The Arts Council, Inc. along with community partners announced two public art projects in the works for downtown Huntsville. While these projects are different in scope, they both offer a chance for a wide variety of artists to participate in the burgeoning public art movement in the Rocket City.
The City of Huntsville, The Arts Council and Sealy Property Development, LLC seek Statements of Qualifications from artists interested in creating artwork to be sited at The Avenue, a new mixed-use development in the core of Huntsville’s downtown arts and entertainment district.
Qualifications for The Avenue Public Art Project are due Jan. 19, and the budget granted to the selected artist includes funds to cover the design, fabrication and installation of the work.
A project of Sealy Property Development, LLC – also the developers of the Belk Hudson Lofts downtown – The Avenue will combine 193 loft residences with 21,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space. With restaurant patios and the main pedestrian way for the development, The Avenue plaza will host the new piece of site-specific public art. The artwork can be sited anywhere within the plaza space as long as it doesn't interfere with the outdoor dining uses. Artwork could also be suspended above the plaza from the adjacent building, provided it does not exceed the load bearing capacity of the structure. The selected artist will be able to work with the landscape architect to coordinate the siting of the work, and to ensure that the surrounding landscape and hardscape are in visual harmony with the work.
Returning to downtown in March 2015 is the second annual LIT: Light + Innovation + Technology and the second public art project currently seeking proposals. The Arts Council and Downtown Huntsville Inc. invite artists, lighting professionals, game designers, event producers, environmental design specialists and makers of all backgrounds to submit ideas for the event. This light and projection arts festival drew more than 3,000 attendees in its inaugural year and the event is poised to grow even more in its return to the Downtown Huntsville Square on March 7.
For one night only, digital art projections, colorful light and environmental design will transform all four sides of the Downtown Square into a living work of art. This juried festival celebrates the uniqueness of Huntsville through the fusion of light, innovation and technology. At the event, four artists/artistic teams will showcase their projects and compete for the festival’s cash prizes. The four artists/artistic teams selected through the RFP process will receive a cash prize following the event, with prizes awarded as follows: 1st place, $2,500; 2nd place, $1,000; 3rd place, $500 and 4th place, $500.
Both of these projects are being managed by The Arts Council. Artists interested in submitting proposals for The Avenue Public Art Project and/or LIT should visit www.artshuntsville.org, call 256-519-2787 or follow The Arts Council on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theartscouncilinc for more information.