Richmond’s Public Art Commission is seeking a permanent public art installation at the Southside Community Center currently undergoing significant expansion. The new facility, located at 6255 Old Warwick Road North, Chesterfield, VA, will provide interactive, lively spaces for community wellness and recreation activities. The grounds surrounding the Community Center include multiple sports fields, a skate park, playground, community garden, and other community spaces. The grounds also include one bioretention area and two stormwater detention areas that provide an excellent opportunity for an artist or design team to create a unique installation that actively celebrates responsible stormwater practices. Three to five artists/teams will receive an honorarium of $2,000 each to submit a formal proposal for the project.

RFQ Deadline: December 19, 2022
Honorarium for Draft Proposal: $2,000
Commission Budget: $200,000 (inclusive of all artist’s fees, materials, insurance, fabrication, installation, travel and all other project-related expenses)

Eligibility

This project is open to artists and design teams—broadly defined as artists, sculptors, landscape designers, architects, et al.—living within the United States and its territories working in any medium appropriate for the site.

Background

The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities purchased the Southside Community Center property in 2014 with the goal of creating a regional park to provide diversified recreational opportunities for the residents of the Midlothian Planning District. The current site master plan—developed by Worley Associates and Timmons Group—was approved by the City’s Urban Design Committee and Planning Commission in 2018. The site master plan consists of a new community center building and exterior park features that include an entry plaza and drop-off, playground, community garden, orchard, basketball court, softball field, trails, a multi-purpose field and a skatepark.

Please see commission document for full project information and application instructions. Please find the application form linked here.