RFQ
2024 Art on Market Street Poster Series
Project Overview
The San Francisco Arts Commission invites artists and artist teams residing in the United States to submit qualifications for the 2024 Art on Market Street Poster Series.
The total budget is $12,000 inclusive of the artist fee, poster designs, digital file preparation, and proofing. The budget does not include printing and installation, which is managed and paid for by the Arts Commission.
Project Description
The Art on Market Street Poster Series has commissioned new artwork by artists on an annual basis, since 1992. Each year, the Program commissions four artists to create a new body of work that responds to a specific theme. Each poster series is on view for approximately three months and consists of at least 6 unique images that are printed at 68 inches high by 47 ¼ inches wide, and installed in 18 bus shelters on Market Street between Steuart St. at the Embarcadero and Hyde Street.
2024 POSTER SERIES THEME
San Francisco Bay Area Native Peoples
The 2024 Art on Market Street Poster Series will be devoted to San Francisco Bay Area Native Peoples. In 2024, artists will have the opportunity to create original artwork recognizing the history, culture, and legacy of Bay Area Indigenous peoples. Possible approaches may be but are not limited to: illuminating historic narratives, events, groups, or individuals; highlighting contributions to the San Francisco Bay Area's cultural landscape, past and present; and/or envisioning the future of Bay Area Native People.
Selection Process
Artist Review Panel: Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of three arts professionals of the San Francisco Bay Area Native community and an Arts Commissioner. The panel will directly select four artists for the opportunity based on their past work and their meaningful connection to the San Francisco Bay Area Native community. The four artists will then be presented to the Visual Arts Committee for approval.
Arts Commission Approval: The Artist Review Panel’s recommendation will be submitted first to the Visual Arts Committee (VAC), a subcommittee of the Arts Commission and then to the full Arts Commission for approval. All Artist Review Panel recommendations are subject to the Visual Arts Committee and Full Arts Commission.
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
Per City contracting requirements, artist applicants who are registered as a Local Business Enterprise (add link) will be given a rating bonus of 10% relative to other applicants.
- 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 qualify of craftsmanship or mastery of skills and techniques. Artistic merit may also be credited to artwork that reflects a significant or direct relationship between the artist and distinct racial or cultural communities.
- Relevant Skills & Experience: The assessed ability of an artist to successfully implement a proposed 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.|
- Meet Project Goals: The proposed artwork (or the assessed ability of an artist to design a proposal) meets the specific goals of the project as defined in this RFQ.
- Meaningful Connection: Applicants will briefly describe their meaningful connection to the San Francisco Bay Area Native Community.
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. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
Applications will not be accepted after the July 28, 2023, 11:59 p.m. (PDT) deadline.
Application materials include:
1. Letter of Interest Questions
- Provide a description of your artistic focus, career highlights and qualifications.
- Briefly describe how you might approach the 2024 poster series theme.
2. Meaningful Connection
- Briefly describe your meaningful connection to the San Francisco Bay Area Native Community.
3. Resume
- 25,000 characters maximum.
- 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.
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 working with media, please click here
5. Image descriptions
- When you upload your images, SlideRoom will prompt you to fill out image descriptions. Please include the title, medium, dimensions, and year for each work. You may also include a brief statement (2 sentences maximum) about each work.
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. (PDT) on the deadline date, June 22, 2023. Please contact 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. (CDT) support@slideroom.com.
Project Timeline
RFQ Issued May 22, 2023
Application Deadline July 28, 2023
Artist Review Beginning of August 2023
Visual Arts Committee Approval of Artists September 20, 2023
Full Commission Approval October 2, 2023
Project Artists under Contract November 2023
Anticipated installation dates for each Poster Series is as follows:
• January 1–March 30, 2023
• April 1–June 30, 2023
• July 1–September 30, 2023
• October 1–December 31, 2023
*All dates subject to change