June 20, 2023
Economic Development
DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Nannette J. Beacham, Director of Economic Development
Winifred Day, Arts and Culture Manager
Subject:
John F. Kennedy Park - Conway and Takata-Vasquez
Sculpture Contract
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds in the amount of $100,000 are available in the current fiscal year (FY 2022-23) and next (FY 2023-24) in the Arts and Culture One-Percent for Art Fund budget
(13564165-400201).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC), in
collaboration with the Recreation and Parks Commission
(RPC), brings forth its recommendation for a large-scale, public art commission in John F. Kennedy Park. The
custom commission will be designed, fabricated, and
installed for, and within, Kennedy Park and will become an important, permanent visual element that enhances the natural landscape.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ACCEPT the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission
(RACC) and Recreation and Parks Commission (RPC)
joint recommendation to commission a large-scale,
permanently-placed sculpture within John F. Kennedy
Park; and APPROVE a contract in the amount of
$100,000 with Tiffany Conway and Ari Takata-Vasquez to
build the large-scale sculpture, with a term from
July 1, 2023, through December 29, 2024 – Economic
Development Department (Winifred Day 510-620-6952).
AGENDA
REPORT
June 20, 2023
DISCUSSION:
In July of 2022, the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) and the Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) (collectively, the “Commission”) approved $100,000 in Public Art Funds to commission the creation and installation of a meaningfully expressive, large-sized art sculpture. During its initial planning stages, the Commission met with the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council (RNCC); together, the groups identified and discussed City locations that would both inspire the in-situ sculpture and whose installation would inspire in turn. The Commission specifically focused on traditionally underserved communities that might invite a grand, large-scale sculpture in their neighborhood.
RACC designed a Request for Proposal (RFP) (Attachment 1), which identified four (4) potential park locations, including John F. Kennedy Park (Cutting Blvd. & South 41st St.) and three additional sites in the Hilltop area. RACC solicited pre-qualified artists from the nine (9) Bay Area counties, and seven (7) artists applied. An Art Selection Panel (the “Panel”) reviewed and scored each of the seven (7) applications (Attachment 2). The Panel selected four (4) artists to whom they awarded a concept design fee; and from the seven (7) applications, they selected one (1) artist team to receive a $100,000 lump-sum commission contract – the artistic team of Tiffany Conway and Ari Takata-Vasquez (collectively, “Conway and Takata-Vasquez”) (Attachment 3).
RACC met with the Public Works Department who accepted the proposed park location; and the Plaza Neighborhood Council whose area of focus includes John F. Kennedy Park, accepted Conway and Takata-Vasquez’ art concept design proposal. Lastly, the Recreation and Parks Commission (RPC) recommended that the City Council approve the art sculpture commission.
The recommended action of the staff report is to accept the RACC and RPC joint recommendation to commission a large-scale, permanently placed sculpture within John F. Kennedy Park, and approve a $100,000 contract with Tiffany Conway and Ari Takata-Vasquez for a large-scale sculpture with a term beginning July 1, 2023, and ending December 29, 2024.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Request for Proposals (RFP)
Attachment 2 – Scoring Matrix
Attachment 3 – Conway and Takata-Vasquez Standard Contract