The City of Mauldin and the Mauldin Cultural Council announce the opening of the RFP portion of the selection process for the 2021 Mauldin Public Art Trail installation at the Mauldin Cultural Center. This annual program seeks to beautify the community with public art displays created by South Carolina artists for years to come.
This year’s theme, “Heroes and Leaders,” was selected in the wake of COVID-19. We have seen the terms heroes and leaders be used to describe many groups of people who have not traditionally been given such a title. Across the globe, governing bodies have set forth policies to increase the safety of humankind; healthcare workers have compromised their own safety to care for and save the lives of those infected; manufacturers have grown their production efforts in an attempt to ensure there were enough supplies and medical equipment to go around; innovators and researchers have worked tirelessly to find a vaccination; and individuals have practiced social distancing and isolation to protect the immunocompromised.
Artists’ submissions should reflect finding extraordinary in the ordinary and/or the work of the aforementioned during a pandemic.
The Public Art Trail lines the perimeter of the outdoor amphitheater at the Mauldin Cultural Center. A new work will be commissioned each year to fill the nine pre-approved sites along the perimeter. All nine sites will be filled within ten years. For each year after the first ten years, the oldest artwork will be replaced, resulting in a new slate of nine pieces of artwork every ten years. Retired artworks will be relocated to other areas around the community.
The City has opened up a Request for Proposal on its website for interested artists. Artists, and all members of their team if applicable, must be residents of South Carolina during the duration of the project. The deadline for submission is August 10, 2020. The selection committee will choose two finalists who will then be asked to develop conceptual designs. The final artist will be selected mid-October 2020 and must aim for a project completion date no later than mid-June 2021. Total budget for the annual program is not to exceed $15,000 and must be inclusive of fabrication, artist fees, and installation.
The RFP and application are available online at mauldinculturalcenter.org/public-art-trail. Contact the Mauldin Cultural Center at (864) 335-4862 or info@mauldinculturalcenter.org with any questions.
