Ontario-Call for Aboriginal Artists

Region of Waterloo Public Art Program
Art Competition Brief for Waterloo Region Museum

1. Introduction

This document sets out the information that will be supplied by the Region of Waterloo and the information required from the artist to satisfy the requirements of the Art Competition for the Waterloo Region Museum Building (the Museum) in Kitchener, Ontario.

This art competition has a total price of $90,000 (plus GST) which recognizes the size and complexity of the finished artwork and includes all costs up to and including installation of the finished artwork but not including the cost of the plaque. The plaque will be provided by the Region naming the artist and the name of the artwork. This competition is intended for a single artwork and the $90,000 amount will be paid to a single artist. It will be up to the artist to decide if the artwork comprises more than one separate and distinct piece and if the lead artist chooses to involve other artist partners.

For purposes of establishing a contract, the Region requires the full name of the artist, their studio or residence address and daytime telephone number. If other artist partners are going to be recognized for their contribution to the artwork, these should be identified. The contract is to be signed by the lead artist only.

2. Artist Eligibility

This art competition is only open to Aboriginal artists who reside in the Province of Ontario or artist teams which have as one member, a status or non-status Aboriginal person resident in Ontario. The Region wants to recognize as part of its history that Aboriginal persons were present at the location of the Museum before all others. Therefore the stories to be told in the Museum will start with an artwork to be encountered by visitors as they first come upon the building from the parking lot.

3. Context

The location for this artwork will be the Waterloo Region Museum at 10 Huron Road in Kitchener Ontario. From the 401, take Homer Watson Blvd then right on Huron Road. More specifically, the intended site is shown in the attached drawing and labeled “Potential Artwork Area”. This could include either land or water environments. Artists should visit the site to understand the opportunities and limitations for this outdoor artwork.

Themes for the artwork could include plants, trees, animals, birds or other flora or fauna of the area, nature’s spirituality, ancient elements of earth, water, fire and air or other concepts that would integrate with the natural area of the intended artwork site.

Information about the Waterloo Region Museum can be found at www.region.waterloo.on.ca . Click on the Visiting tab and then New Regional Museum

4. Selection Process

The selection process will encompass two stages.
Stage 1

The first stage submission must include a sketch of the proposed artwork and artist qualifications. It will be reviewed by a jury who will select up to three short-listed artists who will be invited to develop detailed proposals and maquettes of their design concepts. Artists will not be reimbursed for any costs relating to stage 1 submissions.

Stage 2

The second stage submission is a detailed proposal which includes a maquette, a detailed budget, maintenance requirements, and associated drawings and/or samples. The maquettes will be put on display for a period of public comment and the complete proposal will be subjected to a technical review. These comments and the technical review will be provided to the same jury from stage 1 along with a presentation from the artist. The selection recommendation of the jury will be provided to Regional Council who may approve/reject any/all proposals. Each short-listed artist will be provided a detailed proposal /maquette fee of $1,200.00.

5. Selection Criteria

The jury will use several criteria as the basis for selecting their recommended winner of the artwork competition. At each stage, the criteria will be:
Stage 1
• Qualifications and related experience of the artist
• Strength, uniqueness, public appeal of the artwork concept
• Practicality of implementation and maintenance of the artwork concept

Stage 2
• Aesthetics at all natural light levels, artistic merit, quality
• Originality, power of the artwork’s statement
• Sensitivity and integration to site context
• Fulfillment of goals as described in this brief
• Constructability, safety, durability
Minor modifications may be recommended by the jury for consideration by the artist in creating the final artwork.

6. Initial Submission Requirements

At the commencement of this competition, artists are asked to submit only those items requested for Stage 1. If selected by the jury to proceed to Stage 2, artists will be notified and the detailed requirements of section 7 will be requested.
Stage 1 Submissions:

• One 8.5”x11” page sketch of the concept for the artwork
• One 8.5”x11” page accompanying statement which expresses the concept in words
• Up to 15 photos of recent, relevant, representative work. These can be submitted in one of the following forms:
(a) Printed photos,
(b) Images on a CD,
(c) JPEG images transmitted electronically
All images must be accompanied by descriptions, locations, dates, and creative responsibility
• Curriculum vitae to a maximum length of three pages

Send the stage 1 submission electronically to gdoug@region.waterloo.on.ca or by regular mail to Doug Gilmore, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, ON, N2G 4J3 by July 20, 2010.

7. Project Schedule

These are the key dates that will govern the schedule for this artwork project:

March 17, 2010 Competition Brief available
July 20, 2010 Artist’s Concept and CV received
August 11, 2010 Jury reviews Concepts and selects Short-list
September 20, 2010 Short-listed Submissions received
September 21 to 30, 2010 Public Comment and Technical Review
October 5, 2010 Jury Presentations
October 20, 2010 Regional Council Approval
October 21, 2010 Contract Signed
June 21, 2011 Installation of Artwork Completed

There will be a dedication ceremony which will be scheduled after installation and coordinated with key municipal officials at which the artist is asked to be in attendance and may wish to make a comment to the press and public.

8. Subsequent Submission Requirements
Stage 2 Requirements
Once the short-list of three artists has been determined on or about August 11, 2010, only they will be asked to prepare the following:
1. Details of the artwork’s composition including materials to be used and the source of materials.
2. Details of the height, width and length as well as the weight of the finished artwork, its structure and support system.
3. Installation details for review by Regional Engineering.
4. Statements of the artwork’s durability, safety and security.
5. Location where the artwork will be created, and the estimated number of hours of full time or part time work that will be required to complete.
6. Budget breakdown of fabrication costs, installation costs, commission, contingency, transportation costs etc. Cost overruns will be covered by the artist.
7. A Maquette which is three dimensional, to scale, and shown in context of location on the site.
8. Drawings or other illustrative material.
A presentation to the jury in Kitchener, Ontario will also be required which will occur after the completion of the public comment period (see schedule).

The Region of Waterloo will pay each artist a fee of $1,200 for a complete stage 2 submission including the maquette.

9. Contract & Inspection

A contract document will be developed outlining the rights and obligations of the artist and the Region which must be reviewed and agreed before commencement of the creation process.

During the creation process, Region representatives may want to inspect progress especially in relation to payments required under the contract. There will also be engineering inspection(s) performed by the Region during installation of the Art. Installation is to be completely arranged for and supervised by the artist.