City of Seattle: Neighborhood Solar Artwork Installations: Capitol Hill Gateway Kiosk-Renewable

Introduction

The Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with the Seattle City Light and its Renewable Energy Program, seeks three (3) artists for two (2) separate projects. For the Capitol Hill Gateway Kiosk – Renewable Energy Project we seek one artist or artist team to develop a prototype solar installation that will bring attention to Seattle City Light’s renewable energy sources and customer programs. The artwork will also function to brand Capitol Hill as an arts and culture district while at the same time highlighting the potential of solar energy. The kiosk will be placed on city-owned property in Capitol Hill, which will soon be designated as an arts district. This project is a companion project to a solar powered artwork project for neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Solar Artwork Installations– Renewable Energy Project seeks two artists or artist teams to develop a prototype solar installation that will bring attention to Seattle City Light’s renewable energy sources and customer programs. These artworks will be placed on city-owned properties in neighborhoods throughout the city. 

For the Capitol Hill Gateway Kiosk – Renewable Energy Project, one artist will be commissioned to create a free-standing artwork that is activated by solar energy and provides an accessible and educational, interactive demonstration of solar energy and also functions as an informational kiosk. Three finalists will be selected on the basis of past work and will be invited to develop proposals.

The Neighborhood Solar Artwork Installations– Renewable Energy Project seeks two artists to develop a different prototype solar installation that will bring attention to Seattle City Light’s renewable energy sources and customer programs. These artworks will be placed on city-owned properties in neighborhoods throughout the city. Two artists will each be commissioned to create an artwork that 1) functions as a free standing artwork using solar energy, 2) provides an accessible, educational, interactive demonstration of solar energy or 3) forms a place where art activation can occur. For the Neighborhood Solar Artwork Installations – Renewable Energy Project six finalists will be selected on the basis of past work and will be invited to develop proposals.

Scope of Work - Capitol Hill Gateway Kiosk – Renewable Energy Project

The selected artists will work with Seattle City Light, its Renewable Energy Program, the Office of Arts & Culture and local community members to develop and install new semi-permanent, site-specific artwork on Capitol Hill. The artworks will include photovoltaic panels and will be activated in some way by solar power, demonstrating benefits of renewable energy.

The artwork can take many forms and perform many functions. In addition to demonstrating and advocating for solar power, the artwork will include some element and/or language that functions to educate the general public about solar energy. This artwork will also:

• Brand the neighborhood as an arts district
• Share information about arts organizations and projects
• Enliven the visual landscape without cluttering it
• Assist in cultural wayfinding

Additionally, the artworks may include messaging about sustainability, environmental stewardship and renewable energy.

The artwork will be most likely placed in street right of way or a park on Capitol Hill. The city partners will work to identify viable locations.

To assist artists with technical aspects of linking to solar power, the city may hire an artist-consultant with experience in creating solar powered artwork to work with the selected artists during the design development phase of the project.

The city is committed to excellence in environmental stewardship and in sustainable building practices. 

We encourage artists whose work addresses issues of sustainability and “green” design to consider applying for this call.

Scope of Work - Neighborhood Solar Artwork Installations – Renewable Energy Project

The selected artists will work with Seattle City Light, its Renewable Energy Program, the Office of Arts & Culture and local community members to develop and install new semi-permanent, site-specific artwork in several locations in the city. The artworks will include photovoltaic panels and will be activated in some way by solar power, demonstrating benefits of renewable energy.

The artworks can take many forms and perform many functions in addition to demonstrating solar power; they may 1) function as a free standing artwork using solar energy, 2) provide an accessible or educational or interactive demonstration of solar energy or 3) form a place where art activation can occur. Each artwork will have some element and/or language that functions to educate the general public about solar energy. Additionally, the artworks may include messaging about sustainability, environmental stewardship and renewable energy.

The artworks will be placed in parks, contingent upon Seattle Parks and Recreation approval, in street right of way, or publicly accessible Seattle City Light locations. The city partners will identify locations for the artwork.

To assist artists with technical aspects of linking to solar power, the city may hire an artist-consultant with experience in creating solar powered artwork to work with the selected artists during the design development phase of the project.

The city is committed to excellence in environmental stewardship and in sustainable building practices.  We encourage artists whose work addresses issues of sustainability and “green” design to consider applying for this call.

Artists may apply to either one of the opportunities, or both.

Budget

All selected finalists (nine total) will receive $1,500 each to develop a concept proposal.

If you are accepted as a finalist, a concept proposal will generally require an illustration or sketch of the idea presented on a board or digital format, and a one page written description that includes the approximate artwork size, scale, form, proposed materials, and function, if applicable. These details are provided for informational purposes only. Do not send concept proposals as part of this application.

We will cover eligible expenses for travel to Seattle to present the concept.

Three selected artists will receive a total project budget for $70,000 for design development, production, taxes, materials, photovoltaics, permits, fabrication, installation, travel and artist fees. This amount is inclusive of all fees, materials, labor and taxes.

Project Background

The Office of Arts & Culture partners with Seattle City Light to commission artworks that bring awareness to the utility’s work, mission and facilities.

Seattle City Light

Seattle City Light is the city’s publicly owned electrical and power utility. It is considered the “greenest” utility in the country. Its vision and mission are to set the standard and deliver the best customer service experience of any utility in the nation. The utility is dedicated to exceeding customers’ expectations in producing and delivering environmentally responsible, safe, low cost and reliable power.

Seattle City Light has three programs for customers who are interested in Renewable Energy:

Green Up

Green Up is Seattle City Light's voluntary green power program for residential and business customers. By enrolling in Green Up, customers purchase green power for a portion of their electricity use and demonstrate their support for wind power and other new renewable energy projects in the Northwest. Choosing green power reduces reliance on fossil fuels, improves air quality and helps reduce the growth of climate-warming emissions. When customers join Green Up, City Light buys electricity on their behalf from independent companies that produce energy from renewable resources in our region. Green Up also has sponsored more than 30 solar demonstration projects, including high-profile installations at Jefferson Park, Woodland Park Zoo and the Pacific Science Center. By raising demand for green power through purchases and public awareness, Green Up supports regional renewable energy generation and facilitates the development of new clean-energy sources in the Northwest.

Community Solar

Seattle was awarded a grant from the Department of Energy Solar America Cities Program in 2010 for the development and launch of a Seattle City Light Community Solar program. Currently, City Light constructs large solar arrays in locations optimally suited for solar and chosen for their community appeal. Any City Light customer can sign up to purchase solar units consisting of a share of the total output of the Community Solar array. Each year through 2020, City Light credits participating Community Solar customers for a portion of the power produced by the Community Solar array. Participants also receive a Washington State Production Incentive which is double the production incentive paid to individual customers who generate solar electricity on their homes.

Customer Generation

Seattle City Light customers are installing solar electric (photovoltaic, or PV) equipment on their homes and businesses in greater numbers every year. While known for cloudy skies, Seattle receives more sunlight than Germany, the world's leading solar market. With a solar electric system, a customer pays less for electricity from City Light. If the customer’s system produces more electricity than needed at any given time, it will supply the grid, spinning the utility meter backwards, a process called "net metering."  Solar customers also qualify for the Washington State Production Incentive administered annually by City Light.

Arts districts branding - Capitol Hill Gateway Kiosk – Renewable Energy Project

The Office of Arts & Culture is committed to the development and support of arts and cultural districts. Cultural space is at the heart of every successful neighborhood in Seattle. Theaters, galleries, art-house cinemas, and museums are the traditional cultural spaces we can all picture, but there are also the music clubs, the coffeehouses and bars that hang art, the bookstores, and the relatively invisible artists' studios, rehearsal rooms, and offices. Our cultural spaces define the social character of our neighborhoods. They are the bricks-and-mortar portal to the creative vibrancy our city has to offer. In order to identify a neighborhood as an arts district, the Office of Arts & Culture is exploring, in partnership with Seattle Department of Transportation, the creation of a series of kiosks through which to brand arts districts, to share information about opportunities in arts districts and to aid in cultural wayfinding. The artwork project for Capitol Hill will be placed in the designated Capitol Hill arts district.

Schedule

Once artists are selected on the basis of a proposal presentations and interviews, they will be issued a contract to develop the design. A local artist with experience in using solar energy will be available to provide consultation to artists who do not have experience with solar technology. The city will work to find locations for the artworks. This should take about three months. Upon approval of design development, the artists will fabricate and install the artwork during the summer of 2015.

Eligibility

The commission is open to artists living in Washington State. Artists may apply as a team, but the application should clearly describe the contribution of each collaborator. The Office of Arts & Culture encourages diversity in its collection. Artists whose work is well represented in the city’s collection are eligible to apply, but the artist selection panel will consider artistic diversity as one factor in the selection process. Students are not eligible to apply.

The city is committed to excellence in environmental stewardship and in sustainable building practices.  We encourage artists whose work addresses issues of sustainability and “green” design to consider applying for this call.

Artists may apply to both renewable energy project calls and must indicate their interest in one or both projects in the custom questions listed below.

Do not send concept proposals as part of this application.

Application Deadline

Deadline is 11 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2014 (Pacific Standard Time)

application requirements

• Sixteen (16) artwork images. CaFÉTM image format instructions can be found at image prep.
• Letter of interest (not to exceed 2,000 characters)
• Resume
• References
• Image Identification List (not to exceed 500 characters for each image). If you completed a project as a team member, the image identification should indicate your role for each image submitted. Do not omit the Image Identification List or your application will be incomplete.
• Other questions as specified

All applications must be submitted digitally through the CaFÉTM online system. Link to the online application via http://www.callforentry.org/to view the full application requirements.

Selection Criteria

Finalists for both projects will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

• strength of past artworks,
• visual and technical sophistication,
• creativity of approach,
• demonstrated interest in sustainability and renewable energy,
• experience working in public settings,
• experience fabricating and installing permanent artwork,
• proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with project managers and design professionals and
• demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget.

Final selection of artist to be awarded by the commission will be based on strength of a concept proposal that addresses issues of sustainability and “green” design and is visually compelling. Also considered are feasibility of proposal and project budget.

The Office of Arts & Culture is committed to reflecting the diversity and cultural richness of our city in the selection of artists and artworks.

References provided as part of this application will be contacted prior to artist interviews.

Selection Process

The selection process will occur in two phases: 1) a selection panel of arts professionals, client representatives and community members will review all applications for both projects and select up to three finalists for the Capitol Hill Gateway Kiosk – Renewable Energy Project and six finalists for the Neighborhood Solar Artwork Installations – Renewable Energy Project, 2) the selection panel will meet for a second time to review artists’ proposals and interview finalists and select one artist for the Capitol Hill Gateway Kiosk – Renewable Energy Project and select two artists for the Neighborhood Solar Artwork Installations – Renewable Energy Project to be awarded the project.

Artists who are selected as finalists will have a project orientation providing information about the project, concept proposal requirements and technical feedback. Dates of the orientation will be determined once finalists have been selected.

Notification of Results

Artists will be notified by email at the conclusion of interviews and panel deliberations. Applicants will receive notification of the panel’s decision by e-mail. The Office of Arts & Culture reserves the right not to select any of the applicants. Please do not call the office for results.

We’re here to help

For questions about the project or the selection process, please contact Kelly Pajek at (206) 684-7311 or Kelly.Pajek@seattle.gov . If you are applying using CaFE for the first time we suggest applying in advance of the application deadline to allow for formatting of your images and uploading of all required application requirements. For assistance with the CaFE online application process or image formatting, contact CaFE tech support at (888) 562-7232 or cafe@westaf.org.