Budget: $80,000

Activated: 02/08/2024

Deadline: 04/01/2024

Call Summary
The Alamo Colleges District seeks an established artist or artist team to design, fabricate and install a monumental, vertical exterior sculpture on the circular drive/island (approximate 12’ radius) (pictured above) at the Westside Education and Training Center (WETC). This exterior roundabout area is a central focal point to the entrance of the main building as a drop off/pick up place for students and community members. This is a prime location for a creative and interpretive sculpture relating to the theme of the building and history of this area of San Antonio.

The commissioned design should thoughtfully respond to this academic community, celebrate the history and the historical role of the WETC and align with the mission and vision of the Alamo Colleges District.

Budget Description
Budget is $80,000 – $100,000. Artwork budget is all-inclusive of artist fees, other consultants’ and subcontractor’s fees, insurance, engineering, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation (including any site modification), lighting, and post-installation documentation.

The foundation for the selected artwork will be provided by Alamo Colleges District once size and weight of the selected artwork is determined.

Project Description
Alamo Colleges and WETC’s vision is to encourage artists to reflect and create an artistic expression that welcomes visitors to this location. Artwork should consist of permanent and sustainable media that celebrate and champion curiosity, diversity, creativity, and the aspects of inquiry, observation, and investigation.

Artwork Goals
Artwork should be of the highest technical quality and be fabricated from safe and durable materials. The artwork will be vetted for any safety issues concerning placement and circulation of movement.

Site History
The Westside Education and Training Center (WETC) rests in a historic part of San Antonio known for its rich cultural and linguistic heritage. While much of the Westside’s popular history includes a vibrant Mexican American community, a less known but equally important story of African American heritage and culture permeates the area.

San Antonio was one of the first major cities in 1954 to desegregate its schools following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education and its precursor 1931 landmark case Roberto Alvarez v. Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District. Prior to desegregation, Edgewood I.S.D. opened Lincoln Elementary School to educate African American and Mexican American children with Elizabeth T. Wrenn as the school’s first principal and Edgewood’s first African American teacher and administrator.

Over 70 years later, this site continues to provide a wealth of resources, education, and training to all members of the Westside community. The Alamo Colleges District completed a brand new $24.3M facility on this site. While the former Lincoln Elementary School is expected to be demolished, the Alamo Colleges District seeks to honor the past and recent history of the site and continues to activate its mission to empower diverse communities for success through the WETC. An ongoing project between the Alamo Colleges and the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) aims to document and amplify the important stories of African American culture, pride, and history in San Antonio’s Westside.

Eligibility
• Age 21 or older
• Professional artist: A practitioner of visual and/or interdisciplinary arts, at any stage in their career, whose work is recognized by peer artists to demonstrate serious intent and ability, who has a body of work that supports and demonstrates their focus and artistic practice.
• Lives or works in the Texas region

Application Requirements
Resume: 2 page(s) maximum
Work examples: 5 - 10
Letter of Interest : 700 words maximum. Please tell us why you feel you are a good fit for this artwork opportunity.
References: 3

Artists are allowed to apply in teams.
Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves.

Please see commission portal link for full project information and application instructions.