REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS DESIGN OF ART TREATMENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL GLASS ELEMENTS AT DOWNTOWN BERKELEY BART PLAZA DATE ISSUED: March 15, 2016 APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 22, 2016 5:00 p.m. I. INTRODUCTION The City of Berkeley, in collaboration with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to California based artists interested in designing artwork for long-term but potentially non-permanent placement on selected architectural features in the Downtown Berkeley BART Station Plaza. As a result of this RFQ and the selection process described below, one artist or artist team will be commissioned to create distinct, original artwork to be reproduced as an art film (also known as patterned film or adhesive vinyl) that will be adhered to selected architectural glass structures in the Plaza. These structures include the glass canopy entryway ( Head House ), two bus shelters, and a second auxiliary entrance to the BART station. The artwork imagery must meet certain design criteria, such as allowing for visibility through the glass, thus the project may be ideal for artists who do monochromatic line work. Renderings of the Plaza and the Art Sites may be found at: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/city_manager/civic_arts/bart_glass_art.aspx II. ELIGIBILITY This RFQ is open to practicing, professional artists residing in California. Artists must be U.S. citizens or have legal working status in the United States and be at least 18 years old. Bay Area artists are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted only from artists whose work is being submitted in response to this RFQ. Applications submitted by third parties such 1
as galleries, art consultants, family members, etc. will not be considered. Applicants must demonstrate appropriate skills or experience in designing and managing an art project relative to the scale and complexity of the art project described herein. The selected artist/team must be available to work collaboratively with the City and BART to make any refinements to the artwork as may be needed to conform to BART s technical and logistical requirements. The selected artist/team must also be available to work within the expedited project timeline in Section VIII below. Applicants not meeting the eligibility requirements will be withdrawn from consideration by the City. III. PROJECT BACKGROUND The Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza and Transit Area Improvement Project is a collaborative partnership between the City of Berkeley and BART. When completed it will serve an important place-making function for the Downtown Area and will improve access for residents, employees, students and visitors. Currently serving over 30,000 daily transit riders including BART, AC Transit, and the U.C. Berkeley Bear Transit Shuttle, the project will improve traffic safety and enhance the transit rider experience. Additionally, the project will redevelop and reallocate the public space surrounding the station, improve pedestrian safety, support commerce, arts, and entertainment, replace sidewalk materials and landscaping, and integrate sustainability practices. Finally, the project will dovetail with the Shattuck Couplet Reconfiguration Project and serve as an invaluable capital improvement to the City of Berkeley, its residents and merchants, and transit riders of the East Bay. The Downtown Berkeley BART Station and Plaza are located in the heart of Berkeley s Arts District, an area rich with live theatre, music, dance, visual and cinematic arts. The Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Aurora Theater, the newly constructed U.C. Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, The Jazz Conservatory, and the East Bay Media Center are all within a few blocks of the Plaza. Moviegoers enjoy a variety of independent and popular films as well as special film festivals sponsored by nearby theaters. The soon-to-be-rebuilt Civic Center Garage will have a public art gallery built into its entrance. U.C. Berkeley and the Greek Theatre are within walking distance of the Plaza, and with public transportation you easily can reach North Berkeley and Telegraph Avenue dining and shopping areas. The goal of the Plaza art project is to enrich the selected architectural glass features with artwork of the highest aesthetic quality that is reflective of the sophistication and diversity of the many civic, cultural and arts venues in the area. The artwork should speak to a broad and diverse audience, and remain interesting and appealing over an extended period of time. IV. ART SITES There are 4 sites that will receive art film: 1) the Main Entry, or Head House (Figure 2); the two bus shelters (Figure 3: Bus Shelter Plan and Elevations); and the glass in the secondary entrance (Figure 4: Entrance #1 Sections and Elevations). In Figure 2 the cross-hatching illustrates the allowable extent of the art film area on the Head House. The glass areas on the bus shelters and at the secondary entrance do not have a specific area identified to receive art imagery: all of the glass, including the roof and walls, may receive art film. The selected artist will be asked to create distinct, original artwork for each art site. The color palette may be restricted to gray or sepia tones; the acceptable color palette will be discussed 2
with BART and the City as part of the artist orientation process. The selected artist will be responsible for producing professionally produced, high-resolution production files of the original artwork in a format to be specified by the Contractor (e.g. vector or raster files). Upon completion of the production files, the Contractor will reproduce the artwork imagery on a film (i.e. the art film) that will be installed at each art site. As an interim step, the Contractor will produce material samples with the artist s imagery in order to allow the artist the opportunity to proof the print quality (color, contrast, etc). The artist may request reasonable adjustments (e.g. higher, lower contrast). Upon final revisions and approval of the sample proof by the artist the art film will be printed and installed by the Contractor. It is expected that the selected artist will be on-site during all or part of the installation to ensure that the art imagery is installed in the correct order and in the correct locations. V. PROJECT BUDGET The artist or artist team selected to create original artwork based on their conceptual design proposal will receive a fee of $25,000. This fee includes: 1. Artist fees for the final design of the artwork for each art site, for time related to project management, and for attendance at meetings requested by the City or BART. 2. Production of professional renderings that illustrate the location and placement of the artwork design at each art site. 3. Production of professionally produced graphic files in a format to be specified by the Contractor, including fees for professional photographers, graphic designers or other consultants. 4. Costs for obtaining a City of Berkeley Business Tax license and any taxes applicable to the project. 5. Travel expenses for conferring with the City and BART during the final design and installation process to ensure that the artwork is correctly printed, placed and interpreted. 6. Any insurance required by the City or BART. VI. ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS A Selection Panel likely consisting of a member of the Civic Arts Commission, a BART Project Architect, a City of Berkeley project team member, a community representative, and three arts professionals will review qualifying applications. After reviewing and evaluating the applicants qualifications, the selection panel will score and rank them in order to identify three project finalists. The panel will use the following criteria to evaluate the applicants qualifications: Artistic excellence, innovation and creativity as evidenced by past work and supporting materials. The degree to which the applicant s work is deemed to be relevant to the scope and goals of the project. The applicant s professional experience is deemed to be adequate to meet the demands of the project. Three finalists will be invited to develop conceptual proposals after participating in an orientation session with the project team and key stakeholders. Finalists will be paid an honorarium of 3
$750.00 for the development of a conceptual design proposal and for participation in the selection process. The Selection Panel will reconvene to consider the finalists proposals in an interview format and will select one artist or artist team and one alternate for the project for recommendation to the Civic Arts Commission for approval. The City of Berkeley has the right to adjust the make-up of the selection panel. VII. APPLICATION PROCESS Applications may be submitted at: https://cityofberkeleycivicarts.submittable.com/submit/55506 Please do not submit applications directly to the City or to BART. Application Requirements: 1. Images: A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 images, per artist or artist team, of prior work relevant to this project. 2. Annotated image list with descriptions including title, medium, dimensions, project budget, location and commissioning agency (if applicable). 3. Maximum 3,000 character letter indicating interest in and potential approach to the project. The letter should provide a description of how your professional background relates to this art project. If applying as a team, include an explanation of your preference for working as a team. 4. A current resume, per applicant, not to exceed 3,000 characters that highlights professional accomplishments, particularly as relates to this art project. Applicants working as a team will also be limited to 4,000 characters total. 5. Three professional references, including phone and email contact information per applicant. Please do not include letters of reference. 6. If applying as a team, indicate the name and contact information of the team s representative. 7. Do not send specific proposals; the panel will not consider them. You may refer to completed artworks or projects submitted in your application that exemplify the aesthetic direction you might consider for the project if you are selected as a finalist. VIII. PROJECT SCHEDULE March 14: April 22: Week of May 9: Week of May 16: Week of July 11: Week of July 18: July (tbd) July 27: RFQ Posted Online Application Deadline Selection Panel convenes to select finalists Finalist orientation Proposals due and placed on public display Selection Panel Convenes to select artwork to be commissioned PAC approval of artist/artwork Commission Approval of Artist/Artwork August/September/October: 4
BART and City staff review artist s final design and recommend adjustments if necessary Contractor provides production file specifications to artist Artist prepares final graphic files in format to be specified by Contractor Contractor produces material samples using artist's images to proof the print quality (contrast, etc); artist may request reasonable adjustments (e.g. higher contrast) Sample proof is approved by artist November 1: All design and production work to be done by Artist is complete IX. PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS 1. Selected artists/teams will be required to waive their rights of integrity (also known as the artist s moral rights) to commissioned artwork as pertains to its removal or repair as set forth in the California Art Preservation Act and the Visual Artists Rights Act. Due to the function and nature of the Plaza and station as a busy transportation hub BART must retain the right to remove or relocate the artwork as may necessary in the future. 2. Selected artists/ teams will retain copyright to their work, but will grant the City of Berkeley and BART certain rights to reproduction. Neither party will retain the right to reproduce the artwork for commercial purposes. X. CONTACT INFORMATION Questions about the RFQ or commissioning process may be sent to bartplazapublicart@gmail.com not later than 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 2016. Anyone wishing to receive an email with both questions and responses should send an email notification request to bartplazapublicart@gmail.com by April 12, 2016. Responses will be sent not later than April 18, 2016. XI. ART SITE IMAGES Please go to http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/city_manager/civic_arts/bart_glass_art.aspx Figure 1: Plaza Art Sites Overview Figure 2: Head House Renderings Showing Extent of Acceptable Artwork Areas (shown as hatched areas) Figure 3: Bus Shelter Plan and Elevations Figure 4: Entrance #1 Sections and Elevations For additional information about the Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza: https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/dbp 5