CALL FOR ARTISTS
Public Art ‐ Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Civic Center Modernization (Phase 1)
Amphitheater Art
Deadline for Applications: June 7, 2021
Call
for Artists
The City of Sunnyvale’s Art in Public Places program seeks to commission an artist, or artistic team, to design and execute original work(s) of art for a large amphitheater located on the grounds surrounding the new City Hall.
Artist Eligibility
This Request for Qualifications is open to practicing, professional artists residing in the United States.
Attachment 3
Sunnyvale Overview
The City of Sunnyvale is in the heart of Silicon Valley in Northern California covering 24 square miles. Sunnyvale is the second largest city in Santa Clara County and the seventh largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area. The City has a population of 156,503 and daytime workforce of approximately 220,000 people. Nearly 8,000 local businesses provide a rich mixture of goods and services, including many icons in tech, manufacturing, retail and R&D. Some of the nation’s most successful business and industrial entities have campuses in Sunnyvale, including Apple, Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Yahoo!, AMD, NetApp, Nokia, 23andMe, Juniper Networks, National Semiconductor, Fortinet, Intuitive Surgical, Broadcom, Synopsis, Spansion Inc. and Lockheed Martin.
Sunnyvale is also known for its innovative Public Safety Department concept, business‐friendly environment, cultural arts programming, 200‐seat theater, Library and quiet family neighborhoods. The City's 23 parks and open space spans 772 acres with facilities for golf, tennis and swimming. The historic downtown is home to a variety of local eateries and merchants and hosts frequent art festivals, concerts and a year‐round farmers market.
Site and Project Description
Located at the corner of El Camino Real and Mathilda Avenue, the current Civic Center houses Sunnyvale’s City Hall, Library and Department of Public Safety. The Civic Center Master Plan outlines a long‐term, multi‐phased vision for a renovated campus:
• New construction of three facilities (City Hall, Library and Department of Public Safety Headquarters)
• Razing older structures on site
• Relocating most of the on‐grade parking to underground spaces • Increasing open space and native landscape (6 acres)
• Modernization of the entire campus
The phased design will allow the existing campus to remain open during construction, so that city employees will not need to be relocated and services can remain at full capacity. Phase I, currently underway, includes:
• New 119,874 square‐foot, four‐story, Net Zero Energy and Certified LEED Platinum City Hall
• Renovated Public Safety Headquarters (lobby, entry and tenant improvements) • New two‐story, 15,002‐square‐foot Emergency Operations Center • Approximately 6 acres of open space
• Pedestrian improvements along Olive Avenue
• Frontage improvements along Mathilda Avenue from W. Olive Avenue up to El Camino Real that include a new multiuse pathway and walkways for public use • Civic plaza
• Outdoor amphitheater
Attachment 3
Public Art Location
This call addresses the amphitheater location near the corner of Olive Avenue and All America Way. Artists may propose a single location within the amphitheater site, or multiple locations within the site.
The site is an outdoor amphitheater surrounded by trees and landscape. It will provide visitors and staff a venue to gather and entertain. The design consists of three rows of seating, each roughly 50 to 55‐fe
et in length.
Attachment 3
Estimated Schedule (dates subject to change)
Distribution of RFQ Apr. 23, 2021
Application Deadline Jun. 7, 2021
Public Art Selection Committee Review Jun. 14‐18, 2021 Notification of semi‐finalists/Invitation to submit
Design Proposal Jun. 21‐25, 2 021
Design Proposal Deadline (semi‐finalists) Aug. 2, 2021
Arts Commission Review Oct. 20, 2021
City Council Review and Approval Nov. 2021 (date TBD)
Contract Development Nov. 1 – Dec. 30, 2021
Project Team Meetings Jan. 2021 (date TBD)
Final Design Concept Deadline Feb. 28, 2022
Submit required site‐mod ifications Ap r. 1, 2022
Fabrication of Artwork Jan. – Dec. 2022
Installation of Artwork Jan. – Mar. 2023
Attachment 3
Artist Responsibilities
The selected artist or artistic team will be expected to work with City staff to develop the specific parameters of the public art component, as well as implement all aspects of the project. These specifics will include:
• Develop the final design proposal
• Lead a community project associated with the final design • Select appropriate artistic materials for the design
• Develop a final project timeline
• Attend meetings with City staff as necessary
• Present the project to the City's Arts Commission and Council for approval • Obtain all required permits
• Comply with federal, state and local rules and regulations related to prevailing wage • Obtain appropriate insurance for the artwork until City has accepted the artwork • Fabricate and install or execute the artwork
• Deliver the artwork to the amphitheater site
• Provide detailed instructions for the preservation of the artwork • Provide detailed documentation on the engineering, execution or installation of the artwork, including MSDS sheets
• Abide by all requirements of the artist's contract with the City The selected artist or artistic team will be expected to consider and align with the City’s vision of inclusion and diversity, and represent the City’s brand essence: Bold, Sustainable Innovation. The final proposal should also be appropriate for all ages of the community and designed to withstand the weather elements inherent to Sunnyvale’s climate.
Public Art Budget
Project Budget $316,000
Semi‐finalist Design Honorarium (2‐5 artists) $2,500 per semi‐finalist The project budget is all‐inclusive of project costs, including artist's fees and expenses, taxes, materials, permit fees, travel, shipping and crating, insurance fees, site preparation, equipment rental, lighting, electrical, fabrication and installation or execution of the artwork.
Selection Process
A 12‐person selection panel will review the submitted applications. The panel will evaluate applications on the following criteria:
• Originality of artistic style
• Type of artwork proposed
• Ability of the artwork to withstand outdoor conditions • Maintenance requirements
• Artist’s experience with public art commissions and working within the public process
Attachment 3
• Artist’s experience with art projects of a similar size and scope • Alignment with the City’s vision of diversity, inclusion, innovation and sustainability The selection panel will consist of representatives from the City’s Department of Public Works, Department of Library and Recreation Services, project designers, residents and artists/arts professionals.
A short list of up to five artists will be created by the review panel and these artists will be asked to develop a detailed design proposal for consideration. A design stipend of $2,500 will be paid to each of the short‐listed artists upon completion of their design proposal. Short‐ listed artists are strongly encouraged to visit the Civic Center site prior to submitting a final design, however, any travel costs associated with the visit will be the sole responsibility of the artist.
The design proposals will be presented to the City’s Arts Commission for review. Artists will be required to present their design in person to the commission and will not be reimbursed for travel expenses. The commission will be asked to rank the design proposals, and the results of the rankings will be presented to the City Council for final selection of the public art design/artist.
Submission Requirements
To apply for this call, please submit the following items:
• Completed coversheet (Use form provided at the end of this application) • Resume
• Professional references (minimum of two)
• Artist statement
• Letter of interest (1‐2 pages), including an outline of your qualifications and relevant experience, interest in this project and a general approach to this project • 6‐10 images of previous works
• Annotated image descriptions, including title, date, location, materials, art budget, and a brief description (up to five sentences). For team application, please indicate the lead artist for each past project
All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, June 7, 2021.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify the receipt of their application by the scheduled deadline. Electronic versions may be delivered via email, file sharing website or on a USB thumb drive. Thumb drives will not be returned.
Materials may be submitted electronically to the City of Sunnyvale Public Art Coordinator, Kristin Dance, at [email protected] or in person at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale 94087. Images must be in JPEG or PDF format.
Attachment 3
Award of Contract
The City of Sunnyvale reserves the right to accept or reject any submittals and to alter or extend the selection process as needed.
This RFQ and the selection process shall in no way be deemed as a binding contract or agreement of any kind between the City and the artist. Award of a contract is contingent upon approval of the City’s selection panel, Arts Commission and City Council. Artists/artist teams selected and approved will contract with the City for the entire duration of the project. The selected artist will be required to secure and maintain various types of insurance, including Automobile Liability, General Liability and other insurance as needed (see attached insurance requirements).
The artwork commissioned for this project shall become the property of the City of Sunnyvale. The artwork will be maintained as part of the City’s permanent art collection.
The City shall have no obligation to display the artwork for any particular period or in perpetuity.
For More Information or Questions
Please contact the City of Sunnyvale Public Art Coordinator, Kristin Dance, at 408‐730‐7758 or [email protected]. Questions will be compiled into a single list with responses and made available to all interested parties upon request.
Attachment 3
Civic Center Modernization
(Phase 1)
Amphitheater Art
QUALIFICATIONS COVERSHEET
Qualifications will not be accepted after 5 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021
Artist:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
Email: Website:
Signature of Artist:
Date:
Special Note for Artist Teams:
If multiple artists are applying as a team, please provide this coversheet and a resume for each member of the team, and clearly designate one artist as the primary contact.
Teams that do not have 6‐10 images of past work done together may round out the images with the work of individual team members.
Attachment 3
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR ARTIST CONTRACTS
Artist shall procure and maintain for the duration of the contract insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work by the Artist, his agents, representatives, or employees.
Minimum Scope and Limits of Insurance Artist shall maintain limits no less than:
1. Commercial General Liability: $2,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage ISO Occurrence Form CG 0001 or equivalent is required.
2. Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage. ISO Form CA 0001 or equivalent is required.
3. Workers' Compensation Statutory Limits and Employer's Liability: $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury or disease.
Deductibles and Self-Insured Retentions
Any deductibles or self-insured retentions must be declared and approved by the City of Sunnyvale. The artist shall guarantee payment of any losses and related investigations, claim administration and defense expenses within the deductible or self-insured retention.
Other Insurance Provisions
The general liability policy shall contain, or be endorsed to contain, the following provisions:
1. The City of Sunnyvale, its officials, employees, agents and volunteers are to be covered as additional insureds with respects to liability arising out of activities performed by or on behalf of the Artist; products and completed operations of the Artist; premises owned, occupied or used by the Artist; or automobiles owned, leased, hired or borrowed by the Artist. The coverage shall contain no special limitations on the scope of protection afforded to the City of Sunnyvale, its officers, employees, agents or volunteers.
2. For any claims related to this project, the Artist's insurance shall be primary. Any insurance or self -insurance maintained by the City of Sunnyvale, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers shall be excess of the Artist's insurance and shall not contribute with it.
3. Any failure to comply with reporting or other provisions of the policies including breaches of warranties shall not affect coverage provided to the City of Sunnyvale, its officers, officials, employees, agents or volunteers.
4. The Artist's insurance shall apply separately to each insured against whom claim is made or suit is brought, except with respect to the limits of the insurer's liability.
5. Each insurance policy required by this clause shall be endorsed to state that coverage shall not be suspended, voided, cancelled by either party, reduced in coverage or in limits except after thirty (30) days' prior written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, has been given to the City of Sunnyvale.
Acceptability of Insurers
Insurance is to be placed with insurers with a current A.M. Best's rating of not less than A:VII, unless otherwise acceptable to the City of Sunnyvale Verification of Coverage. Artist shall furnish the City of Sunnyvale with original Certificate of Insurance effecting the coverage required. The certificates are to be signed by a person authorized by that insurer to bind coverage on its behalf. All certificates are to be received and approved by the City of Sunnyvale prior to commencement of work.
Attachment 3