Request for Qualifications – Art in Public Places Opportunity
Oregon State University-Cascades, Student Success Center, Bend, OR
The Oregon Arts Commission is accepting qualifications from artists or artist teams for a Percent for Art in Public Places opportunity at Oregon State University – Cascades. The Student Success Center is a two-story, 17,500-square-foot building that houses academic and career advising, health and wellness counseling, student government, tutoring, study, and gathering spaces. The building opened in January 2025.
Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, June 8, 2025
Eligibility: Professional artists and artist teams in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington are eligible to apply. Artists from traditionally or currently underserved communities, including (but not limited to) rural communities and communities of color, are especially encouraged to apply. Emerging artists or established studio artists emerging into the public art realm are encouraged to apply.
Budget: The anticipated art budget for the project is $90,000 for two commissions. The budget includes artist fees, materials, fabrication, insurance, shipping, travel, installation, documentation, and any other project costs.
About Oregon State University-Cascades
Oregon State University-Cascades (OSU-C) opened in 2016 in Bend. The young, 128-acre campus is located on a former pumice mine and demolition landfill. Six (6) buildings have further transformed the landscape. Additional campus development is underway for its growing student population. The OSU-C campus has fulfilled a 30-year quest for a four-year university in central Oregon, embracing its connection to the community, unique landscape, and commitment to interdisciplinary and innovative learning.
About the Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is a student-centered space designed to foster support, connection, and achievement all in one location.
The ground floor offers a comfortable gathering space for students to relax and spend time with friends. It includes a lounge area, coffee bar, commuter kitchen, food pantry, offices and flexible meeting space for student government, student life and campus clubs. Meanwhile, the upper level showcases a spacious learning commons, smaller enclosed study rooms, and offices for academic and career advising, health and wellness counseling, prayer and meditation room, international programs, and The Bridge (OSU-C’s new multicultural space).
This two-story, 17,500-square-foot building embraces the concept of Hygge, which is Danish and Norwegian for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality. Hygge emphasizes wellness, contentment, slowness, and the enjoyment of being present. The interior colors and textures embrace Bend’s surrounding landscape.
Themes, Goals and Characteristics for the Art
The art selection committee has identified themes, goals and desired characteristics for the Student Success Center project. The selection committee seeks artwork that:
- Cultivates a strong sense of place connected to the Bend or central Oregon region;
- Connects to themes of adaptation, resilience, repair, and renewal; and/or
- Contributes to a welcoming and comfortable environment that encourages community and connection.
Art Locations
There are two (2) available art zones for Student Success Center project; applicants can choose which art zone they prefer.
To see the RFQ and vImages of the art locations follow this link:
- Art Zone 1: $45,000. First Floor Interior. This art zone has three (3) walls in the first-floor student lounge space. These walls range in size from 8’ 3” tall x 4’ 2” wide to 9’ 7” tall x 8’ 5” wide. The artist/artist teams may create a site-specific artwork for one wall or related artwork for more than one wall.
- Art Zone 2: $45,000. Second Floor Interior. This art zone has three (3) potential walls located in the second-floor learning commons. A soffit wall above enclosed student study rooms is 3 7” tall X 30’ wide. Two additional walls are approximately 5 11” tall x 5 7” wide and 5’11” tall x 10 6” wide. The artist/artist teams may create a site-specific artwork for one wall or related artworks for more than one wall.
Selection Process
A selection committee for this project includes university faculty and administrators, arts professionals, and the project design team, and is facilitated by an Oregon Arts Commission project manager. The committee will review submitted qualifications and select up to three (3) finalists per art zone.
The following criteria will be used to select finalists, based on the submitted materials:
- Appropriateness of scale, material (including long-term durability), and style of past work as they relate to the project values/goals and site.
- Artistic and technical quality of past work, including mastery of skills and techniques, communication of a unique artistic perspective, and/or consistent application of professional practices, conceptual framework or use of materials.
- Demonstrated ability of the artist to successfully complete artwork with a project timeline, limited budget and input from community stakeholders.
Finalists will receive $850 per artist/artist team to design and propose an artwork. The design proposal will include: a concept narrative, description of materials and durability, visual representations of proposed work, estimated budget and timeline. Finalists will present their proposal to the selection committee. Two (2) artists/artist teams will be selected and awarded a contract to create and install site-specific artwork (one artist/artist team per art zone).
Anticipated Schedule
June 8, 2025: Submission of qualifications deadline
June 2025: Finalists notified
August 2025: Virtual Orientation with artists
September 2025: Design proposals deadline
October 2025: Design proposal presentations to selection committee
October 2025: Artist selection
November 2025: Contracts awarded to selected artists
TBD: Design, fabrication and installation schedule to be determined depending on scale and budget specific to the artwork
TBD: Artwork installed and complete
How to Submit Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, submit all required materials by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Send the materials described below via a file share program of your choice to coutureartcoordinator@gmail.com.
Artists currently on the Oregon Art in Public Places Artist Roster may use Roster application materials for this opportunity, with the addition of a letter of interest specific to this project. Please email your letter to: coutureartcoordinator@gmai.com and indicate that you’d like your Roster materials to be used.
Application Materials
1.Letter of interest. As a PDF file named with “artist’s last name, first initial, letter” (garciamletter.pdf); limit 1 page.
- Describe your interest in this project and how your artwork and art-making process would be a good fit for the opportunity.
- Please indicate whether you are interested in Art Zone 1, Art Zone 2, or both. Additionally, please specify which wall(s) you are interested in creating artwork for.
- If you are an emerging artist or an established artist emerging into public art, in your letter of interest, address the reasons why you believe you are qualified for the opportunity, or the steps you would take to ensure successful completion of an architecturally integrated or large-scale artwork commission.
2.Resume. PDF or DOC format; name file with “artist’s last name, first initial, resume” (garciamresume.pdf); limit 2 pages. For artist teams, include resumes of each team member. Include complete contact information: street address, phone number, email.
3.Up to 10 Images of Past Work. JPG or PNG format; name files with: “artist’s last name, first initial, number that corresponds to the image information on the image list” (garciam01.jpg). File size: minimum 1200 pixels on the longest side and 5 MB maximum.
4.Image Descriptions. PDF or DOC format; name file with “artist’s last name, first initial, list” (garciam.pdf); limit 1 page. Provide a description for each image including:
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- Key details: title, location, cost/budget, date completed, materials, dimensions, commissioning agency (if applicable), project partners (if applicable);
- Brief description of your vision or conceptual ideas for each artwork.
Assistance
For questions about the project and the application process, contact Oregon Arts Commission Project Coordinator Renee Couture, coutureartcoordinator@gmail.com or (541)-580-9666.
The information in this RFQ is available in alternate formats upon request. For more information or assistance with the application process, contact Ryan Burghard, Oregon Arts Commission: ryan.burghard@biz.oregon.gov or 971-374-3083.
Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places Program
Managed by the Oregon Arts Commission, the Percent for Art in Public Places program places art in state buildings and public universities throughout Oregon. The collection, including more than 2,500 works of art, is searchable via Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places Collection website.
Art Location Plans and Images
Follow this link:
Salary
$45,000
Location
Bend, OR
Contact Email
coutureartcoordinator@gmail.com