neighborhood art initiative (nai) | request for applications

Release Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Budget: Project budgets will be determined based on the scale of the artwork during the discovery phase of the selected neighborhood projects. The selection committee will choose 4-5 neighborhoods. In addition to funding the production and installation of the artwork, UAC provides project management support throughout the process

Deadline: Monday, October 30, 2023

Eligibility: Any neighborhood organizations/associations, CDCs,  nonprofits and community leaders or persons with exemplary neighborhood pride - located within the Memphis metropolitan, statistical area.

program background

The UrbanArt Commission (UAC) works to create opportunities for artists and neighborhoods to connect and shape spaces through public art. Since 2002, UAC has managed the City of Memphis’s Percent-for-Art program, which allocates funds annually to develop public art in connection to capital improvement projects. UAC also manages grant-funded and privately-funded public art projects. See examples of past and in-progress UAC projects here

The Neighborhood Art Initiative was initially launched in 2019 with generous support from the Assisi Foundation. UAC believes that creative expression has the power to unlock opportunity and transform communities, and the Neighborhood Art Initiative enables community organizations and leaders to incorporate public art into their ongoing initiatives and neighborhood-level work. UAC is proud to launch the third round of the Neighborhood Art Initiative program to continue this work through the City's percent-for-art program. Project budgets will be determined based on the scale of the artwork during the discovery phase of the selected neighborhood projects. In addition to funding the production and installation of the artwork, UAC provides project management support throughout the process (please see Project Expectations below). 

Neighborhood Art Initiative (NAI) is a neighborhood-led collaborative program for residents, partners, organizers, and artists to shape the creation of public art in their communities and shared spaces. NAI supports neighborhood engagement and social connections throughout Memphis, as well as experiences with public art. 

Read more about the Neighborhood Art Initiative’s program goals, vision and mission,

scope of work

UAC and the NAI selection committee express an interest in applicants whose goals are to enrich public spaces by highlighting neighborhood identity and history while addressing the objectives of the neighborhoods’ residents. This application is open to:  

• Neighborhood-invested groups/associations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), non-profits, grassroots constituent-led organizations that are using direct-action, community organizing and base-building strategies to accomplish their goals and arts organizations.

• Neighborhood-led programs/initiatives (community garden, after school program, etc.)

• Individual applicants who have identified project partners at the time of application within the neighborhood.

Note: It is not necessary to submit a fully developed idea for a public art project. Applicants may choose to submit rough ideas, to be developed in detail with UAC.

UAC is committed to equity and inclusion in our work, both in the artists and neighborhoods supported through the development of public art. UAC is especially interested in applications from neighborhoods which have not recently received city public art projects. People of color, differently-abled persons, indigenous peoples, youth, LGBTQ+, seniors, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

project expectations

Neighborhoods will be selected based on the expressed support of their partners and community members, the strength of their application and the potential added value of public art to the identity of the neighborhood. Selected applicants will work closely with UAC to develop these projects and support neighborhood organizing and engagement throughout the public art process. 

All NAI projects funded by the City of Memphis must be installed on City-owned property. Applicants may propose a site in their neighborhood or work with UAC to find an appropriate site following the acceptance of their application. The site must be publicly visible and accessible. Applicants may propose a specific artist/s to produce the project or work with UAC to identify artists or facilitate an open call.

The selected community group shall be expected to participate in a committee that will work closely with a UAC project manager on all phases of the project.

The  UAC team will support in the following ways: 

• Host public art workshops and meetings for the selected neighborhoods

• Provide guidance to the neighborhood groups in selecting the artwork, artist, and site

• Organize an artist selection process (announce a competition, manage submissions, etc.) as needed

• Manage the public art project budget as approved by PAOC including costs associated with administrative materials, site preparation, the final artwork, and maintenance 

• Be an active UAC representative throughout the selected neighborhoods, supporting resident-centered events and learning more about unique characteristics of each neighborhood

PRELIMINARY TIMELINE

• September 2023 - November 2023

• Open NAI applications

• Review Applications, Interview Finalists

• Select Neighborhoods

•  November 2023- December 2023 

• Creation of each neighborhood selection committee 

• UAC works with selected neighborhoods to build calls to artists

• Neighborhood Discovery   

• January 2024 - July 2024

• Launch Neighborhood Calls to Artists, Neighborhood Discovery contd.

• Commission Artists (Begin Artwork Design Phase) 

• August - September 2024

• Begin Art Production Phase

*Project installation and completion varies greatly depending on a number of factors including - site constraints, materials access, scheduling issues, etc.

nai program selection committee

Marcha Allen, Deputy Director- Parks Division; Amanzi Arnett, Artist Support Coordinator- Indie Memphis; Albert Brown, President- Cherokee Heights Watch Association; Lester Ferdinand- Ferdinand Architect; Tim Green, Capacity Building Director- BLDG Memphis; Adriane Hall, Director of Development & Comms- Playback Memphis; Crystal Rhodes- Visual Artist; Najee Strickland- Multidisciplinary Artist

Developing public art is a collaborative process. Upon identifying project funding and/or a site, a selection committee is convened. Each project has its own distinct selection committee, consisting of at least 2 practicing visual artists or arts professionals, 2 neighborhood representatives, an architect or structural engineer, and other key stakeholders as well as a non-voting member, City of Memphis engineer. The selection committee determines a project’s ‘scope of work’, reviews artist submissions, provides feedback to the selected artist and finalists, selects artists for projects, and approves all design, fabrication and installation benchmarks. UAC is a non-voting facilitator on all projects. All decisions made by individual project selection committees on projects funded by the City’s percent-for-art program must then be approved by a City-appointed Public Art Oversight Committee (PAOC). The PAOC is a committee of seven members providing general oversight of the Percent-for-Art Program and issues that arise in conjunction with the program. 

*For more information regarding UAC’s public art process refer to: https://uacmem.org/process

application guidelines

Please submit the following materials on or before October 30, 2023:

• Completed application form

• Letters of support from partners or community members (up to 5)

If you have difficulty accessing the website, need additional forms, or require assistance with your submission, please contact Kayla J. Smith at kayla@uacmem.orgor 901.343.6983

Information Sessions - UAC will host a virtual information session for those interested in learning more about this project:

• Wednesday, October 18, 2023 5:30-6:30 PM, Virtual

You may also schedule a meeting with UAC staff to review your application. Contact Kayla J. Smith at kayla@uacmem.org  or 901.343.6983 to schedule a meeting on:

• Tuesday, October 17, 2023 and Thursday, October 19, 2023.

Applications may be submitted online OR on paper.

• Click here to apply now!

• Download Application and Supporting Materials, submit with ATTN: Neighborhood Art Initiative

Urban Art Commission | 422 N. Cleveland St., Memphis TN, 38104 | kayla@uacmem.org

disclaimers

Applicants will be notified as to the status of their application. Commissioning of artists by UAC and the pursuit of all UAC activities are implemented without preference to racial or ethnic origins, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or age.

UAC reserves the right to modify this solicitation and to request additional information from participating artists.

UAC reserves the right to accept or reject, at any time prior to the commissioning of a work, any or all proposals when the acceptance, rejection, waiver or advertisement would be in the best interest of the project.

The staff of UAC will be responsible for all correspondence and communication by and between applicants and members of selection panels. Discussion regarding these projects by and between any applicant and any member of a selection panel outside of regularly scheduled meetings during the selection process may be grounds for the disqualification of the applicant. Such determination shall be in the discretion of UAC.

For more information about this project, please contact:

Kayla J. Smith| Sr. Program Manager | 901.343.6983 | kayla@uacmem.org

Click here to download application.