Spectacular Vernacular 2024 is now accepting applications of interest from artists. The deadline for applications of interest is Friday, June 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM. Click to view the RFP and application for details.
- Project: Spectacular Vernacular 2024: Asphalt Art
- Location: Near Hayes Elementary School, Lakewood, Ohio
- Project Timeline: 6 months
- Submission: Proposals are due by 12pm on June 14th, instructions below.
Overview
This year, the City of Lakewood’s public art program will create opportunities for collaboration between artists, elementary students, teachers, and administrators, and the City to create art designed for the public. Asphalt art will be located on Delaware Avenue at the intersections of Woodward, Olive, Northland, and Carabel Avenues. The goal of this project is to shorten pedestrian crossing distances, making it easier for drivers to yield to pedestrians while also beautifying the public infrastructure surrounding Hayes Elementary School.
Since 2016, the City has been investing in public-private art projects to increase its value as a place that attracts and retains residents, entrepreneurs, employees, and entertainment offerings. Higher community values like these help attract and retain businesses and residents, while increasing social connections. Based on lessons learned from past projects, the City of Lakewood is happy to release the Request for Proposals for the 2024 Spectacular Vernacular program.
Spectacular Vernacular has provided funding for civic art projects within the City of Lakewood. The goal of the grant program is to incentivize investment in public art. The total available funds for 2024 is $50,000, including all material, labor, and community engagement processes. The focus for this year’s program is utilizing visual interventions on roadways (intersections and crosswalks) to allow for safer pedestrian traffic. The City is seeking individual artists or artist groups that will work directly with the Hayes Elementary School administration, teachers, and students, to create and execute an asphalt art installation. See an example of a similar project here.
This year, the City will allow either a singular artist or group of artists to complete the project, with one main contact person for each group.
Process
- The artist(s) submits application of interest, portfolio, and proposal (optional, as it is subject to
change). Once chosen, the artist(s) will be asked to adjust their proposal based on engagement
conducted at Hayes Elementary School on May 31st. The Secretary of the Public Art Advisory
Board (PAAB) and a member of the PAAB will work with students and staff at Hayes Elementary
to create concepts to be considered by artists in their proposals. Concepts should be larger scale
with bold colors and lacking minute detail. - An artist(s) will be selected by the City of Lakewood’s Public Art Advisory Board. Either a single
artist or an artist group will be accepted, however, a group will be offered the same stipend as
an individual. - The artist(s) will work with City officials to flush out design. Check-ins with the Public Art
Advisory Board will take place often throughout the design process. - Implementation will include working with students and staff at Hayes Elementary.
- Project must be completed in 2024. See timeline for details.
Project Costs/Compensation
The proposal should outline the total cost of the project including artist’s time/labor, materials, and
community engagement. The artist will utilize the materials as outlined by the Secretary of PAAB
(estimated between $.90 and $1.10 per square foot). We anticipate costs to be about $7-$8 per
square foot for the project, including labor and materials. The projected size of the project is about
5,500 square feet of asphalt.
Project Timeline
- May 10 – Request for Proposal released
- May 31 – Questions submitted to the City
- June 7 – City responses to questions posted to City website
- June 14 – Application deadline
- June 18 – Special meeting of the Public Art Advisory Board where they will decide artist – this
date may be subject to change with Board availability. - July 31 – Preliminary concepts submitted to the City
- August 7 – Public Art Advisory Board review of preliminary concepts. After this, we will interact
via email, phone, or in-person to finalize the design. - August 30 – Final design documents submitted to City
- First week of September – Site visit at Hayes Elementary to discuss finalized concepts with
students. Immediately following this, implementation will begin. We’d like to see this completed
in the month of September, subject to weather. - December 31, 2024 – Project must be completed and implemented
Eligibility
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Artists must live in Cuyahoga County or adjacent counties.
- Artists who received city funds for two or more projects within the past 5 years may not be
eligible. - Artists with experience in community engagement, particularly in youth engagement, is
preferred.
Questions
- Have questions about the project or process? Submit all questions by May 31 at 12pm to: Amanda
Cramer, AICP, Department of Planning and Development, amanda.cramer@lakewoodoh.gov.
Disclaimers
- All submissions become property of the City of Lakewood.
- Selection of artists by the City and the pursuit of all city activities are implemented without
preference to racial or ethnic origins, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability,
or age. - The City reserves the right to modify this solicitation and to request additional information from
the participating artist. - The City reserves the right to accept or reject, at any time prior to the commissioning of a work,
any or all proposals when the acceptance, rejection, waiver or advertisement would be in the
best interest of the project or City.
Submittal Requirements & Instructions
- Maximum of 10 projects on 10 pages. Additional project pages will not be reviewed.
- Up to 10 projects of past two- and/or three-dimensional works. Some, but not all, images
- May be gallery work.
- Each project must include artist name, contact info, dimensions, artist’s role in the project, and
project partners, if any. - Please include 2-3 professional references.
- All materials must be in a single PDF file. Individual jpegs or Word files will NOT be accepted.
- PDF file name to include the Artist’s name, saved as “Artist Last Name_SV_Application”
- Emails exceeding 25MB will NOT be delivered to the inbox; multiple emails will NOT be
accepted.
Email application materials by 12pm on June 14th to: amanda.cramer@lakewoodoh.gov.
For additional information, please contact:
Amanda Cramer, AICP
Department of Planning and Development
(216) 529-7679
amanda.cramer@lakewoodoh.gov
Applicants will be notified as to the status of their application.