Release Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024

Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2025

Eligibility: Any artists living and working within the Memphis metropolitan area. Artists are invited to submit collaborative work if desired, but may only submit one proposal per project opportunity. While there is no limit to the number of calls an artist may apply to at once, UAC strongly encourages artists to consider both the time and scale of each call.


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 facilitates public art projects throughout the city working with various partners and clients to support artists and new experiences with art.

SITE SPECIFICS

UAC is seeking artists and artists teams to exhibit their work in our Office Exhibition Space at 422 N Cleveland St, Memphis, TN 38104. This is a free exhibition opportunity for local artists.  This initiative is designed to support and showcase the creativity of our artistic community. 

Artists are encouraged to consider the unique characteristics of the Office Exhibition Space in their exhibition proposals. This includes:

  • Dimensions and layout of the space.

  • Lighting conditions.

  • Accessibility considerations.

  • Any structural limitations or opportunities within the space.




SCOPE OF WORK

Exhibition Time Windows

Three exhibition time windows will be awarded to three different applicants: PLEASE in your submission state which dates you’re interested in to best help your chances of selection. *The time windows awarded will include installation, opening events, exhibition closing event, and deinstallation.

  1. Window 1: Feb 3rd -  April 25th (2025)

  2. Window 2: May 5th - July  18th (2025) 

  3. Window 3: Aug 4th -  Nov 17th (2025)

PROJECT EXPECTATIONS

Artists are responsible for the following:

  • Installation and Deinstallation: Including any necessary wall repairs or painting.( UAC will supply wall putty and paint for repairs)

  • Exhibition Maintenance: Ensuring the exhibition remains in good condition throughout its duration.

  • Event Coordination: Organizing any related events, such as an opening reception, in coordination with our team.

  • Promotion: While we will help promote the exhibition through our channels, artists are encouraged to actively promote their show.

  • Insurance: Artists are responsible for insuring their work. Our organization is not liable for any damage or loss of artwork.  

  •  Payment/Compensation Details:The selected artist/artists will not receive any compensation or funding for their participation. 

  • Commission: UAC will not take commission on any sales, all proceeds of work sold will go directly to the artist. (UAC does not facilitate any sells)


SELECTION TIMELINE


Dec 12th, 2024                                    RFQ released 

Jan 7th, 2025                                  Information Session

Jan 17th, 2025                         RFQ deadline 

Jan 27th, 2025                              Notify selected artists 

   (the week of)*


APPLICATION GUIDELINES


Please submit the following materials online by following the link at uacmem.org/calls-to-artists:

  • Completed application form

  • A typed letter explaining your interest in the call and your general approach/concept for the exhibition.

  • Up to 20 images of exhibition ready work including title of work, date, medium, budget and project partners, if any.

  • Résumé or CV, not to exceed 2 pages.

  • List of three professional references, including current phone and email.

  1. To apply to an open Request for Qualifications (RFQ) or Request for Proposals (RFP), go to uacmem.org/calls-to-artists. Follow the UAC Exhibition Space link to view more details.

  2. Clicking on the Submit button will redirect you to our Submittable page, which contains all of our current open opportunities. Click the Submit button next to the opportunity that you wish to apply for, or if you are already within an opportunity, scroll down to the Create your account / Have an account? Sign in form.

  3. If you already have a Submittable account, click the Have an account? Sign in tab to sign in to your account.

  4. If you don’t have an account, you must create one to apply. Create your free account by filling out the Create your account form. Fill in all information and click the Create Account and Continue button to continue with the submission process.

  5. From there, you will be able to complete and submit your application. You can now use this account login when submitting to all future UAC opportunities. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email that confirms receipt of your full application.



INFORMATION SESSIONS


UAC will host an information session for interested artists on Jan 7th, 2025. 

RSVP here.


The session will be recorded and a link made available to applicants who are unable to attend during that time. The information session will be heavily focused on expectations and will further explain its relevance to the Office Exhibition opportunity.  Interested artists who have not completed an exhibition space call to artists previously are strongly encouraged to reach out to the UAC team in advance of submitting their application. Artists may also schedule a meeting with UAC staff to review their application and portfolio. Appointments are available until 1 week prior to the close of the call to artists. See project contact information below. 


For more information about this project, please contact: 

Travis Washington | Program Manager

901.221.4077 | Travis@uacmem.org 

This RFQ can be found on www.uacmem.org/calls-to-artists 



DISCLAIMERS


UAC is committed to equity and inclusion in our work. People of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, differently-abled and neurodiverse persons, indigenous peoples, youth, seniors, and women are strongly encouraged to apply. 


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 UAC team 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 at the discretion of UAC.