft x 70ft
Site Map: Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park Map
Background: Like many sites along the Buffalo River, this area was subject to decades of industrial pollution, illegal dumping, and habitat destruction. In the 90’s the area was identified as a critical habitat area in need of protection and with the help of the US Army Corp of Engineers, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, and other local, state and federal partners, the area was rehabilitated and transformed into a Natural Habitat Park managed by Erie County.
Through extensive efforts the park is now 90% native plants and a popular spot for hiking, kayaking, photography, and fishing. Major upcoming investments include a new kayak launch, shoreline rehabilitation, a new green infrastructure parking lot, picnic shelter, and upgrades to trails/signage.
- Como Lake Park
Address: 2220 Como Park Blvd, Lancaster, NY 14086
Public Art Location in Park: Open grassy area by popular accessible playground, surrounded by shelters and walking/driving paths.
Approximate Dimensions of Open Area: 70ft x 70ft
Site Map: Como Lake Park Map
Background: An Erie County “Heritage Park”, Como Lake Park will be 100 years old in 2025. The park is a heavily used "urban landscape" park with a variety of unique and historic facilities including Works Progress Administration (WPA) era structures, a man-made lake, and a lighthouse. The park has recently seen infrastructure improvements including rehabilitated park shelters, a new parking lot, and a new accessible playground.
- Ellicott Creek Park
Address: 1 Ellicott Creek Dr., Tonawanda, NY 14150
Public Art Location: Triangular grassy area along main park road at turn into Park Casino Parking lot.
Approximate Lengths of Sides: 50ft, 47ft, 33ft
Site Map: Ellicott Creek Park Map
Background: Similar to Como Lake Park, Ellicott Creek Park is one of five Erie County Heritage Parks and will be 100 years old in 2025. The well-used and historic park includes children's play areas, tennis courts, a soccer/football field, an off-leash dog island (the Ellicott Island Bark Park), and more. The park is situated along two waterways, Ellicott Creek and the Erie Canal (Tonawanda Creek). Erie County Department of Parks, Forestry and Recreation is currently working with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper on Ellicott Creek habitat restoration through the Living Shoreline Project.
Public art in the proposed location at Ellicott Creek Park would be highly visible to park visitors as they move through the park towards the cricket pitch, playgrounds, soccer field, etc.
- Erie County Health Mall
Address: 1500 Broadway Ave Buffalo NY 14212
Public Art Location: Exterior wall on the east side of the building.
Approximate Dimensions: 36ft x 30ft
Site Map: Erie County Health Mall Map
Background: The Erie County Health Mall (established in 2014 after the Dr. Matt Gajewski Health Services Center was shuttered in 2009) is a collaboration between Erie County, Best-Self Behavioral Health, Catholic Health, and Endeavor Health Services. The Mall, owned by Erie County and leased to medical partners, provides essential medical, behavioral health and education services to an underserved community.
- Buffalo Convention Center
Address: 153 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY, 14202
Public Art Locations: Exterior wall along Pearl St. Proposals for the entire wall or a portion of the wall will be accepted, one or multiple artists may be selected for this location.
Dimensions: The total length is 432 ft. Bays are 21ft or 30ft in length (bays closest to loading dock entry and exit ramps are 21ft, all other bays are 30ft). Height is 30ft.
Site Map: Buffalo Convention Center Map
Background: Owned by Erie County, the Buffalo Convention Center recently underwent major upgrades including an overhaul of the building’s façade along Franklin Street and renovations to interior lobby and convention spaces. The exterior wall along Pearl St. is the proposed location for public art. The location is highly visible to both county residents and visitors to our region and offers a strong opportunity to showcase Erie County art and artists.
Artwork Budget:
Artists may submit budgets up to $200,000. Proposed budgets must include artist fees and any and all other project expenses including but not limited to the design, engineering, fabrication, equipment and rentals, travel, transportation, delivery, insurance, and installation of the artwork. The award will be paid over the course of the commission with milestones at design, fabrication, installation, and closing.
Selected artists must be insured (and provide a Certificate of Insurance as evidence of such coverage) before entering into a contract with Erie County. Further details on Erie County’s insurance requirements will be provided to finalists.
Eligibility:
The project is open to professional artists and artist-led teams residing in Erie County with an additional focus and priority for artists who are racially and ethnically diverse. Applicants who do not live within Erie County will be considered ineligible. Applicants should have experience completing projects of a similar size and budget, experience in completing projects on time and on budget, experience in public art, and experience working with other professionals including fabricators, landscape architects, engineers and government officials. Artists should also have experience creating permanent artwork in materials suitable for the climate of Erie County.
Submission Requirements
- Artist proposal including:
- Description of proposed artwork: concept, dimensions, materials, colors, themes.
- Sketches or renderings of the proposed artwork.
- Description of the durability of the materials and maintenance requirements for the artwork to remain in optimal condition.
- Description of installation requirements: Indicate if a subterranean preparation such as a concrete footing is required. Indicate if a special surround is required such as gravel, plantings or alteration of the terrain.
- Please define your team if you know it at this time, include contact information.
- A project budget including design, engineering, fabrication, equipment and rentals, transportation, installation, insurance, artist’s fees and any and all costs associated with the project. Artists and contractors must be insured. Contractors should be licensed as necessary.
- A rough timeline outlining the estimated time from design through fabrication and installation. (Note: The committee will require photographs of various stages of completion to release payments.)
- Resume or CV (2 pages maximum)
- Five (5) photographic examples of work, each to include the title, dimensions, medium, year produced, commission dollar amount (if produced as a commission), and 1-2 sentences describing the project and commissioning agency/client, if applicable.
- Three professional references (please include phone numbers and email addresses)
- Short responses to the following questions (100-300 words per question)
- Describe your artistic practice and how you are a good candidate for this particular opportunity.
- As an artist approaching public art, how do you design works that respond to a particular site?
- Do you collaborate or engage with the community in your arts practice? If so, how do you collaborate? Please describe.
- Do you have a personal connection to the site or nearby communities? If so, please describe.
Click HERE to submit applications via the online form
Click HERE for a downloadable (PDF) Application for mail/hand delivery.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 16th, 2024,12PM
Selection Process
The Erie County Arts in Public Places Committee, comprised of visual arts professionals and community representatives, will review eligible submissions and invite qualified finalists to discuss their proposals (Artist Call Backs may be in-person or virtual). The AIPP Committee will subsequently submit their project recommendations to the Erie County Legislature for approval. The AIPP Committee reserves the right to recommend one, multiple, or no projects arising from this Call to Artists. Projects are subject to approval by the County Executive and the County Legislature. Approved artists will work with county officials and AIPP committee members to finalize a contract, produce final designs, and oversee the fabrication and installation of artwork.
Selection Criteria
- Dedicated and consistent artistic practice (20 pts)
- Experience with public art projects of a relatively similar size and scope (20pts)
- Authenticity, creativity, and innovation of proposed artwork (10pts)
- Connection of proposed artwork with the site and surrounding environment and community (20pts)
- Maintenance requirements (20pts)
- Overall quality of submission (10pts)
Project Schedule (subject to change)
October 15th 2024: Call to Artists Open Date
November 5th, 2024: Deadline for questions on Call
November 13th 2024: Erie County AIPP response to questions*
November 15th 2024: Virtual Information Session for artists*
December 16th 2024 at 12PM: Deadline for submissions
Early – mid January 2025: Artist Call Backs to discuss concept proposals (either in-person or via video conference)
March 1, 2025: Artist selection submitted to Legislature for approval
Spring 2025: Selected Artist(s) under contract
Spring – Winter 2025: Construction and Installation
*For Erie County AIPP response to artist questions, visit: https://www4.erie.gov/publicart
*For link to Virtual Information Session, visit: https://www4.erie.gov/publicart
Projects are funded by Erie County. Per 2023 Erie County Local Law #4, ownership and title of all works of public art acquired by the County shall be vested in the County of Erie.
COPYRIGHT Information included in Artist Contract: The Artist expressly reserves every right available to him / her in common law or under the Federal Copyright Act to control the making and dissemination of copies or reproductions of the Work, except as those rights are limited by the Agreement: The Artist expressly permits the County to reproduce the Work graphically for purposes strictly for the sole use and benefit of the public. All reproductions of the Work shall contain a credit to the Artist-Sculptor and copyright notice substantially in the following form: "Copyright, Artist's name, year of publication," in such a manner and location as shall comply with the U.S. Copyright laws. The Artist owns the design and the County owns the physical Work.
Questions and Contact Information
For questions, please contact publicart@erie.gov