Art Sites

Public art and design elements will be utilized at multiple locations in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Separate RFQs will be published for the following sites: (1) Entry Plaza, (2) Commons and (3) Art Mural Wall. Each will have separate budgets and review processes with the MLK Art Selection Committee. The Art Selection Committee intends to select a different artist or artist team for each location. This RFQ is specifically for artists interested in developing proposals for the Commons location.

Commons |Budget: Not to Exceed $150,000

The primary goals of this artwork are to:

• Reference meaningful connections between culture, history and the natural world.
• Provide open-ended, creative, and surprising environments that emphasize freedom and discovery.
• Celebrate the spirit, values and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Beloved Community.”

The Commons includes a walking trail and grass recreation area. The primary access point is via a paved path extending west from the Entry Plaza on the other side of a small bridge spanning a headwater tributary of Lamprey Creek. 

The Commons will often be busy, and is adjacent to an off-leash dog park. The grassy oval of the Commons offers a place for learning, personal introspection and relationship building while walking, sitting, or participating in fun community activities. The history of both national and local civil rights movements will be shared with visitors as they walk the Commons path. The artwork could potentially interact with this narrative, leverage the learning experience, and connect the diversity of human communities.

The art chosen for this location may be singular or multifaceted. The commission will be awarded to one artist or artist team with a budget not to exceed $150,000. The budget includes artist fees, fabrication, insurance, shipping, travel, installation, documentation, and any other project-related costs. National artist and artist teams are eligible to apply.

Equity Policy

The City of Corvallis is committed to the principles of equality of opportunity for all members of our community and beyond. The City will recruit, hire, transfer, and promote without regard to color, race, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, religion, religious observance, marital status, familial status, veteran status, or source and level of income. Recruitment will be on the basis of qualifications only, without regard to color, race, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, religion, religious observance, marital status, familial status, veteran status, or source and level of income.

We encourage a cross-section of people representing our diverse communities to apply, including those from historically excluded communities including, but not limited to: rural communities, from communities of color, LGBTQ+.

How to Apply

Applicants will be asked to submit the following items via a form (below) on The Arts Center’s website. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All application materials must be received by the deadline: March 6, 2023, 11:59pm, Pacific Time. Do not submit a proposal for the commission at this time.

Include the following in your application:

1. Statement of interest. Explain why this project is of interest to you. Address how your artistic practice connects to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and/or the notion of ‘Beloved Community’. Submit as a PDF named with artist’s last name, first initial, cover (doejcover.pdf). Maximum 1 page.
2. Artist Resume – Please include a daytime telephone number, email and address. Submit as a PDF file named with artist’s last name, first initial, resume (doejresume.pdf). Maximum 2 pages per person.
3. Images  Submit up to 10 JPEG images of recent work. Images must be no larger than 1024 x 1024 pixels, and 72 dpi. Each image filename must be named as follows: artist’s last name, first initial, number that corresponds to the number on the image list (doej01.jpg).
4. Corresponding Image Identification List – Include title, date of completion, material(s), size, the budget or purchase price and any other relevant information or narrative. Submit as a PDF file named with artist’s last name, first initial, imagelist (doejimagelist.pdf). Maximum 2 pages.

Selection Criteria

• Statement of interest clearly identifies the artist’s connection to the narratives surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• Applicant specifically and succinctly addresses the application requirements outlined in our RFQ.
• Work samples exemplify artistic merit and technical quality.
• Artist Resume lists strong professional qualifications indicating the successful completion of past projects
• Applicant demonstrates ability to work within a given budget and timeframe, and to work with a diverse professional team.

Selection Process

Artist and artist teams will be evaluated using the following criteria. Up to 5 finalists will be selected. These finalists will be invited to a site visit, and awarded up to $1200.00 to cover costs associated with proposal preparation.

Members of the Art Selection Committee include artists, representatives from the Linn Benton NAACP branch, MLK Park users, and community members. Non-voting advisors to the panel include MLK Park project leads, the project architect, and TAC staff. Questions relating to this RFQ will be answered via email by Jennie Castle, curator@theartscener.net. Questions received fewer than five (5) business days before the deadline for submissions may not be considered.

Project Timeline

Application Due: March 6, 2023, 11:59pm, Pacific Time

Finalist Notifications: April 2023

Finalist Proposals Due: July 2023

Finalist Contracted: August 2023

Project Completion: Summer 2024

*Dates provided are estimates based upon current knowledge of preliminary project schedules and are only intended to assist artists in determining their own availability to participate. Above dates in no way represent final approved schedules and are subject to change through future iterations of design and construction phases.

Pose all questions relating to this RFQ to Jennie Castle via email, curator@theartscenter.net. Questions received fewer than five (5) business days prior to the submission deadline may not be considered.