Transbay Block 3 Park & Alley Project

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

Artist Review Panel: This list of qualified artists will be presented to an Artist Review Panel consisting of two OCII Commissioners, one staff representative from RPD, one community member, three arts professionals, and one Arts Commissioner. 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.  

The proposals shall be displayed on SFAC’s webpage 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 select one artist for recommendation to the Arts Commission. 

Arts Commission Approval: The Artist Review Panel’s recommendation will be submitted first to the Visual Arts Committee, a subcommittee of the Arts Commission and then to the full Arts Commission for approval.

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

The scoring criteria is informed by the agency’s values and goals, as referenced in SFAC’s Racial Equity Statement and Civic Art Collection goals, and the goals specific to this project.

SFAC Racial Equity Statement

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.

Scoring Criteria:

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 quality of craftsmanship or mastery of skills and techniques. Artistic merit may also be accredited to artwork that reflects a significant or direct relationship between artist and distinct racial or cultural communities.

Relevant Skills & Experience: The panel shall consider the assessed ability of an artist to successfully implement the 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.

Meets Project Goals: The proposal (or assessed ability of artist to design a proposal) that meets the specific goals of the project:

• Artwork should 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.
   
• Artwork should have a visual impact from a distance yet be integrated into the landscape.

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

Feasibility and maintainability: The proposal is judged to be feasible within the budget and maintainable within the means of the Commission.

Contributes to the Quality of the Civic Art Collection: The proposal supports and improves the collection in terms of artistic quality and diversity of artists.