Description

The Moline Public Art Commission, MetroLINK, and Quad City Arts are seeking an artist or artist team to design and install an interactive public art installation on the grounds at 1315 4th Avenue, Moline, Illinois. Public Art opportunities include the grassy area to the east of the multimodal transit station, as well as the building housing the elevator and stairwell to the skywalk over the train, tracks that connect to Centre Station transit center, as long as it does not inhibit access to the building or sidewalks.

PROJECT CONCEPT
A series of lit interactive sculptures or one large sculpture could be placed in the grassy plaza to the east of The Q Multimodal Station. A mural, lighting, or sculptural component working in conjunction with the sculptures in the grassy plaza, could cover the stairwell building to the skywalk. The art would activate the space and invite locals and tourists alike to stop, visit, and walk through the area. This will be the largest public art installation ever done in the Quad Cities.

This project is part of the Moline Public Art and Placemaking Plan. This plan can be found on the City of Moline's website: https://moline.il.us/DocumentCenter/View/12619/Moline-Public-Art-and-Placemaking-Plan?bidId=

At this site, the community has identified the following:

Values:
The artwork should be bold, colorful, and fun.
The artwork should be unique and unlike any other art in the Quad Cities.
The artwork should present concepts that are new and different.

Design Considerations:
Scale is important at this location.
Connectivity to the river.
The piece should be lit.

PROJECT GOALS
The goal is for this public art project to celebrate artistic excellence in a work of art that will activate the site and create an art space that will draw people in, engage the community, and encourage social interaction in the heart of downtown Moline.

PROJECT BUDGET
The budget for artwork is up to $300,000, all-inclusive of all costs for the project including artist fees, other consultants’ and subcontractors’ fees, insurance, engineering, materials, fabrication, transportation, and lighting. There is an additional $30,000 allowance for site prep for the project.

PROJECT SITE
The site for the Art Installation is a portion of a triangular piece of property located to the east of The Q Multimodal Station and south of the railroad tracks. 4th Avenue / IL -92 is a one-way street with traffic heading west, that is located south of the site. There is a continuous sidewalk along 4th Avenue, that leads to The Q. A 44’-7” tall tower is located in the center of the site, which contains a stair and elevator that provides access to the skybridge over the rail line, and connects to the MetroLINK Centre Station to the north. There is a sidewalk from the tower which heads west to The Q, and a sidewalk that connects to 4th Avenue and a drop-off area, which shall be maintained.

ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS
The content for the artwork must be suitable for public consumption and should be sensitive to and respond to the existing architectural features of the site.

Artwork must be made of durable and low-maintenance materials that are suitable for an outdoor, all-weather installation in Moline, Illinois. With safety in mind, the design should mitigate any potential hazards such as sharp or protruding edges or elements, structural damage from wind, rain, snow, or hazards or damage created by human interaction.

The artwork should allow for open site lines and a good visual connection between the streets, sidewalks, and the artwork. The height of the artwork should be visible from multiple angles and locations.

Electricity is available on-site, and the design should incorporate lighting, both interior and/or exterior, to illuminate the artwork and the immediate site. Water features for the site will not be considered.

DEADLINE
Proposals shall be submitted no later than March 3, at 5:00 pm via email attachment to Quad City Arts at rfq@quadcityarts.com or online at https://www.quadcityarts.com/moline-public-art-rfq.html? . Submissions shall be clearly labeled "Moline Public Art Project".

PUBLIC ART OBJECTIVES
This work of art will create a must-see destination in Moline and the greater Quad Cities.
This work of art will provide an opportunity for our community to experience art.

TO CONSIDER
Artists and design teams must be professional and practicing artists who can demonstrate experience in successfully executing large-scale public art projects. Artists must be legally able to work in the United States and be at least 18 years of age. Artists not meeting these requirements will not be considered.
Upon selection, Artist shall procure or otherwise provide proof of commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), property damage ($1,000,000 per occurrence), bodily injury ($1,000,000 per occurrence) and automobile liability ($500,000 combined single limit), naming the City of Moline, together with its officers, agents, employees and engineers as additional primary insureds prior to commencing installation and shall maintain such insurance until completion of the project.
The selected Artist must be willing to work with Quad City Arts, City of Moline, and MetroLINK to modify the design or materials based on design input and building specifications.
Artist shall comply with all federal and state laws, county and municipal codes, ordinances, rules and regulations that in any manner affect the services to be provided.
A qualifying Artist shall have the ability to obtain all necessary licenses, permits, and approvals, whenever applicable.

TIMELINE
Questions shall be submitted via email to rfq@quadcityarts.com no later than February 21st.
Deadline for proposals: March 3, at 5:00 pm to rfq@quadcityarts.com or online at https://www.quadcityarts.com/moline-public-art-rfq.html.
The timeline is flexible and will be agreed upon with the building owner and the artist and is weather-pending.

TO APPLY
Email a PDF to rfq@quadcityarts.com including the following information:
Contact Information
Website, Instagram, or other online profiles, if applicable.
A professional resume / CV: Not to exceed three pages.
An Artist Statement: Please outline your relevant art background and areas of focus. Detail your experience with and approach to public art and your role in other projects of similar scope.
A Letter of Interest: Describe your interest in this specific project, what you bring to this project as an artist, sources of inspiration presented by the project, your previous projects of similar scope, and any other comments that might help differentiate you as a candidate.
Images of Past Works: 5 Minimum - 10 Maximum of previously completed artworks. Each image must include a brief description of each project including the title, size, location, budget, and detail of the applicant’s role in the project. Design team applicants must detail each member’s role in past projects.
Professional References: At least three professional references from past projects with contact information.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Award determination shall be based on the selection committee's determination of design aesthetic, ability to deliver the project on time, and Artist's experience with similar scale projects.
Following the proposal deadline, the selection committee will collaboratively review, analyze, and rank all submittals based on the evaluative criteria set forth herein. The selection committee may invite finalists to interview before selection. Upon selection, the selected Artist will be required to enter into a contract with Quad City Arts.
The selection committee reserves the right to request additional information from proposers. The selection committee may take all actions deemed necessary to investigate the qualifications of each proposer. The selection committee reserves the right to qualify or disqualify proposers because of a lack of similar project experience and/or any other information obtained from its investigation.
The selection committee reserves the right to reject all proposals. The selection committee further reserves the right to waive technical defects in the proposals and to accept the proposal which, in the judgment of the selection committee, best serves the project goals.