The City of Easton, located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, is accepting proposals in the interest of commissioning public artwork in the southeast quadrant of the City’s iconic Centre Square. The subject space for the artwork is to be located at 10 Centre Square, in the newly developed plaza area within the aforementioned quadrant (“Project Area”). Please refer to the map below.

Important Dates:

All proposers may attend an optional pre-proposal virtual conference to be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Interested proposers may attend this meeting via Zoom. Zoom Conference information will be provided upon request. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory. Please email [email protected] for conference details.

Questions regarding the proposal shall be submitted in writing to the individual referenced below. All questions will be sent out as an addendum to the email address provided by prospective proposers. Proposals must be received electronically via email no later than December 23, 2022 at 1:00 p.m., at which time the bids shall be reviewed for an approximate period of 60 days.

RFP Management:

Any questions related to this RFP should be submitted via email to artrfp@easton-gov.
NOTE: In this document the term "proposer" shall mean the person or firm making a proposal based on this RFP. The term "proposer" and the term "firm" is used interchangeably. Also, the term "you" or "your" shall refer to the proposer.

Background

The City of Easton, PA is seeking a qualified artist or artistic team to create public artwork that will be installed at the heart of the City of Easton, in the southeast quadrant of its historic Centre Square. Easton’s Centre Square attracts approximately one million visitors annually.

Located in the “Circle” in Downtown Easton where Third and Northampton Streets intersect, Centre Square, locally known as the traffic hub and center of civic activity, contains an open plot with a 75- foot-high monument with various components. The memorial recognizes Easton-area veterans killed during the American Civil War. Center Square was originally known as the “Great Square”; it was designed by William Parsons, who laid out Easton's streets, first surveyed in 1750, and made reality in 1752.

The aforementioned monument was unveiled on May 10, 1900. The bugler statue on the top of the memorial is reputedly sculpted after drummer Francis Reed, Company H, 96th Pennsylvania Regiment. At the base, a fountain surrounds the monument that was added decades later. Since 1951, annually the monument is transformed into Easton's Peace Candle, and an associated City celebration of the holiday season is held the day after Thanksgiving. The monument traditionally remains a celebration of peace until shortly after New Year's Day.

The County-owned Soldiers and Sailors Monument honors the four major branches of the Union Army during the Civil War – the infantry, artillery, cavalry, and Union navy. Facing the monument on all four sides are small plaques remembering other key events in Easton’s history, including the French & Indian War peace treaties. There is also a small modern memorial to local firefighters and service providers as well as a specifically designed plaque by Joseph LaDuca and Virginia Abbott which was unveiled in the circle in May 2000 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Surrounding the Circle are four quadrants that sit on each side of the intersections of Northampton and Third Streets. These quadrants provide the foundation for Easton’s central business district and are lined with some of the City’s most recognizable businesses. The subject area, the southeast quadrant, is the home of a number of long-standing restaurants and commercial properties and will be the home of a forthcoming 50-room boutique hotel.

The City desires for the public art installation to be site-specific, of moderate-scale, and a representative sculptural art piece that exemplifies the City’s history, culture, cultural-diversity and ongoing renaissance. It should have a positive and uplifting message and have a direct connection to Easton and its history, culture, landscape, and prominence while avoiding controversial topics. The artwork should invite visitors into the area and encourage interaction. Educational or innovative cultural and historical representations of the past, present, and future of the neighborhood are welcome. Incorporation of natural, sustainable, and/or recycled materials is encouraged.

The City may utilize an ad-hoc committee of citizens, community leaders, and City officials to provide input as to community preferences for the artwork. In addition, this committee may interview final candidates and serve a significant role in determining the engaged artist. The final decision on the selection of the successful artist will ultimately be made by City Council.

See commission document for full application instructions and project information.