The application process for this project utilized a request for qualifications (RFQ). The artist was asked to review the prospectus and complete the application form for the project that he or she was interested in being considered for. They were asked to not submit proposals.
The selection committee for each project was made up of arts professionals and state agency representatives, combining local and state resources to balance the interests of the public, the agency receiving the artwork, the artist, and the state. The committee determined the parameters for the project, including potential sites, media, and thematic content.
For all the projects, the listed sites and specification for media were only preliminary. Each project’s selection committee conducted an initial review of images from each artist, based on artistic quality and appropriateness to the site. The rest of the submission materials of a selected number of artists were then reviewed. The committee then selected one to three semi-finalists who were invited to participate in on-site architectural and programmatic presentations and personal interviews with committee members in preparation for developing site specific design concept proposals. The selection committee may have, at the time of the personal interview, selected a singular artist for proposal development. At a subsequent meeting, the committee considered the proposals and made a final selection or started the process over. Final committee recommendations were then reviewed by the Wisconsin Arts Board. The artist was commissioned to produce the work after the design was approved.
Artists invited to participate in the on-site orientation meeting and to submit a proposal were provided limited travel expenses. When an artist/s was/were selected to proceed to the proposal stage, a design fee was provided. Artists had 60 days or more to prepare a conceptual proposal and then presented their proposal to the selection committee. If multiple artists were selected to proceed to the proposal development stage, the selection committee reviewed the proposals and selected one artist for the commission.
Selection Criteria
Artists were selected on the basis of how appropriate their work was to the site. General criteria included aesthetic and technical quality and durability. The artist’s ability to create artwork of a similar scale along with expertise in producing artwork for the public was also considered. Committees identified specific criteria relating to potential sites, media, and thematic content for each project as outlined in the prospectus. In addition to the general criteria listed here, applicants were asked to review the listing of conceptual considerations in the prospectus, since these considerations served as project specific criteria.
To help achieve the goal of placing contemporary art in public places, the Percent for Art Program only considered work by living artists and only purchased or commissioned artwork directly from the artist. Competitions were accessible to state, regional and national artists; preference was given to artists residing in Wisconsin when no other basis for differentiating finalists existed.
Artists who were full-time or part-time students pursuing a degree in the fine arts were not eligible to apply.
Submission Materials
In order to be considered for one of the Commission projects listed on this website, artists must have completed and submitted an online application. Hard copy materials were not accepted. The artists were asked to check individual project listings for the deadline.
As part of the user friendly, 5 step online application process, the artist needed to:
- Complete the Online Application Form.
- Upload 8 Images: Images should have been saved in jpeg format and should not have exceeded 1MB, or 800 pixels on the longest side, in size. Please read the Image Guidelines for further information.
- Complete the Online Letter of Interest.
- Upload Resume: The artist's current professional resume, no more than three pages.
- Review & Submit Application.
If you have any questions, please contact the Wisconsin Arts Board.