CALL TO ARTISTS: Request for Qualifications
City of Salem Naumkeag Portrait Project
The City of Salem, MA invites artists to submit qualifications for a $30,000 public art commission grant award to create a portrait of a Naumkeag leader or other prominent Indigenous community member to commemorate the Indigenous Peoples of Salem, MA.
The Salem Public Art Commission, in conjunction with the City of Salem Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services; Mayor Kimberley Driscoll or her designee; the Massachusett-Ponkapoag Tribal Council and other Indigenous community stakeholders, will be the acting Art Jury managing the artist selection process.
To be considered for this commission, submit your qualifications via email to
[email protected] as well as
[email protected] by 4:00 p.m., May 15, 2020. Details below.
The Naumkeag Portrait Project was proposed by Mayor Kimberley Driscoll to the Public Art Commission in May 2019, with the purpose of recognizing and highlighting the contributions and sacrifices of the Indigenous Peoples of this land. The Naumkeag band of the Massachusett, among other Indigenous communities, lived on and moved through this land long before the Town of Salem was established. The City’s goal is to acknowledge the past and historic contributions of these communities, while honoring and celebrating the presences of these rich cultures and their Peoples today.
From the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), three or four finalists will be selected by the Art Jury to participate in an “in-person” interview process, to the extent we are able to do so, with the Art Jury. One artist will be selected by the Art Jury for this commission, based on the finalists’ presentations and pending final formal approval by the Mayor. The selected artist will be required to meet or confer regularly with the Massachusett-Ponkapoag Tribal Council and other members of the Indigenous community to identify the subject of the portrait and ensure that the completed product accurately and satisfactorily represents the Indigenous community in a way that feels appropriate to them.
The City intends to unveil the newly completed portrait as part of a public celebration in October 2020.
The City is seeking qualifications from artists with demonstrated portraiture painting experience. Ideally, this artists would also have some experience with or expertise in the art of Indigenous cultures. The $30,000 grant commission must cover all services from subject/content development through final completion and framing, including but not limited to artist fee, travel, community meetings, research, subject sketches, materials, portrait creation, transportation, framing, and coordination with consultants, the Massachusett-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, and City staff and volunteers.
PORTRAIT PARAMETERS:
Subject matter to be informed by conversations with Indigenous community to ensure reflection of and connection to the deep history of Indigenous Peoples here in Salem.
Proposed subject matter must be reviewed and approved by members of the Art Jury
Preferred medium is oil paint, style can be classic or modern/contemporary
Frame should be made of a simple dark natural wood
Finished product is preferred to be Round or Oval in shape, to reflect the importance of the circle in Indigenous cultures
Finished framed work should be approximately 36'' x 28" in size, to be in keeping with the size of other portraiture in City Hall
THE SITE:
It has been proposed to the City Council that this new commissioned portrait be placed in the location where the existing portrait of Andrew Jackson now hangs in Council Chambers at Salem City Hall. If approved, the portrait of Andrew Jackson would be relocated to the Council anteroom or some other prominent location in City Hall. If this is not approved by Council, the newly commissioned portrait will be hung on display in another publicly viewable and prominent location of honor within Salem City Hall.
THE ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS:
1. Artists submit qualifications via email to
[email protected] as well as Purchasing Agent Tom Watkins at
[email protected].
Requested qualifications are:
• No more than 10 .jpg image examples of relevant previous work
• A formal CV or Resume
• Brief biographical information
• Statement of interest for this specific commission
2. The Art Jury reviews all submissions and selects finalists.
3. Finalists interviews/presentations.
4. Art Jury will select one artist to be awarded the commission grant.
PORTRAIT CREATION PROCESS:
1. The selected artist will be paid one-third of the total commission for supplies and research time amount upon signing of City contract.
2. Contracted artist will begin work by meeting, to the fullest extent possible via virtual means, with members of the Indigenous communities in and around Salem, MA to help identify the subject, content, and style of the portrait.
3. Artist will review identified subject matter with Art Jury.
4. Once the subject is identified and agreed upon by all parties, including the artist, the artist will begin work on the creation of the piece.
5. Artist holds a mid-point check in with Senior Planner for Arts & Culture and/or full Art Jury
6. Artists delivers finished and framed work to the City of Salem. Remaining two-thirds balance of contact paid upon delivered of completed work that meets City’s satisfaction and standards.
7. The new work is unveiled at a public celebration in October 2020.*
*Note: If the artist would like to give a talk about their process at this event, that would be welcome, but is not required.
TIMELINE:
May 14, 2020 4pm Deadline for submissions of qualifications
May 19, 2020 Finalists selected
May 25-29, 2020 Selected finalists’ interviews
May 4, 2020 Public announcement of selected artist
May – September 2020 Work Created
July 1, 2020 Project Mid-point Check-in
October 1, 2020 Finished & Framed work delivered to City of Salem
October 12, 2020 Unveiling Celebration & possible Artist’s Talk
ELIGIBILITY:
Must have demonstrated Portraiture experience.
Preference will be given to artists with experience/expertise in the art of Indigenous cultures.
Salem is committed to providing equal opportunities for ALL. Artists of all gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation/ identity, religion/beliefs, education and physical ability are encouraged to apply.
Salem residency not required.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS:
Artists submit qualifications via email to
[email protected] and
[email protected].
Requested qualifications are:
• No more than 10 .jpg image examples of relevant previous work
• A formal CV or Resume
• Brief biographical information
• Statement of interest for this specific commission
Deadline for submissions of qualifications is Thursday, May 14, 2020 by 4:00pm
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
The City of Salem is not liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in submitting this proposal. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to award the agreement in its best interest. The City reserves the right to make multiple awards. Any municipal permit fees required will be waived by the City, however, the awarded artist may still be required to pull the permits.
MGL c. 30B, §2 defines “Grant agreement'', [as] “an agreement between a governmental body and an individual or nonprofit entity the purpose of which is to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation instead of procuring supplies or services for the benefit or use of the governmental body. Therefore, this Contract is exempt from the rules and regulations of MGL 30B S. 5 or 6.
The City of Salem does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
Attached is the City of Salem contract with insurance requirements which will be executed. A Certificate of Insurance will be required at the time of contract ex*****on.
QUESTIONS:
For more information please contact:
Julie Barry, Senior Planner of Arts & Culture at
[email protected] or 978-619-5681.
