PUBLIC ART + ARTIST

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

THE OPPORTUNITY
Venice Community Housing (VCH) and Color the Water (CTW) are inviting artists or artist teams to be considered to work as creative partners to design and implement a public art installation at 920 6th Avenue in Venice, CA. VCH and CTW are seeking artist(s) to work collaboratively with organizational staff, and surrounding community members to co-create a public art installation that documents the history of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) surf communities in the area and continues to connect BIPOC communities in Venice with the joy and healing of the ocean and ocean recreation to nurture the next generation of BIPOC surfers. The public art installation can take various forms
from a painted mural, mosaics, sculptural installation, and other forms of media that can withstand permanent exterior installation for a minimum of ten years.

PUBLIC ART SITE
920 6th Avenue, Venice CA
There are several possible locations for the installation of the public art on the building located at 920 6th Avenue. The final location(s) will be determined together with the project team, residents, and artist team.

The project is in Oakwood Venice, a historically predominantly Black community
on the Westside. According to Wikipedia, in 1950, African Americans made up 12.6% of the Oakwood population. By 1970, that number had grown to 44.9%. By 1980, that number had dropped to 29.9%. By 2000, the African American population was down to 16%, Latinos made up 48% of Oakwood and white people made up 33%. Although historically a racially and economically diverse neighborhood, Oakwood has been facing the pressures of gentrification. By 2009, white people had become the largest racial-ethnic group in Oakwood, with Latinos at 33% and African Americans at 16%. According to the Los Angeles Times, in 2000, about half the people living in the two census tracts along Rose Avenue were Latino, and a third white. But by 2010, the proportions had flipped, with white people making up nearly half of all residents in those tracts. With this project, we hope to memorialize the past, present, and support the growth of communities of Color by the coast and in Venice.

PROJECT BUDGET
Artist(s) fee: $10,000 includes design, community engagement, and installation. Installation Budget: Up to $10,000 includes materials, supplies, rentals, permits.

PROJECT SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
RFQ Released: 12/3/2024
RFQ Deadline: 1/24/2025
Artist Interviews: 2/6/25 – 2/12/25
Artist Selection: 2/21/25
Community Workshops: March – May 2025
Public Art Development: June – July 2025
Public Art Installation: August 2025
Completion: September 2025

Please refer to the RFQ document for additional information and images of the site.

SUBMISSION PROCESS
Interested applicants will submit a file attachment and link to video (if applicable) to
[email protected] with the following information:

1. Contact Information: Including full name, business name (if applicable) phone number, and email. Teams must identify one artist to be primary contact for the team, as well as contact information for each artist on the team.
2. Statement of interest (500 – 800 words or 1-2 min max. video) describing:
   • Why are you interested in this project?
   • What is your perspective/approach to this project?
   • What do you bring to this project?
   • Why should you be considered, including relevant experience?
3. A Resume or Biographic Statement (no more than 2 pages) If Applying as a team, please submit a resume for each person on the project team.
4. Artworks, Past Relevant and Related Projects/ Media Files (maximum 10 files) JPG format only, 72 DPI min, 5 MB max profile]; Submit images of completed artwork; teams are encouraged to include projects created by the team. Include a list of the images submitted that includes the title of the image, year,
   size, materials, and brief description. For any commissioned project(s), also include the client, budget, and location. Submit images as attachments only.
   
   All submissions must include all 4 parts listed above. Additional material included that is not requested will not be reviewed.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Local artists from Venice and the surrounding areas, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other intentionally marginalized people are encouraged to apply. Artists working in any media may apply individually or in teams. The following considerations will be used to select the artist(s):

• An interest in or prior experience working in the public art realm
• An interest in or prior experience working on public art projects with a strong community centered project
• An interest in or prior experience in surfing, surf history and maritime culture, especially within BIPOC communities
• Artistic merit and conceptual strength
• Respect and acknowledgement of the social and/or historical context of the local Venice community
• Respect and acknowledgement of the social and/or historical context of the BIPOC surf community
• Artists who demonstrate community engagement as it relates to community/tenant interactions
• Artists should demonstrate the professional capacity to oversee the design, fabrication, and installation of public artwork, highlighting examples of experience collaborating with the community
• Artist teams may not change over the duration of the project
  
  Note: Priority will be given to artists who live and/or work in the Venice area and those who can demonstrate a clear connection to the BIPOC surf community.

SELECTION PROCESS
Submissions will be evaluated by the VCH and CTW teams and a few external community members. After which, a short-list of artists will be invited for interviews. An artist or artist team will be selected to submit a complete proposal and budget for this project.

RFQ Deadline: 1/24/2025
Artist Interviews: 2/6/25 – 2/12/25
Artist Selection: 2/21/25

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Is this a permanent installation?
  Yes, this installation will be maintained for at least 10 years and must be durable enough to withstand that time period.
• What does community engagement have to do with this project?
  This project will include community conversations and the collection of community stories as a form of community engagement. The design of the public art installation will be informed by community input, participation, and support. Artists will have the opportunity to design the engagement process and how to hold these workshops and conversations with support from VCH and CTW.
• What if I don’t have experience with installed Public Art?
  We still encourage you to apply and state your interest and philosophy behind public art and how this opportunity can support your creative portfolio. You can include a mentor or experienced public artist as part of your team or request mentorship in your application as well.
• I need help with my application or have additional questions. You can email:
  [email protected] for more information before 12/27/2024 for assistance.

VENICE COMMUNITY HOUSING (www.vchcorp.org)
VCH has been developing long term, neighborhood-based solutions for low-income families and individuals for over 35 years. VCH currently owns and operates 346 units of affordable and supportive housing in 20 properties with an additional 28 units of short-term housing in two programs for families and transition age youth experiencing homelessness, with approximately 450 units in the pipeline. VCH also provides comprehensive supportive programs including job training, youth development, life-skills coaching, and family services to help people regain or retain self-reliance. Venice Community Housing works to invest in permanently affordable housing, advance health and housing based solutions for unhoused people, promote youth development and education, and build strategic partnerships focused on equity and inclusion.

COLOR THE WATER (www.colorthewater.org)
CTW is a community for anti-racist BIPOC to reclaim space in the ocean through joyful, defiant liberation seeking surf guidance, protection, celebration, education, and media.