AMERICAN LEGION MEMORIAL STADIUM RENOVATION 1311 Charlottetown Avenue Charlotte, NC
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CALL FOR ARTISTS REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ASC PUBLIC ART PROGRAM Renderings provided by Jenkins Peer Architects AMERICAN LEGION MEMORIAL STADIUM RENOVATION 1311 Charlottetown Avenue Charlotte, NC An Arts & Science Council Project for Mecklenburg County SUBMISSION DEADLINE October 18, 2019 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Apply at https://asc.slideroom.com ASC Call to Artists—American Legion Memorial Stadium Deadline to Apply: October 18, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) Page 1 PROJECT BACKGROUND American Legion Memorial Stadium is a 17,000-seat stadium located on 7th Street in the Elizabeth community of Charlotte, North Carolina. It is located on a complex with the Grady Cole Center and adjacent to both Independence Park and Central Piedmont Community College. Ground was broken on the stadium, a Works Progress Administration project, in 1934 and the gates were officially opened two years later in 1936. The stadium was built with the strong support of the Hornet’s Nest Post Number 9 of the American Legion. The American Legion requested that the stadium serve as a memorial to soldiers from Mecklenburg County who served in World War I. The City Council agreed on June 13th, 1934 to name the facility the American Legion Memorial Stadium. The only stadium of its kind in the country. Primarily a sporting events facility, American Legion Memorial Stadium has hosted events of all sizes, producing millions of memories in Charlotte. The stadium hosted the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas from 1937-2000; was home to Charlotte’s first professional football team, the Charlotte Hornets, from 1974-75; and has served as a prominent site for high school football, soccer, and lacrosse through generations. Currently, the Charlotte Hounds of the MLL, the Carolinas’ premier lacrosse team, call the stadium home. In addition to sporting events, the stadium has hosted musical performers such as Christina Aguilera, Jimmy Buffett, Hootie and the Blowfish, Pearl Jam, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The first ever World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Great American Bash show was held at the stadium on July 6, 1985. This started a chain of nationwide tours under the name that ran through 2009. Memorial Stadium has hosted a multitude of local civic events for the community throughout its almost 90-year history. From Ice shows to beer festivals, making the venue one of the most recognized and well-visited facilities to local Charlotteans in recent memory. The goal of the renovation is to enhance functionality while maintaining the historic character of the stadium. Jenkins Peer Architects have been selected as the prime consultants with LandDesign serving as landscape architects. Renovation to the stadium will expand the field to accommodate a variety of sports including soccer, football, and lacrosse. Improvements to the stadium’s concourse will allow for greater accessibility and circulation around the field. Additional buildings will be provided on the concourse – including bathrooms and concessions. The ticketing booths will be restored to their original design, and a new memorial honoring the American Legion and the organization’s service to military service members and veterans is anticipated for the stadium entrance. PROJECT OVERVIEW The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is accepting qualifications from professional artists or teams of artists in response to a public art opportunity for Mecklenburg County’s American Legion Memorial Stadium renovation. ASC is seeking artists or teams of artists with a demonstrated record of creating memorial sculpture. The selected artist/s will be asked to create an artwork that memorializes the American Legion and its service to military service members, veterans, and their families. The desired artwork will include, but is not limited to, representations of the human figure. This artwork will become a signature feature of ASC Call to Artists—American Legion Memorial Stadium Deadline to Apply: October 18, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) Page 2 American Legion Memorial Stadium and should create an atmosphere of reverence that persuades visitors and passers-by to pause and reflect on the service and history of the American Legion. The memorial will be proudly sited at the front entrance of the stadium along Charlottetown Ave. – adjacent to Independent Park and connected via the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Positioned along the stadium security fence, the memorial is accessible from both outside and inside the stadium. The artwork for the memorial will be integrated into a terraced slope. This terrace will include signage for American Legion Memorial Stadium and insignia representing the five branches of the military. Finalists will have the opportunity to meet with stakeholders from Mecklenburg County American Legion posts, Park and Recreation staff, and the project design consultants in order to learn more about the site and scope for the memorial. Each finalist will be tasked with creating a conceptual proposal for the memorial artwork, and the commissioned artist will be selected based on their proposal and qualifications. Artwork created for this project should be constructed of durable materials and designed in coordination with staff from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and Asset and Facility Management, the Historic Landmarks Commission, Jenkins Peer Architects and LandDesign, and representatives from various Mecklenburg County American Legion posts. (See renderings of the American Legion Memorial Stadium below for more specific information related to the site) Art Goals and Criteria This opportunity should achieve a cohesive aesthetic experience that is distinguished from, yet sensitive to, the site and architecture of the American Legion Memorial Stadium renovation. American Legion Memorial Stadium Memorial Artwork Criteria: - Artwork should be integrated into the memorial site - Artwork should commemorate the service and history of the American Legion - Artwork should include elements of figurative sculpture to represent Legionnaires. How the figure is represented and incorporated into overall memorial artwork design to be determined by the artist. - Artwork should be designed to accommodate people of all ages and abilities - Artwork should be constructed from durable materials capable of withstanding the elements and park visitor use for a duration of 20+ years BUDGET An amount of $221,000 is allocated to include all artists’ fees, travel expenses, design, fabrication and installation of the artwork. Engineering fees and all requirements for code compliance shall be included in this amount. Finalists will be awarded a $3,000 honorarium to develop artwork proposals and cover travel expenses. ARTIST ELIGIBILITY ASC Call to Artists—American Legion Memorial Stadium Deadline to Apply: October 18, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) Page 3 This call is open to all U.S. professional artists. Artists who have received a commission or purchase for over $25,000 from the Arts & Science Council cannot be considered for another commission or purchase for 3 years after the date of a signed contract or letter of agreement. ASC staff, County or City staff, Public Art Commission members or their immediate families, are not eligible to apply for this project. - Professional artists who have experience managing, designing and completing public art project commissions over $80,000 within the past ten (10) years are eligible. - Artists, contractors, designers or architects who are currently under contract with the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, are not eligible to apply. City or County staff, Public Art Commission members, ASC Board members, ASC staff, and their immediate family members are not eligible. ARTIST ELIGIBILITY (continued) - Architects interested in applying must have successfully completed at least three (3) public art projects within the last five (5) years to be considered eligible to participate in this opportunity. Eligibility must be demonstrated in the application materials submitted. SELECTION PROCESS This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the Public Art Commission (PAC) to identify the most highly qualified artist(s) for this opportunity. A panel of local and national arts professionals and community stakeholders appointed by the Public Art Commission will review eligible artists’ applications and determine a shortlist of finalists. Each finalist will be required to develop a conceptual proposal for the artwork. The selection panel will interview each finalist and select 1 artist or team of artists based on their proposal and qualifications. The selected artist or team of artists will be recommended to PAC and the ASC Board of Directors to enter into agreement for this project. PROJECTED TIMELINE September 6, 2019 – Call to Artists released October 18, 2019 - Application Deadline (by 11:59pm EST) October 2019 - 3-4 finalist selected based on qualifications Nov 2019 - Finalist site visit, stakeholder meeting, design consultant presentation Nov-Dec 2019 - Finalist proposal development December 2019 - Commissioned artist selected based on proposal February 2020 - Schematic Design April 2020 - Final Design May 2020 – Feb 2021 - Fabrication February 2021 - Installation March 2021 - Dedication with opening of stadium TO APPLY ASC Call to Artists—American Legion Memorial Stadium Deadline to Apply: October 18, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) Page 4 To view/begin the application, go to https://asc.slideroom.com and sign up for an account. Applications must be received via SlideRoom by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard