RFQ

India Basin Shoreline Park Project

The San Francisco Arts Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone. We affirm the sovereign rights of their community as First Peoples and are committed to supporting the traditional and contemporary evolution of the American Indian community and uplifting contemporary indigenous voices and culture.
 
The San Francisco Arts Commission is committed to creating a city where all artists and cultural workers have the freedom, resources and platform to share their stories, art and culture and where race does not predetermine one’s success in life. We also acknowledge that we occupy traditional and unceded Ohlone land. Fueled by these beliefs, we commit to addressing the systemic inequities within our agency, the City and County of San Francisco and the broader arts and culture sector. This work requires that we focus on race as we confront inequities of the past, reveal inequities of the present and develop effective strategies to move all of us towards an equitable future.
 

To view or download the Application Workshop Slide Deck, please click here
 
Aerial view of India Basin Shoreline Park

Project Overview

The San Francisco Arts Commission invites artists and artist teams residing in the United States to submit qualifications for India Basin Shoreline Park Project. Proposals for this public art opportunity may range from a single, large sculpture to a series of smaller, human-scale sculptures located along the walking paths through India Basin Shoreline Park. The goals for this art opportunity are that the artwork be inspired by and responsive to both the site and the proposed park design, including its natural habitats, physical landscape, site history, sustainability, and program; be a point of discovery and have a cohesive narrative experience along trails of the park; serve as an asset for the community and expression of neighborhood identity; and provide a community benefit, which includes providing opportunities for artists with a meaningful connection to the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood in San Francisco.

The budget for artwork is $212,300 inclusive of all artist's fees, as well as associated expenses for design, fabrication, insurance, transportation, and consultation during installation. There will be a $50,000 allocation for installation, which will be administered under a separate contract with the City.

Project Description

In 2014, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SFRPD) acquired 900 Innes at India Basin in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point (BVHP) neighborhood. With scenic views, waterfront access, and natural resources, the site is the Department’s only San Francisco Bay-front property. SFRPD, in partnership with the BVHP community, the Trust for Public Land, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, and A. Philip Randolph Institute, will transform a post-industrial brownfield into the 21st-century legacy park in a historic waterfront context, with an emphasis on habitat and wetland restoration and enhancement, public access, resiliency to sea level rise, social equity, and waterfront recreation.

The proposed plan combines the existing India Basin Shoreline Park area and 900 Innes property into one 10-acre waterfront park development that closes a critical gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail. 900 Innes served as the first phase of the project, while the development for the rest of the India Basin Shoreline Park follows in this second phase. Commissioned artwork design of the 900 Innes Pier 2 by artist Raylene Gorum was selected for the site in in Spring 2021. The India Basin Shoreline Park is scheduled for completion in 2026.

The Arts Commission is looking to commission a sculpture or series of human-scale sculptures located along the walking paths through the India Basin Shoreline Park.

Artwork must consist of durable, sustainable materials intended for exterior use.

Selection Process

Artist Qualification Panel: The applications will be reviewed by an Artist Qualification Panel consisting of representatives from Arts Commission staff and arts professionals to identify a list of the most qualified artists to be considered for the project opportunity.

Artist Review Panel: This list of the most qualified artists will be presented to an Artist Review Panel consisting of a representative of the client agency, a representative of the design team, 3 arts professionals, an Arts Commissioner, and a community representative. After considering the artists’ qualifications, the Artist Review Panel will identify finalists for recommendation to the Arts Commission for approval. The finalists will be invited to develop conceptual proposals after attending an orientation session with the project team and key stakeholders. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $2,500 for development of a conceptual design proposal, plus the reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses, approved by the Arts Commission prior to travel arrangements being made for the orientation and panel interview.

The proposals shall be displayed near the project site and posted on the Arts Commission website for written public comment prior to the final review panel meeting.

The Artist Review Panel will reconvene to consider the finalists’ concepts in an interview format along with any community input and will recommend one artist for the project to the Arts Commission. 

Arts Commission Approval: The Artist Review Panel’s recommendation will be submitted first to the Visual Arts Committee (VAC), a subcommittee of the Arts Commission and then to the full Arts Commission for approval. All Artist Review Panel recommendations are subject to the Visual Arts Committee and Full Arts Commission.

All Arts Commission meetings and Public Art Review Panel meetings are open to the public and are posted on the Arts Commission website at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. To check the meeting schedule for public art projects, please go to our calendar. 

ARTIST SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS
Selection Criteria for Artists and Artwork: Artists and artwork will be selected in accordance with the Mission and Goals of the Civic Art Collection and in accordance with the criteria below. Criteria to be used when considering when scoring an artist’s application for a commission and/or acquisition of artwork by either purchase or commission shall include, but not be limited to the following considerations. Per City contracting requirements, artist applicants who are registered as a Local Business Enterprise will be given a rating bonus of 10% relative to other applicants.

Artistic Merit: Artistic Merit may be judged by such measures as originality of concept and artistic vision; the degree to which the work engages the viewer emotionally, intellectually, spiritually; the qualify of craftsmanship or mastery of skills and techniques. Artistic merit may also be credited to artwork that reflects a significant or direct relationship between the artist and distinct racial or cultural communities.

Relevant Skills & Experience: Review Panels and the Commission shall consider the assessed ability of an artist to successfully implement a proposed project, such as the ability to work constructively with other project stakeholders, meet deadlines, willingness to resolve issues as they arise, and generally manage the demands of the project. Cultural competency and/or significant connection between the artist and the project constituency, or experience that may particularly qualify an artist to meet project goals may also be considered.

Meet Project Goals: The proposed artwork (or the assessed ability of an artist to design a proposal) meets the specific goals of the project:

  • Be inspired by and responsive to both the site and the proposed park design, including its natural habitats, physical landscape, site history, sustainability, and program.
  • Be a point of discovery and have a cohesive narrative experience along trails of the park
  • Serve as an asset for the community and expression of neighborhood identity.
  • Provide a community benefit, which includes providing opportunities for artists with a meaningful connection to the Bayview

The Artwork is Appropriate to the Site: The artwork or proposed artwork is appropriate for its intended display location in terms of scale, media, design or imagery and is judged to be relevant within the context of the surrounding community, and is compatible with the mission and operations of the client department.

Feasibility, Maintainability: Proposed objects shall be evaluated relative to their feasibility and evidence of the artist’s ability to successfully complete the work as proposed. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to: project budget, timeline, and the artist’s experience. Due consideration shall be given to the structural and surface soundness, and to inherent resistance to theft, vandalism and weathering, and to the cost and amount of ongoing maintenance and/or repair anticipated.

Contributes to the Quality of the Civic Art Collection: The  artwork is  judged to support and improve the city’s collection in terms of artistic qualify and diversity of artists represented. The Arts Commission is committed to acquiring art works that reflect diversity in style, scale, media, and artistic sources as well as diverse cultural communities and perspectives.  The Arts Commission also encourages exploratory types of work as well as established art forms. 

Public Safety and Accessibility: Artwork shall be evaluated to ensure that it does not present a hazard to public safety and complies Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and with all other applicable building codes. 

Duplication:  Artists will be asked to warrant, as a condition of their agreement with the City,that the artwork commissioned or purchased is unique and an edition of one, and shall not be duplicated unless it is part of a limited edition or otherwise stated to the contrary in the artist’s contract with the Commission.

How To Apply

Applications are available through SlideRoom, an online application system for calls for entry. There is no charge to artists for using SlideRoom. Please be sure to allow adequate time to submit your application as technical difficulties can occur. Applications that are mailed, emailed, faxed or hand-delivered will not be considered. 

Applications will not be accepted after the October 14, 2022, 11:59 p.m. (PDT) deadline.

Application materials include:

1. Letter of Interest Questions

  • Provide a description of your artistic focus, career highlights and qualifications, and particular interest in this project.

2. Resume

  • 25,000 characters maximum
  • If you are applying as a team, please include your team/studio resume. If that is not available, please combine the individual resumes (one right after the other) of each team member into one document.

3. Ten images of previous work

  • SlideRoom accepts all image file types up to 5MB. Images should at least 72 dpi and no larger than 1280 x 1280 pixels
  • For team application, please indicate the lead artist for each project
  • For more information on working with media on Slideroom, please click here

4. Image Descriptions

  • When you upload your images, SlideRoom will prompt you to fill out image descriptions. Please include the title, medium, dimensions, and year for each work. You may also include a brief statement (2 sentences maximum) about each work.

Check out our How to Apply to Calls for helpful tips on how to submit the most competitive application.

Please note that Arts Commission staff will be available to answer questions about this call until 5:00 PM (PST) on the deadline date, October 14, 2022. Please contact Craig Corpora at craig.corpora@sfgov.org, or 415-252-2249 

SlideRoom technical support is available Monday – Saturday by email, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (ET) support@slideroom.com.

Project Timeline

Qualification Panel Meeting

End of October 2022

Review Panel Meeting 1

Early November  2022

Review Panel Meeting 2

January 2023

VAC approval of recommended artist

January 18, 2023

Full Commission approval of recommended artist

February 6, 2023

Artist under contract

March 2023

Anticipated completion

Spring 2026

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Eligibility

Eligibility is open to professional, practicing artists who reside in the United States. Entries not meeting eligibility guidelines will be withdrawn from consideration.

What's Coming Up

Public Meeting

Visual Arts Committee Meeting

April 17
/
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online
Public Meeting

Executive Committee Meeting

December 18
/
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Hybrid: 401 Van Ness | Rm 125 and Online
Public Meeting

Community Investments Committee Meeting

April 16
/
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 408 and Online
Public Meeting

Civic Design Review Committee Meeting

April 15
/
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online