DEADLINE OCTOBER 16th 5pm

CALL TO ARTISTS FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
PERMANENT PUBLIC ARTWORK FOR SENECA, CENTRE FOR INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CITE)

OPEN INVITATION
We are inviting Ontario-based Indigenous artists to submit an expression of interest for a permanent public art commission to be embedded in the floor of the main entrance at Seneca College’s new Centre for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE). The Newnham Campus will be a hub for Seneca College's innovation and entrepreneurial activities as well as an expanded location for the College’s robotics and mechatronics program and mechanical engineering technology programs.

BACKGROUND
The CITE building takes inspiration from ideas related to innovation alongside indigenous stories, cultures and histories. Designed by Toronto architects Perkins+Will, working with Bruce Mau Design, it faces Finch Avenue and will be the new home for the Office of Applied Research and Innovation, which will include an on-campus entrepreneurship incubator. The building incorporates references to indigenous past, present and future into the design.

This Indigenous public art commission will be a large, permanent floor installation located in the main entrance space of the new CITE building. The commissioned artwork will respond to the building’s overall design and relate directly to Indigenous culture, innovation, environmental protection, land rights and an over-all Indigenous worldview in relation to a welcoming and multi-purpose space. Within the CITE building will be a multi-floor media wall representing various forms of innovation presented through Indigenous design. The building itself will reflect, support and promote many elements of regional Indigenous identity and engage a wide audience.

Some important thematic elements that may be considered include:

Welcoming all people into an Indigenous-friendly space.
Engaging the audience in a conversation about Indigenous rights.
Asking the audience to consider territory and stewardship.
Inviting viewers of all backgrounds to consider individual involvement in a collective story.
Reflecting history as we move towards the future together.

The total value of the commission is $71,500 CDN (+HST and is inclusive of all associated costs, including professional fees). The footprint of approximately 30’ x 30’ will be allocated to the art site.

The winning concept will be selected by December 2017 and project implementation will be complete by December 2018.

All artists shortlisted to prepare proposals must expect to incorporate community consultation as part of their design refinement process, should they win the commission.

SELECTION PROCESS
Phase One: Expressions of Interest (please see submission requirements below)
Submission deadline October 16th

Phase Two: From the submissions received, a shortlist of three artists will receive a
Request for Proposals and an honorarium to develop an artwork concept for the site.

The same jury, comprised of project team, stakeholders and independent experts will
select both the short list and the winning proposal.

The contract will be awarded by December 2017 and project completion anticipated for December 2018.

SUBMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Ontario-based Indigenous artists are invited to respond to this REOI by submitting the following:

Artist CV (maximum 4 page .pdf)
Artist Statement outlining interest in project, showing relevant experience, ability, and general artistic approach (maximum 1 page .pdf)
Maximum ten (10) images of work. Image files should be titled with image number, name of artist and title of artwork (.jpg format only, maximum of 1024 x 768 pixels)
Image Information Sheet (.pdf) that describes each image with: number, name of artist, title, date, materials and dimensions

Submissions must be received by October 16th 2017, 5PM

Contact: Bespoke Cultural Collective
Email submissions to: sagan@bespokecollective.ca (Bespoke Cultural Collective)
Please use subject line: Seneca EOI
Submissions must not exceed 10 MB total size