Request for Proposals: Winter Nights, City Lights 2023

Photo from Winter Nights, City Lights 2022

CALL TO ARTISTS – Request for Proposals (RFP)
Winter Nights, City Lights 2023

Deadline: Monday, June 12, by 11:59 pm EDT

Artist Opportunity
The City of Pickering invites artists or artist teams to submit proposals for light-based artwork to be a part of Winter Nights, City Lights 2023.

Winter Nights, City Lights will take place between November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2023 and will feature a diverse range of outdoor light art installations inside Esplanade Park. The installations will transform the park by providing visibility and create a sense of joy and excitement for residents and visitors.

Eligibility
As per the City of Pickering Public Art Policy (CUL 130) an artist is defined as the designer/creator of an artistic work and can include, but is not limited to, a professional artist, graphic designer, collaborative team, architect, or landscape designer. Priority will be given to local Durham Region artists; however, we will consider all, including national and international artists.

Project Brief
Winter Nights, City Lights is an outdoor event that marks the start of the winter season at Esplanade Park in the City of Pickering. The event includes the lighting of seasonal décor for the first time each year.

We are seeking proposals for light-based artworks, preferably existing, and can be either a sculpture, installation, multimedia, or projections that can withstand the harsh outdoor winter conditions and activate the space at dusk. The work must remain on site from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024 and require minimum maintenance. Winter Nights, City Lights 2023 is sponsored by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Elexicon Energy.

Site Context
The City of Pickering resides on land within the Treaty and traditional territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation and Williams Treaties signatories of the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations.

Winter Nights, City Lights takes place inside Esplanade Park located at One The Esplanade, Pickering, ON L1V 6K7, right in Pickering’s City Centre. Esplanade Park is used as the main grounds for many community events, including the signature winter event running November 24 and 25, 2023.

Site plan of Esplanade Park

We are looking to award one (1) artist/ artist team as part of Winter Nights, City Lights. The award for this temporary public art opportunity is $14,400 inclusive of HST. *

*The fee encompasses: artist fees, technical consultation, travel to site for visits and meetings, purchase and/or rental of relevant materials and equipment, insurance, production and installation of artwork as well as maintenance plan.

Submission Requirements
Complete your RFP submission and email it in a single PDF. Please include:

1. Artist statement: describe your interest in this project. You can submit a written document (1-page max) or record an audio or video message (MP3 or MP4 file, max 20 MB).
2. CV: Professional resume (3-pages max). If submitting as a team, an individual resume should be submitted for each team member.
3. Portfolio of past work: Examples of relevant light-based work. You may include multiple images per project on 1 page of a maximum to 10 projects (10-pages). Add title, year, scope and a short description.
4. Artwork Design:
   a. For existing work: photographs, plans, and/or videos of the proposed work along with dimensions, materials and electrical requirements.
   b. For new commission: concept sketch, photos, and other images/details as applicable along with proposed dimensions, materials and electrical requirements.
5. Proposed Budget and Delivery/Installation/Deinstallation Plan: for artist fees, delivery, installation and de-installation.
6. References: A list of at least two professional references familiar with your work and working methods. The list must include name, email and telephone number.

Submissions must be sent by email to:
sbarakov@pickering.ca
Subject: Artist Name – Winter Nights, City Lights 2023

If the file exceeds 20 MB, artists are asked to use an external file share program provided by the City upon request. Incomplete submissions or submissions received after the deadline will not be juried.

The proposals may be used by the city of Pickering in meetings with stakeholders and staff.

Accessibility
The City will provide accommodations throughout the selection process to applicants with disabilities. Please notify Stoyan Barakov, Coordinator, Public Art at 289.200.7829 or sbarakov@pickering.ca of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.

Reserved Rights of the City of Pickering
The City of Pickering, at its sole discretion, may request clarification or request additional information, as deemed necessary to evaluate the submissions. The City retains the sole discretion to determine whether a submission is responsive and if the prospective Artist or Artist Team is capable of performing the Work. The City reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to determine the number of pre-qualified Artists or Artist Teams. The City reserve the right to not proceed with awarding a contract.

Publication of Information
The City of Pickering shall have the exclusive rights to issue all public announcements regarding the competition.

Additional Information
To access the complete call please click here.

Deadline: Monday, June 12, by 11:59 pm EDT

Contact:
Stoyan Barakov
Coordinator, Public Art
City of Pickering
sbarakov@pickering.ca

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