The Linn County Public Art Commission is seeking qualifications from artists for exterior and interior artwork to be incorporated into the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Building in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Request for Qualifications is open to all professional artists and artist teams. The exterior and interior artwork will be considered independently from the other. Only the first 250 applications received will be accepted for each of the two categories. Up to three finalists will be selected for both the interior and exterior artwork.
“We are thrilled to be posting two exciting opportunities for artwork at the Harris Building,” says Sean Ulmer, Chair of the Linn County Public Art Commission. “I encourage all professional artists, whether they be local, regional, national, or international, to consider submitting their qualifications. The selection committees look forward to reviewing potential artists’ works and selecting finalists for these very important commissions.”
The budget for the interior artwork will not exceed $50,000, including design, fabrication, transportation, and installation.
The budget for the exterior artwork will not exceed $145,000, including design, fabrication, transportation, and installation.
The submission process for this Request for Qualifications will be administered through CaFÉ™, an interactive online system which allows artists to submit responses to public art organizations’ call for artists. All information about the Linn County Public Art Commission’s Request for Qualifications is listed on the CaFÉ™ website at www.callforentry.org. Artists interested in being considered for this project must register with CaFÉ™ and submit their qualifications. Registration is free for artists.
The deadline for artists to submit their qualifications online through CaFÉ™ is March 9, 2020. Final selection is expected in May with art installation anticipated in November 2020.
The state-of-the-art Harris Building opened in November 2019 and is home to Linn County Public Health and Linn County Child and Youth Development Services. The building is named in honor of community icons Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris in recognition of their lifetime of dedication and service to health and education in Linn County.
About the Public Art Commission
The Linn County Public Art Commission was established in 2010 by an ordinance adopted by the Linn County Board of Supervisors to direct funding for the inclusion of works of art in County capital improvement projects. The Commission, overseen by the County’s Board of Supervisors, is responsible for the planning, commissioning, and acquisition of all artwork in Linn County capital improvement projects. The mission of the Linn County Public Art program is to enrich the lives of local citizens and visitors by integrating public art into County planning, services, design, and infrastructure.