rfp: PAID OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ART TO DOWNTOWN GLOUCESTER
OUTLINE
- ON THE RIGHT
- About the Call
- About the Out Door Murals
- Who can Apply?
- How do artists Apply?
- How to submit Work Samples?
- Acceptable Mediums?
- What is the Award?
- What is the Selection Process
- What is the timeline?
- About the Call
- BELOW
- About Harbor Village
- About Gloucester
- About PUAM
- About North Shore CDC
- Who to Contact?
- About Action Inc.
- FAQs
- How to Install Work?
- How to Be Safe During COVID
- Ownership
ABOUT HARBOR VILLAGE
Harbor Village is located at the intersection of Main and Elm Streets in the heart of Gloucester’s downtown. It is approximately two blocks from City Hall and the waterfront and directly adjacent to most of downtown Gloucester’s amenities and jobs. Harbor Village is a mixed-use development consisting of 30 affordable apartments and commercial space on the ground floor. It is being built to passive house standards, allowing for higher efficiency levels and be more environmentally friendly. Among all the characteristics that Harbor Village provides, it will also create a great opportunity to add an artistic element to this beautifully designed building, and an enrichment to the history and culture in Gloucester, which is already rich in the arts.
ABOUT GLOUCESTER
Gloucester was first established as a settlement in 1623, three years after the pilgrims landed in Plymouth. The town of Gloucester was incorporated in 1642; it then included Sandy Bay, now the town of Rockport. Gloucester was named after Gloucester, England, whence many of the settlers of that year came. Harbor Village is located at the intersection of Main and Elm Streets in the heart of Gloucester’s downtown. It is approximately two blocks from City Hall and the waterfront and directly adjacent to most of downtown Gloucester’s amenities.
Learn more about Gloucester and its 400th anniversary in 2023!
ABOUT PUAM
The Punto Urban Art Museum (PUAM) is a social justice public art program created in 2017 by NSCDC to foster neighborhood pride in the Point. The goal of PUAM is to break down invisible socio-economic barriers. We believe public art can be a tool to help integrate neighborhoods and create more resilient communities. We provide educational tours that showcase the art and provide an opportunity to highlight the rich and storied history of the Point as an immigrant community as well as the impact of redlining/housing discrimination. Through PUAM, we provide economic opportunities for Massachusetts-based artists to showcase their art. The open air museum hosts over 75 murals by international and local artists.
What sets PUAM apart is that nearly all of the public art in our program is painted on long-term restricted affordable housing. These homes will remain affordable to generations of families forever.
ABOUT NSCDC
North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCDC) is a regional, nonprofit organization committed to investing in neighborhoods to create thriving communities. We envision a North Shore where every neighborhood is one of choice and opportunity. Our neighborhood revitalization model focuses on projects that have lasting benefits for entire neighborhoods with need-based programs that build future city leaders and self-sufficient residents.
NSCDC seeks to align its real estate investments, programs, and advocacy efforts for maximum impact. We use our community-focused development model to invest resources into low-income or distressed neighborhoods on the North Shore to improve the quality of life for residents. We are committed to the community through:
- Affordable Housing Development
- Community Engagement
- Youth Development
- Small Business Technical Assistance
- Arts and Placemaking
ABOUT ACTION INC.
Action Inc. is a non-profit organization and Community Action Agency that was founded in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. We are a member of the Community Action Partnership, a nationwide network of more than 1,000 similar agencies that are dedicated to helping people in need and eliminating poverty in the United States. We work with our partners at local, state, and national levels to provide quality services that change lives and help people move up the ladder of economic opportunity.
Action Inc. is a safety net for our community. We offer a broad range of supportive services, including: fuel assistance and energy efficiency programs, case management, housing assistance and homelessness prevention, job training and education, and affordable housing. We are responsive to our community’s needs, developing new programs and services when new needs arise. We advocate locally and nationally for policies that will advance and strengthen our community. We are dedicated to providing pathways to opportunity. We believe that all people–regardless of their income, race, gender, sexuality, or religion–should have equal opportunities for stability, safety, and success in life.
WHO TO CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please contact Yinette Guzman, the Design and Placemaking Project Manager, at yinette@northshorecdc.org and use ‘Gloucester RFP’ in the subject line.
FAQS?
HOW TO INSTALL THE WORK?
Artists must maintain the highest degree of professionalism prior, during installation time. The use of alcohol and recreational drugs are prohibited while working at Harbor Village. Artists must respect the neighbors’ quiet hours 7PM-8AM.
For indoor murals only: Each artist is responsible for purchasing and delivery of their materials, rental equipment, set-up and clean-up of their designated space each day.
HOW TO BE SAFE DURING COVID-19?
Artists must follow Gloucester’s Guidance on preventing the spread of Covid-19. Masks and Social distancing are required when others are sharing the workspace. Please review the information and keep yourself and fellow artists safe during your participation.
HOW WILL PUAM/NSCDC/HARBOR VILLAGE HANDLE OWNERSHIP OF WORK, DIGITALLY/PHYSICALLY?
After completion of the murals/work, all artwork will have a spotlight feature on our Punto Urban Art Museum social media and website. We will include your written statement, bio, artist portrait and an image of your mural.
Murals are contemporary and will be up for display for at least 3 years at Harbor Village. Murals are owned by Harbor Village LP/NSCDC.
Installed 2D Artwork will permanently belong to Harbor Village LP/NSCDC.
*Artists hold the right to publish, sell and distribute images of their art.
APPLICATION IS CLOSED
North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCDC) and Action Inc. have partnered together to bring new art into downtown Gloucester through the Punto Urban Art Museum (PUAM). This program was founded by NSCDC in Salem’s Point neighborhood to break down the invisible but undeniable socio-economic barriers between the Point, a largely-LatinX community, and the rest of Salem. Through public art, PUAM increases pride of place within the neighborhood and raises consciousness about social justice topics.
PUAM calls for proposals for three murals, two interior and one exterior, at Harbor Village, a new building located at 206 Main Street in Gloucester. The goal for this call is to provide opportunities for local/regional artists to bring life and color into downtown of Gloucester. Selected Artists/teams will be a part of efforts in celebrating the 400th anniversary of Gloucester! Artist work will be voted and selected by members of the Gloucester community and stakeholders of the project.
PUAM is seeking 2 or 3 New England based visual artists to install art in NSCDC and Action Inc.’s newest affordable housing development. The project is expected to be completed by mid summer
ABOUT THE OUTDOOR MURAL
Outdoor/Public Mural #1:
- Artist Fee: $3,000
- Supplies Budget: up to $2,500 (Lift will be paid separately by NSCDC)
- Theme: 400th anniversary of Gloucester; “Our People, Our Stories”
Selected artist will be required to research information about Gloucester including interviews on the 400th anniversary project available HERE - Location: North facing Facade on Elm Street
- Size: 63’ x 34’ (area 1062 sq.ft)
- Surface: Hardy Board Exterior Facade *Artist fee will include, lift rental and all artist materials.
ABOUT THE INDOOR MURALS
Interior Semi-Public Mural:
- Artist Fee + Supplies: Up to $2,000
- Theme: Open to artist interpretation
- Location: On the program space or resident entrance Ground level, facing Elm Street
- Size: 15’x 10’ area (150 sq.ft ) *Artists may have the option of expanding across additional walls if desired.
- Material: Primed drywall
Interior Resident Mural:
- Artist Fee + Supplies: Up to $2,000
- Theme: Open to artist interpretation
- Location: on the community/laundry room on the 4th Level.
- Size: 10’x 10’ area (150 sq.ft )
- Material: Primed drywall
WHO CAN APPLY?
Anyone may apply that is 18 years and older. Either solo or teams. We will prioritize artists from the North Shore of Massachusetts, Massachusetts and New England Area.
The Google Form will require artist to:
- Upload 3 artwork samples that are similar to the installation you are applying for
- Upload a sketch/visual proposal
- Submit proof of residency
- Provide a short description/written statement/inspiration of artist RFP
HOw can i apply?
Artists can submit their application by clicking HERE. Application is open now through May 2nd.
WHAT ARE ACCEPTABLE MEDIUMS/DISCIPLINES?
- Outdoor Mural: Acrylic, or spray paint
For the Indoor - Murals: Any kind of 2D work, including: photo, paintings, collages, fully painted mural proposals etc.
- Restrictions: Artwork mediums not allowed are: wheat paste, mod podge and glue. If the physical work brought for display does not reflect the jpegs submitted, the work may be removed. All works must adhere to a family and child-friendly environment and exclude nudity or anything overtly violent and inappropriate.
WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS?
- Outdoor Mural proposals will be reviewed and selected by:
- Judging team (Gloucester arts organizations, community members and project stakeholders) will select up to 5 proposals for the general public to vote on.
- The Judging team will take into consideration the general public vote a select an artist
- Artists must have proven record of having installed an art piece similar in size
- The judging team might ask for up to 3 references of previous work
- Indoor work proposals will be reviewed and selected by
- NSCDC & Action Inc. will select artist/s
- We will prioritize submissions that:
- Resonate with the Gloucester community
- Reflect cultural/historic relevance to Gloucester
- We will prioritize artists:
- From The Gloucester area and the North Shore of Massachusetts
- We will not select submissions that:
- are obscene, inflammatory, or inappropriate in anyway
- that fall outside of the listed constraints regarding size, length & topic
WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS? DEADLINE EXTENDED
Subject to change
- April 12: Applications opens
- May 16: Application Closes at 11:59 PM EST
- May 17-20: Judging/selection period
- TBD: Notify winners + applicants
- TBD: Sign + Return artists contracts/required docs
- TBD: 60% of payment distributed to artist
- TBD: Artist installation deadline is based upon their availity.
- TBD: Remaining (40%) payment upon completion.
NOTE: Outdoor mural MUST be completed by Nov 2021. Indoor murals are recommended to be completed between before July 1st.
