Request for Qualifications
Artist in Residence Program
The next round in SFAC Galleries Artist in Residence Program. Bay Area artists are invited to apply for a 10-week residency in the San Francisco Planning Department.
Project Overview
The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) Galleries is pleased to announce the next round of our Artist in Residence (AIR) Program in partnership with the San Francisco Planning Department (SF Planning).
Project Description
Launched in 2015, the SFAC Artist in Residence Program builds partnerships with City Departments in order to provide unique residency opportunities that result in strengthening the value of artists participating in and responding to the advancement of civic dialogue.
The selected artist will spend 10-weeks in the offices of SF Planning conducting research around its work, practices and/or processes. The residency will culminate in the creation of a work or body of work that is responsive to the artist’s experience at SF Planning. The artist will also give summary presentations to both the SFAC and SF Planning.
San Francisco Arts Commission: http://www.sfartscommission.org/
San Francisco Planning Department: http://sf-planning.org/
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.
About SF Planning
SF Planning plays a central role in guiding the growth and development of our City. SF Planning works with other City agencies and the community to help balance the needs of residents, businesses, and civic leaders to project the environment and historical resources, create inspiring and livable urban spaces, cultivate neighborhood resilience, and enforce good land use practices.
Major areas of work include:
- Housing
- Community Planning and Engagement
- Legislation & Policy
- Zoning
- Environmental Review
- Historic Preservation
- Urban Design and Design Review
- Resiliency & Sustainability
Selection Process
The Purpose of this RFQ is to identify an artist to engage with SF Planning (staff and unique resources), and then use that research to develop new work(s). The RFQ is open to professional visual artists who reside in the Bay Area. Artists must be able to work in the office of SF Planning, work collaboratively with available staff, and research subjects that fall under the purview of the department.
Artist Selection Considerations
- Artist must reside or have a studio within the greater Bay Area.
- Application must be completed and submitted by the application deadline.
- Artwork examples should represent the artist’s own original creative work.
- The artist’s professional experience is adequate to meet the demands of the project. Examples would include the execution of past projects or residencies of a similar scale. Also include any experience working collaboratively with nonprofit organizations or businesses.
- Artist must be available for the residency period of January 28 – April 4, 2020 (10 weeks).
- During the residency period the artist must be able to engage with SF Planning a minimum of 5 hours a week during SF Planning business hours (9 am-6 pm).
- Artist must be demonstrate the ability to write clearly about their practice.
How To Apply
Applications are to be submitted via email to ART-Galleries_Call@sfgov.org
Applications that are mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered will not be considered. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
Please note: Your application should not propose a specific project. Rather your time during the residency should be used to explore subjects and ideas that are responding to the work and practices of SF Planning. Applications that do propose the creation of a specific work or project may not be considered.
Application materials include:
1. Letter of interest (one page maximum).
- The letter should be a summary of your artistic focus and professional career, especially how your professional background relates to the residency.
- The letter should also indicate one or two possible subjects of interest under the purview of SF Planning. (see list above under SF Planning description) or check specific plans and programs at http://sf-planning.org/complete-list-plans-and-projects
2. Resume
- Please include exhibitions, writing, fellowships/awards, teaching and all former residencies on your resume.
3. Ten images of previous work
- Image files must be no larger than 1500 x 1500 pixels and at least 72 dpi.
- Image files must be in a folder with a checklist corresponding to each file. The folder is then zipped and sent via Dropbox, WeTransfer, or Google Drive to the same email as the other application materials.
- The checklist of images must include titles, medium, dimensions, and year for each work. You may also include a brief statement (2 sentences maximum) about each work.
Questions? Please contact SFAC Galleries Associate Curator and AIR Manager, Jackie Im at jackie.im@sfgov.org
Project Timeline
RFQ Issued
October 11, 2019
RFQ Deadline
Monday, November 4, 2019, 11:59 p.m.
Artist Selection Panel
November 2019
Artist Notification
November 2019
Artist in Residence at SF Planning
January 28 – April 4, 2020 (10 weeks)
Artist presentation to departments
April 7, 2020 (TBD)
Deadline for resulting artwork negotiable within the calendar year.
For your reference, information about past artists in residence can be found here: https://www.sfartscommission.org/content/artist-residence-program
Budget
The total budget for the Artist in Residence Program is $15,000.
- $5,000 artist fee for the residency, summary presentations to both departments, and participation in one public program (artist lecture, panel discussion, etc.)
- $10,000 for the creation of a substantial new work (2D, 3D, performance, video, social practice, site-specific intervention…) or body of works. Payment will be issued in multiple payments based on set deliverables.