Request for Qualifications
Bayview Artist Registry
Project Overview
The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) invites artists and artist teams residing in the United States to submit qualifications to the Bayview Artist Registry to be considered for upcoming public art opportunities in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. Artists with a meaningful connection to the Bayview––whether they currently reside, have resided in the Bayview, or have another significant connection to the Bayview––are encouraged to apply.
The Bayview Artist Registry will be used to select artists to be commissioned for a range of public art projects associated with current and upcoming construction in the Bayview, including improvements to the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant, construction of the new Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans, the expansion of the Southeast Health Center, and construction of the India Basin Shoreline public art project at 900 Innes. The Registry will be used for these and other upcoming projects through February 2021.
The Arts Commission seeks visual artists working in a variety of media and artistic approaches to include in the Bayview Artist Registry. Artists whose practice includes direct engagement of the community in the design or making of the artwork are also encouraged to apply. Past public art experience is not required.
Artists in the Bayview Artist Registry are currently being considered for the following public art projects*:
- 900 Innes––India Basin Shoreline Park Public Project (Application Deadline: June 29, 2020)
- Southeast Health Center Expansion—Community History Wall (Application Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2020)
- Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans—2D Artwork Program (Application Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2020)
- Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans—Logo Design (Application Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2020)
- Southeast Treatment Plant Headworks Facility Construction Safety Fence Temporary Public Art Program––(Deadline Fall 2021, date to be confirmed)
*If you are an artist currently in the Bayview Artist Registry, and you would like to update your application materials, please email craig.corpora@sfgov.org
Project Description
BACKGROUND AND UPCOMING PUBLIC ART PROJECT SITES
Located in the southeast corner of San Francisco, the Bayview and Hunters Point neighborhoods have a rich history, beginning with the Ohlone people who were its earliest known inhabitants. The district has been a historically working-class community, beginning in the mid-1800s with the relocation of the City’s slaughterhouses, and related industries to the area, followed by the operation of dozens of Chinese shrimping villages along India Basin. The development of the naval shipyards during World War II, and subsequent shipping industry, brought an influx of African Americans from the South, making Bayview Hunters Point one of the only San Francisco neighborhoods with a thriving majority of African Americans. The closing of the shipyards coupled with community advocacy against environmental pollution, substandard housing, limited employment, police violence and racial discrimination resulted in the mobilization of community members who fought for resources and improvements to housing and employment, as well as educational and arts and cultural opportunities in the Bayview. Starting in the 1990s, redevelopment efforts resulted in the out-migration and displacement of many residents, especially African Americans. Today, the Bayview remains an evolving neighborhood with increasing investment by the City and County of San Francisco, as well as significant development projects in areas including Hunters Point Shipyard and Candlestick Park.
For over 50 years, the Bayview Hunters-Point has fostered a vibrant arts culture. In the context of this tradition, and in compliance with the City’s 2% for the Arts Ordinance, public art will be commissioned in conjunction with various capital improvement projects in a variety of locations throughout the Bayview. Artists included in the Bayview Artist Registry will be eligible for all project opportunities as they arise in the next several years.
The Bayview Arts Masterplan will serve as a guide for artists who are selected for SFPUC art opportunities.
Selection Process
HOW WILL THE REGISTRY BE USED?
The Bayview Artist Registry has and will be used to select artists for public art opportunities in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. Artists are selected based on the appropriateness of the artist’s media and experience for specific project requirements. Applicants who are currently in the 2019-2020 Prequalified Pool who are qualified and interested in these projects should submit an application to the Registry.
For each project, or series of projects, the Arts Commission will convene a Qualification Panel to review applications in the Bayview Artist Registry. The panelists serving on the Qualification Panel will consist of two arts professionals and an SFAC staff person. Applicants will first be screened for the minimum qualification criteria as follows:
• The application is complete.
• The application submitted represents the artist’s own original creative work.
• The artwork submitted reflects basic professional quality of craftsmanship, mastery of skills and techniques, professional approaches to processes and presentation, and/or communication of a unique vision or perspective
• The artist’s resume reflects evidence of professional competence. Qualifying activities may include some combination of the following: education and training as an artist; an exhibition record; previous public or private commissions; participation in artist-in-residency programs, or other related activities indicative of a professional practice.
The panel will use the following criteria to score all remaining portfolios:
• Artistic excellence
• Artist’s meaningful connection to the Bayview community
• Appropriate imagery, style or approach for public space. A broad range of imagery and styles appropriate for a public place may be considered, from figurative, representational, abstract, or non-objective. Examples of non-appropriate imagery include artwork with religious and sexually explicit content. A preferred approach may include the direct engagement of the community in the design or making of the artwork.
• Professional competence
The first Qualification Panel took place in May 2018 and established a Bayview Prequalified Artist Pool. Subsequent applications to the Registry, and artists who submit updated application materials, will be reviewed by additional Qualification Panels slated for July 2020 and October 2020. Qualified artists will be added to the Bayview Prequalified Artist Pool. The Pool will be used to develop a short-list of artists to be considered by a selection panel convened for each project.
The ad-hoc selection panel including community stakeholders will review the qualified candidates and make selection recommendations. The panel’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Arts Commission for final approval.
All Public Art qualification and selection 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 visit the calendar page of the SFAC website.
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.
Deadlines for future projects will be posted on the Arts Commission website.
Application materials include:
1. Resume
• 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.
2. Letter of Interest
• One page maximum.
• Summary of your artistic focus. This should include a brief description of your inspirations and interests that are reflected in your artwork.
• Summary of your professional career, and how your experiences may qualify you for a public art project.
• Please indicate if your work includes direct engagement of the community in the design or making of the artwork.
• Do not make a specific proposal for a new commission.
3. Meaningful Connection to the Bayview
• Please describe your connection to the Bayview community. An example of this connection may include if you currently reside, have resided in the Bayview, or have an other significant connection to the Bayview.
4. 10 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 images, please check here.
5. Image descriptions
• When you upload your images, SlideRoom will prompt you to fill out image descriptions. Please include the title, medium, dimensions, year and price (if applicable) for each work. You may also include a brief statement (2 sentences maximum) about each work. Please indicate if the work includes direct engagement of the community in the design or making of the artwork.
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 p.m. (PST) on the deadline dates. Questions should be directed to Craig Corpora at craig.corpora@sfgov.org, or 415-252-2249.
SlideRoom technical support is available Monday – Saturday by email, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. (CST) support@slideroom.com
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