CALL TO ARTISTS: Request for Qualifications
Bill Russell Legacy Project
The Bill Russell Legacy Committee, formed at the initiative of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Celtics, and friends of Bill Russell, seeks qualifications from artists to create permanent public art in the City of Boston to honor and celebrate the life and myriad contributions of Mr. Russell.
Release: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Deadline: Sunday, May 22, 2011
Eligibility
This public art commission is open to all professional artists, artisans, architects, landscape architects, or a team thereof, in the Greater Boston area (within the Interstate 495 loop).
Project Summary
The Bill Russell Legacy Committee seeks to commemorate Bill Russell’s achievements as the greatest champion in the history of professional sports, a national leader in human rights, and a dedicated and impactful mentor to youth in our community.
This artwork, to be sited in the City of Boston, will celebrate Mr. Russell’s achievements and contributions, most recently exemplified by the Medal of Freedom awarded by President Obama, and will be coupled with an ongoing Mentoring Grant program administered by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and the Mass Mentoring Partnership to ensure that his legacy and passion for mentoring is carried on within the community.
Bill Russell is the former Boston Celtics’ Captain who almost single-handedly redefined the game of basketball. Russell led the Celtics to a virtually unparalleled string of eleven championships in thirteen years and was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player five times. The first African American to coach in the NBA—indeed he was the first to coach a major sport at the professional level in the United States—Bill Russell is also an impassioned advocate of human rights. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and has been a consistent advocate of equality. (Taken from the official White House Press Release, President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients, November 17, 2010)
Conceptual Objectives
The artwork should celebrate Mr. Russell as a champion on the court as a Celtic, as well as his devotion to human rights, exemplified by his passion for mentoring programs focused on our nation’s youth. The artwork should also invite interactivity, especially by children.
Potential Sites
Potential sites are being considered for the Bill Russell Legacy Project. The final site will be determined by the City of Boston with the commissioned artist.
Budget
The Committee proposes a budget of $250,000 for artwork. This budget covers all expenses associated with, but not limited to the design, labor, materials, tools, contracted services, operations and meetings, and travel required to complete the artwork plus installation, related permits, taxes and insurance, modifications to existing and/or new landscaping at the installation site, and transportation and delivery of the work to the site, as well as documentation of the completed project. Any expense that exceeds the contracted amount will be the artist’s responsibility. The artist is responsible for working with the Bill Russell Legacy Committee, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, the Boston Art Commission and relevant City department representatives to oversee all aspects of the art installation. Artists’ travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
Three artists/teams will be paid an honorarium in the amount of $2,000 to develop and present site specific proposals which will be due Monday August 1st. Artists invited to present should review the Boston Art Commission’s permanent public art guidelines posted at www.publicartboston.com. Artists will be asked to participate in a site walk-through shortly after they are invited to present.
Application Requirements
Interested artists may email entries to: art@publicartboston.com
Submission Checklist:
- Résumé with current contact information, including:
- Name
- Address
- Phone
- Fax
- Email address
- Website
- Artist Statement (1 page maximum)
- Up to 18 clearly labeled JPEG images of relevant past work. Artists must provide images formatted as follows:
- Pixel dimensions per image: approximately 600x800
- Image resolution: 72-300 ppi (pixels per inch)
- Maximum file size per image: 1MB
- Name each image: lastnamefirstnameimagenumber.jpg
- A corresponding, numbered, annotated image list with title, media, dimensions, location, brief description, date of the work, project budget, and project partners, if applicable.
- Optional: Additional support material, including press clippings or other relevant information on past projects (1 PDF file maximum)
n.b.:
- Electronic submission only.
- Please do not send proposals at this stage.
- Submissions may be made publicly available for viewing.
Legal Agreement
The City of Boston will not be liable for degradation of the artwork caused by normal wear and tear and weathering. In the event the installation is bronze work, the Artist should cold wax the artwork prior to, or immediately following, installation. While the artwork should be relatively maintenance-free, the City or its designee assumes responsibility for minor maintenance.
By submitting an application, the applicant assures that all copyright holders have consented to the submission and use of images for use by the Boston Celtics, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation or the Boston Art Commission. This includes the use of the images in the following forms: multimedia, print or digital publications, presentations, or an online archive.
The Committee reserves the right to alter any aspect of the selection process or overall project in any way for its own convenience at any time. This Request for Qualifications does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract and these provisions are subject to change.
Questions regarding your submission?
Contact Karin Goodfellow, Staff Director of the Boston Art Commission, at karin.goodfellow@cityofboston.gov.
Call for entries, updates, and invitations to project events will be posted at www.publicartboston.com and www.billrusselllegacy.org.
About the Bill Russell Legacy Committee and Project
The Bill Russell Legacy Committee was formed to help raise funds and manage all program elements required to create an artwork in honor of Bill Russell within the City of Boston as well as to establish on an on-going Mentoring Grant program in his name. The Committee consists of friends, colleagues, former teammates, and Boston Celtics ownership and Shamrock Foundation board members in partnership with Mayor Thomas M. Menino and his Administration. Learn more about the project here: www.billrusselllegacy.org.
About the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation
The mission of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation is to extend the reach of the Celtics championship legacy into our community. The Shamrock Foundation benefits our children directly, through programs that provide education and support. The Shamrock Foundation also partners with community-based organizations that provide healthcare, shelter, and vital services for children in need. Learn more about the Shamrock Foundation here: www.celtics.com/foundation.