Route 5 - Bus Rapid Transit

TRANSPORTATION PROJECT

CALL FOR ARTISTS - Proposals

The Central Avenue Business Improvement District (CBID) in a partnership with the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is pleased to announce the search for artists to participate as Design Team Artists for the Central Avenue Corridor Transportation Project (BRT Bus Rapid Transit Project). Artists will work with architects, engineers, and landscape architects to integrate their conceptual artwork into the final design phase of the CDTA - BRT Project. Construction is expected to begin this spring 2009. The design team is looking for innovative and unique artistic concepts to provide an aesthetic quality to the areas surrounding the newly improved BRT bus line. The new imporved bus system will connect Downtown Albany to Downtown Schenectady via the Central Avenue (Rt 5) corridor.

Public Art ?

There are many concepts that could meet the criteria and consideration for public art. Public Art could be simply a metal insignia or representational tiles or words as concepts embedded or attched to nearby sidewalks, buildings, the bus shelter or who knows. Art for this project could even be considerd a multi-media interactive projector that displays art on nearby buildings, or it could be music or sounds. It could be tactile pads, buttons, braile or something that you touch or listen to. You are the artists, and therefor in the medium you are familiar with, tell us your ideas. Consideration should be made for art that reaches people of all persuations and relects diversity. Public art should represent and relect the CDTA ridership community, its history and the people and places that are served and the many ways they see and hear themselves reflected in your vision.

For example people with hearing or vision disabilities might find art in the sights and or sounds that the encounter in the enviroment. Be creative and dont be affraid to be unique or experimental in bringing all members of our community into your art vision.

What is the Route 5 BRT Project ?

Route 5 Corridor Project (BRT) is an innovative concept of mass transportation known as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Features include dedicated transit lanes, traffic signal prioritization, and off-board fare collection. The capital region is one of a few cities to be implementing such a program. With ridership on public transit increasing in the region CDTA has committed significant resources to the enhancement of this project area. Bus rapid transit uses advanced technology and traffic engineering to improve the performance for transit service. BRT systems operate faster, with fewer delays while maximizing convenience for passengers.

The BRT project will make use of aerodynamic and environmentally friendly bus service, along with enhanced transit station amenities and more direct service to express route locations. Improvements to Route 5 Project include: attractive streetscape including new public art, lighting, landscape design, sidewalks, and passenger stations. For more information please see:

Route 5 Study - http://www.ny5.org/

CDTA - http://www.cdta.org/future/index.php

Public Art and BRT

In accordance with the policy of public art to be included in the project’s construction of the BRT, a specific budget has been allocated for public art. Public art costs include: Design Team Artists as well as other selected art opportunity fabrication costs and payment for the artists selected. The goal of public art as part of BRT is to bring a sense of identity and vitality to the Route 5 corridor. Given the scope and distance of the BRT service area and the limited budget and the scope of the project, a highly creative and broad concept of the application of art work should be considered. The goal of public art as part of BRT is to bring a sense of identity and vitality to the transit Corridor.

There is a limited amount of funding for the projects and they are going to be limited in the number of locations they can be applied, however, be innovative and create, as that’s what you do. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the project & the transit locations by visiting the following web site and those contained in this document.

http://www.cdta.org/future/index.php

Eligibility

The call is open to all artists, architects, media artisits and designers regardless of residence. Previous awardees for CDTA or CBID projects and those new to public art are encouraged to apply.

Artist Role
Selected artist(s) will work hand-in-hand with the design team architects, urban designers, landscape architects, station designers, stakeholders and engineers to integrate artistic components into existing and future infrastructure designs as they move forward from the current stage of design to completion. Involving artists in the design process will allow for seamless integration of artistic enhancements into the project’s construction documents and specifications.

The role of the Artists will be to bring creative energy to the Design Team discussions, present a variety of problem solving approaches, and develop a range of strategies for creating a sense of consistency and coherence throughout the corridor while enlivening and reflecting the community.

Proposals must include an estimated total cost of design, the artists fabrication expeience of any and all art elements in their proposal and should include any details of previous installations of their work. Collabrative efforts are encouraged but not required. Clarifications regarding any of the project details may be made at any time by request to the CDMA. Inc at:

CDMA
Anthony Capece
176 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
518-462-4300
Email: Anthony@Centralbid.com

Areas For Selection
One or more artists will be selected to carry out the Design, and fabrication of the selected art work. The artist(s) will then be responsible for art’s integration with the design team related to their specific area.
The selection of the art and or design elements will be based on the following:

Quality of art, design or concept

1.    Impact on the visitors to the stations & surrounding area, including but not limited to transit riders.
2.    Connection to the site/and adjacent community; art that relates to the culture, people, natural and or built
       surroundings, and or history of the selected areas.
3.    Appropriateness for the site & community including safety, scale, & cost of fabrication.
4.    Durability of material(s)
5.    Resistance to vandalism & minimum of maintenance

Rules for Submission:

Submissions can be made by email, mail or dropped off at the CBID office by 3:00 pm on April 13th 2009.

Entries can not be returned, and all entires become the property of the project sponsors.

All fabricated and or installed works become the property of the project sponsors. All right to the works must be transfered to the project deisgn partners, including copyright. This transfer of rights allows the project partners to reproduce, distribute and display the works from the point of acceptance to forever.

All enterants accept the contest rules upon entry and thereby release the project sponsors, its partners and assigns from any liability for damage that may result from entry in he contest or acceptance or use of the project funding. The porject sponsors reserve the right to refuse, disqualify, any and all submissions, including a winner who fails to comply with the contest rules.

The sponsors can not be responisble for lost or stolen entries, entries list in communication or transmission or other technical problems during the entry period.

The artist(s) chosen must agree to the possible use of their likeness, voice, image, video recording related to the promotion and ongoing promotion of the project.

All elements of this project, contest and communiations may be made available for public disclosure at any time.

No one will be ecluded from participation or for submitting art work based on age, sex (gender),race, creed (religious belief or faith), national origin, handicap or disability)

All rules are subject to change, check back to this site for additional clarifications.

Concepts of Art to be included are:

SECTION 1

Ground Plane Elements – There may be numerous opportunities for an artist to work with the CDMA, & design team partners to consult on aspects of the ground plane materials selection and design of station treatments and design. Opportunities may also include embedded materials, text, found objects, recycled materials, etc. in and or around the ground plane.

Where appropriate, artist may be involved in the fabrication and installation of artwork during construction. Proposal must include Artist fee’s, and projected costs of associated materials and fees for work with these projects.

Section 2

Fixtures and Functional Element – Through the corridor many segments connected to the transit area will be rebuilt completely, including paving of the streets, sidewalks and landscaping, lighting, and transit facilities. The project’s scope presents several opportunities for an artist to work with the Corridor design team on review, selection, and customization of project area fixtures and functional elements which may include seating, bike racks, tree grating, manhole covers, bollards, fencing, waste receptacles, and any of the Corridor’s other essential elements.

Artist will be required to submit design drawings and specification to the project’s architect and engineer for incorporation into the final construction documents. Proposal must include Artist fee’s, and projected costs of associated material with ground plane projects.

1)    Fixtures in the “Hardscape”:
A)   Incorporation of design into hardware etc in project area or nearby buildings etc.
B)   Street Furniture
C)   Bike racks, benches, sculpture(s) , etc

Section 3

“Environmental” Streetscape

Ideas that involve the use of new media or Interactive displays, video, music, kiosks, video, hi-tech interactive images, use of internet, Cameras, web services like you tube, twitter, etc, or ideas that go beyond hardscape or street furniture that brings art to the designated areas.

Performance Design – Several stations could be identified as having the potential to incorporate formal and informal interactive multimedia performance spaces for some of the high traffic pedestrian areas, especially those adjacent to educational institutions. The design team may seek one performance artist, multimedia designer or other professionals experienced with the performing arts or urban video or media to be paired with the design team to address the specific needs and technical design elements necessary for developing usable and successful performance displays at or adjacent to transit stops. Use of interactive art works, poetry animation or public solicitation of art or other public work via the use of connectivity is encouraged. Partnerships with local media, internet and social networking are potential resources. These priority stops/areas include but are not limited to: The Stops Located at: Quail Street in Albany, State Street Schenectady, & Downtown Albany.

Details and mapping: Click here or go to http://www.cdta.org/future/index.php
Proposal Expectations:
Artist must send the following admission materials:
o   Slides or photos of pertinent work
o   Resume and short bio or artist statement
o   Sketch of design or concept
o   One or two paragraphs outlining design submission
• Panel Approval Process
1. A Special Panel of judges will choose 4-6 finalists from submissions received.   These
     Finalists will be asked to submit:
A. Drawings to scale
B. Material Samples (if applicable)
C. Rough Spec Sheet
            D. Estimated budget
E) Finalists will receive a stipend of $250.00 dollars for further study and more                                    detailed submissions.

Image:

F) Level of Commitment

Selected artists will be retained on an on-going basis during the design and early construction stages of the project. Responsibilities include attending various meetings, design sessions, and possible community presentations.

The panel may choose a single artist or team of artists from the finalists to fabricate or assist in the fabrication of the art work and prepare the design for the final installation by CDTA’s contractor.

Deadlines for Submissions:

• First Artist Conceptual Proposals Postmark deadline is April 13th 2009
• Finalists will be notified by April 17^th 2009
• Finalist designs process begins April 20th with selected art team or artist. (it should be understood the selected artist or artist team must be acessable from this point forward until the project is completed)

NOTE:
• All submissions must be received by date indicated at 3:00 pm.
• This is not a postmark date!

Send submissions to:
CDMA
Anthony Capece
176 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
518-462-4300
Email: Anthony@Centralbid.com

All offers and terms of project and scope are always subject to change.