Williamsburg Public Art Council

City of Williamsburg Agenda Williamsburg Public Art Council Meeting Monday, August 29, 2022 @ 3:30 PM Stryker Center (Room 127), 412 N Boundary St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Page I. CALL TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. July 25, 2022 - WPAC Minutes 2-4 WPAC - July 25, 2022 Minutes - Draft b. August 15, 2022 - WPAC Minutes 5-6 WPAC - Aug 15, 2022 Minutes - Draft III. CHAIR'S REPORT a. New Member Introduction - Rachel Trichler b. Public Art Plan 7 - 10 WPAC - Public Art Plan - Draft 8.15.22 IV. MURAL PROGRAM AT MIDTOWN ROW a. Updates for Wall #2 - Joanna Skrabala, Tourism Development Specialist b. Revised RFQ for Wall #1 - Joanna Skrabala, Tourism Development Specialist 11 - 18 RFQ for Mural Design - Reissue c. Branded Arts Discussion V. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is Monday, September 26, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 127 at the Stryker Center. VI. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 18 The Williamsburg Public Art Council met at 3:30 pm, Monday, July 25, 2022, in room 127 at the Stryker Center, 412 N Boundary Street, Williamsburg, Virginia. WPAC members present: Robert Currie (Chairperson), Patricia Rublein (Vice-Chairperson), Scott Spence (Secretary), Harold Philipsen, Chris Caracci, Pat Dent, Barbara Ramsey (Virtual), Conor Sokolowsky (Virtual) WPAC members absent: Rachel Trichler Staff members present: Joanna Skrabala (Tourism Development Specialist), Yuri Adams (Economic Development Director) Others present: Hannah Warner (Midtown Row), Richard Wiatt (VHB Landscape Architect), Sarah Balascio I. Call to Order Mr. Currie called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm. II. Electronic Participation Request a. Consideration and Approval of remote Participation Request from WPAC Members Barbara Ramsey and Conor Sokolowsky Ms. Rublein made a motion to approve the electronic meeting participation requests and Mr. Caracci seconded. All approved. III. Approval of Minutes a. May 23, 2022 b. June 27, 2022 c. July 18, 2022 Ms. Rublein made a motion to approve the May 23 meeting minutes and Mr. Phillipsen seconded. All approved. Mr. Phillipsen then made a motion to approve the June 27 and July 18 minutes and Mr. Caracci seconded. All approved. IV. Staff Updates a. Silver Hand Meadery Ms. Skrabala reported that the Silver Hand Meadery mural unveiling would be held on Saturday, August 20, and details were forthcoming. Page 2 of 18  b. Wayfinding Gateway Feature Ms. Adams gave a brief introduction to the City’s wayfinding project. She said it started as a discussion with a small business and was later submitted to the Tourism Development Grant Review Committee. She said the initial funding request was for $25,000; however, it grew into a larger project and was awarded $250,000 from the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) in the fall of 2019. She said after a bid process, the contract was awarded to Merje. Mr. Wiatt then discussed the evolving signage in Williamsburg over the years. He said Merje is a nationally known wayfinding company. He said they have also worked locally with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Mariners’ Museum, CNU, and Jamestown Island. Mr. Wiatt said they looked at the following entryway points to the City for a statement piece: 1) Richmond Road, 2) Monticello Avenue/Route 199, and 3) South Henry Street. He said there were eight gateways in total. Mr. Caracci asked about consideration of the Jamestown Road entrance and Mr. Wiatt said there was no available right of way; however, Geddy Park could be an option. Ms. Ramsey agreed and said it would need to be interior to Route 199. Mr. Wiatt said this part of the wayfinding project began in the summer/early fall of 2021. He said when it came to design, they wanted to include the City’s seal. He then presented several early iterations before showing the current lantern design. He also presented day and night renderings of the lantern at the three gateways. V. Chair’s Report a. Community Appreciation Day Mr. Currie reported that Community Appreciation Day was a success with a lot of participation. He said he appreciated Mr. Caracci’s previous notes to better next year’s event. Mr. Currie said he wishes to get bigger canvases to paint and would like to increase marketing and awareness. Mr. Caracci also suggested increasing the number of games for the overall event. b. Public Art Plan Mr. Currie thanked all who attended the extra meeting to contribute to the first iteration of the plan. He said the next steps would be to refine the goals and action items. He said it would take a couple more meetings to complete the first draft. c. Regional Mural Program Mr. Currie said he met with Asa Jackson (Virginia Commission for the Arts and Contemporary Arts Network) to discuss ideas for the former Williams-Sonoma location on Duke of Gloucester Street. He said Mr. Jackson then pitched the idea of a regional mural festival. Mr. Currie said this could help get Williamsburg on the map to be in line with Virginia Beach, Richmond, and others. He said commitment would need to be Page 3 of 18  made in the fall of this year with implementation in 2023. Ms. Ramsey suggested agreeing to s smaller number of mural commitments as Williamsburg itself is much smaller than Virginia Beach and Richmond, and the group agreed. Ms. Rublein suggested rotating dates for the festival and Ms. Ramsey agreed, saying it could be similar to the garden club tours. VI. Mural Program at Midtown Row a. Consideration and Approval of Mural Designs Ms. Skrabala said due to one applicant’s withdrawal from consideration, the WPAC could re-release the RFQ and suggested releasing it at the same time as the unveiling of wall #2’s mural. Mr. Dent said releasing it sooner rather than later would be ideal, contingent on City protocols. At this time, Ms. Rublein made a motion to approve Silas Baker’s proposal for wall #2, awarding him in the amount of $6,998 and Mr. Phillipsen seconded. All approved. b. Artist Curation – Branded Arts Mr. Currie asked the group to think about potential content for the marquee wall’s mural. The topic was then tabled to the next meeting. VII. Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for August 29, 2022, at 3:30 pm in Room 127 at the Stryker Center. VIII. Adjournment Mr. Currie made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Ramsey seconded. All approved and the meeting was adjourned at 5:02 pm. _______________________________________________ Scott Spence, Secretary Page 4 of 18 The Williamsburg Public Art Council met at 3:30 pm, Monday, August 15, 2022, in room 128 at the Stryker Center, 412 N Boundary Street, Williamsburg, Virginia. WPAC members present: Robert Currie (Chairperson), Patricia Rublein (Vice-Chairperson), Scott Spence (Secretary), Pat Dent, Barbara Ramsey, Conor Sokolowsky WPAC members absent: Rachel Trichler, Harold Philipsen, Chris Caracci Staff members present: Joanna Skrabala (Tourism Development Specialist) I. Call to Order Mr. Currie called the meeting to order at 3:28 pm II. Mural Program at Midtown Row a. Staff Recommendations for Wall #1 Ms. Skrabala said that after staff deliberation, it is recommended that the City reissue the RFQ for wall #1 with some revisions. Ms. Skrabala said she did additional research into mural costs and determined that increasing the budget from $11,000 to between $15-18K would be good. She said staff would also recommend opening it up to artists outside of Virginia. Ms. Ramsey recommended adding supplemental information about the proposed theme and Williamsburg. Ms. Skrabala said she would prepare a revised draft of the RFQ to be reviewed at the next meeting. She said it could then be released shortly thereafter. III. Public Art Plan a. Williamsburg Public Art Plan (Draft) The group continued edits to the Public Art Plan, refining the values and goals before working on the action items. Mr. Currie said it would take a couple more meetings to complete the first draft. IV. Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for August 29, 2022, at 3:30 pm in Room 127 at the Stryker Center. Page 5 of 18 V. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:56 pm. _______________________________________________ Scott Spence, Secretary Page 6 of 18  DRAFT WILLIAMSBURG PUBLIC ART COUNCIL Guide to Strategic Policy and Long-Term Planning ENABLING LEGISLATION On February 11, 2021, as an initiative of the Williamsburg City Council, the Williamsburg Public Arts Council (WPAC) was created to curate a public art program. WPAC is tasked to engage in a review process, funding strategies and planning for a public art program, and is enabled through City Ordinance #21-01. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND The Williamsburg Public Art Council is organized to: • Advise the City Council on the acquisition, donation, commission and/or funding of public art • Advise on acceptance of gifts and loans of public art and any deaccession of public art from the City’s collection • Develop policies regarding determination of artist qualifications, criteria specific to site attribution, maintenance of public art • Develop a plan for the broad implementation of a robust public art program • Administer public art grant programs on behalf of the City Council • Solicit public art and donations to acquire public art according to the authorization of City Council • Provide an annual report to the City regarding WPAC activities, to include fund expenditures, grants issued, and status of awards, art inventory, maintenance and general status of the public art program WPAC members are engaged as a qualified advisory group for all program areas and types to include planning, design, artistic practice, public policy, and local government consult. STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS The planning process is being initiated following early WPAC discussions regarding review processes for proposals. Discussions of organizational vision were also held, and public opinion was sought through surveys and dialog with public art administrators in a wide demographic area. It is the intention of the WPAC that this plan shall serve as a working document and guide to support a Public Art Program for the City of Williamsburg that provides enrichment for the community and its visitors highlighting the beauty and unique character of the City, its culture and history and to promote community connection. EDITED 8/15/22 Page 7 of 18  DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN 2022-2025 MISSION To curate a program of public art that will further enhances an innovative and creative environment that celebrates the City’s past, present, and future, reflects the community’s identity, and advances Williamsburg as a world-class destination. VISION To sustain an accessible, inclusive, and engaging program of public art that speaks to the unique lifestyle and cultural vibrancy of the Williamsburg community which inspires a sense of pride and belonging. VALUES • Public art increases economic vitality • Public art is thought-provoking and inspires people to explore, connect, and pause within a physical space that speaks to the beauty and unique character of the City • Public art supports the education and celebration of the City’s past, present, and future through collaboration with community leaders and organizations • Public art stimulates the mind and heart, broadens the imagination, communicates a wide range of creative ideas, and promotes a sense of belonging • Public art should be fully accessible, inclusive, and diverse GOALS I. Develop policies and processes that support a dynamic public art program for the community, its businesses, and its visitors. II. Identify suitable areas for public art, carefully evaluating the compatibility and environmental harmony of the art and its surroundings. III. Cultivate a thriving arts community through engagement with artists, policymakers, and the public. IV. Employ public art to enhance placemaking, create impactful experiences, and contribute to community cohesion. EDITED 8/15/22 Page 8 of 18  DRAFT I. Develop policies and processes that support a dynamic public art program for the community, its businesses, and its visitors. ACTION ITEMS • Develop an annual budget to support public art projects • Identify locations and opportunities suitable for public art projects • Collaborate with City Council and other municipal agencies to consider impacts of public art projects • Select installations that celebrate Williamsburg’s past, present and future • Determine appropriate plans for asset management and acquisition, consulting with trained staff as necessary • Conduct forums to share information, ideas, and expertise • Set high standards to enhance our community’s quality of life II. Identify suitable areas for public art, carefully evaluating the compatibility and environmental harmony of the art and its surroundings. ACTION ITEMS • Conduct a Site Mapping program to identify areas that are suited to creative Installations. • Adapt review processes to consider diverse types of installations: Ephemeral/non-Permanent. Works that fall apart or degrade Installations: Pre-designed for a specific site Applied: Murals/sculptures that are building-mounted, highly visible, and large Integrated: Pavement/Building facades. Art made around a surface at hand Stand Alone: Sculpture/large structure. Site specific. Ex. Sculpture garden • Engage to best advantage the expertise of Art Council members in considering all installations • Art installations will be accessible to the general public III. Cultivate a thriving arts community through engagement with artists, policymakers, and the public. EDITED 8/15/22 Page 9 of 18  DRAFT ACTION ITEMS • Build a directory of artists to have a resource of potential creators in diverse fields of work keeping in mind inclusivity • Pursue open communication with William & Mary and Colonial Williamsburg where partnership may be indicated • Program implementation will consider economic advancement opportunities • Program implementation will consider how a work speaks to who we are. • WPAC will establish policies to help determine qualifications, site attribution criteria, amount of financial investment and future maintenance needs. • Artists who respond to commissioned projects will consider that each viewer has a creative vision for expression of certain themes. Public art should enhance the way all citizens view Williamsburg and how we want others to see our community. IV. Employ public art to enhance placemaking, create impactful experiences, and contribute to community cohesion. ACTION ITEMS • Use public art to broaden the locality’s investment in education • Consider multiple art forms, to include places for vocal narrative EDITED 8/15/22 Page 10 of 18  CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG Joanna Skrabala Tourism Development Specialist 401 Lafayette Street Williamsburg, VA. 23185 REQUEST FOR QUOTATION/INFORMATION Williamsburg Public Art Council – Mural RFQ #: Issue Date: 09/1/22 THIS IS NOT AN ORDER The City of Williamsburg’s Williamsburg Public Art Council (WPAC) requests your response to the item listed below. Please respond by the close of business on October 13, 2022. Any questions must be submitted in writing to Joanna Skrabala at least two (2) business days prior to the closing date of October 13, 2022. Written quotation and response to the item listed below can be mailed to the attention of Joanna Skrabala at City of Williamsburg; 401 Lafayette Street; Williamsburg, VA 23185, email submission is acceptable but must be received on or before the closing date. If emailing, please send your email to jskrabala@williamsburgva.gov. The Williamsburg Public Art Council is seeking design proposals from artists or artistic teams for its Mural Program in Midtown Row. Before entering an agreement or contract for mural services, the City of Williamsburg reserves the right to conduct interviews with any respondents who submit information to augment the artist selection process. SUMMARY & BACKGROUND The Williamsburg City Council identified its desire to create a public art program as an initiative in the City’s 2021/2022 Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes (GIOs). In February of 2021, Williamsburg City Council adopted Ordinance #21-01 and Resolution #21-03 to create the Williamsburg Public Art Council (WPAC). The WPAC advises City Council on the acquisition, donation, commission and/or funding of public art, the 1 Page 11 of 18 acceptance of gifts and loans of public art and the deaccession of public art from the City’s collection. In October of 2021, Williamsburg City Council approved a zoning text amendment to officially allow for public art under the Williamsburg Public Art Council program. As stated in the WPAC Resolution, murals are only allowed for installation in the B-3 zoning district (also known as Midtown). The WPAC worked with Midtown Row to identify potential wall space for murals and included two of these locations in this RFP. An RFQ was previously issued in April of 2022 for mural designs on two separate walls. From this process, a design was selected for one of the walls; however, a decision could not be made for the remaining wall. The WPAC then decided to reissue this RFQ with some additional revisions. PROJECT PURPOSE Through its Public Art Program, the Williamsburg Public Art Council wishes to celebrate the City’s past, present, and future with public art; enhance the City’s identity and economic vitality by encouraging people to spend more time in the City engaged with public art; and highlight and enhance the beauty and unique character of the City. The purpose of this RFQ is to solicit proposals from skilled artists or artistic teams; conduct an evaluation through the WPAC, its partners, and public comment, based on the criteria listed herein; and select a qualified artist or artistic team that can demonstrate excellence while completing this project on time and within budget. If selected, the design and the resulting mural will be the exclusive property and expression of the City of Williamsburg. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Artists are encouraged to explore a variety of concepts and visuals as they relate to the identified broad theme as outlined in this RFQ. The mural should: ▪ Be an original, one-of-a-kind new work ▪ Be suitable and acceptable for public viewing of all ages and advance the interests of the City of Williamsburg ▪ Be interactive and/or experiential by encouraging the public to take photographs and/or selfies with the mural ▪ Follow all Guidelines and Criteria as outlined by the WPAC ▪ If known images are used, the artist or artistic team is responsible for obtaining all copyright permission and paying all license fees. Copies of permissions and license, 2 Page 12 of 18  to the sole satisfaction of the WPAC, must be provided to the City of Williamsburg prior to contracting with the City. BUDGET All proposals must include proposed costs to complete the proposed murals, described in the project scope. Costs should be stated as a one-time or non-recuring costs (NRC). Pricing should be listed for each itemized expense. Project Budgets: ▪ Not to exceed $17,000 The compensation above is all-inclusive and will cover all costs, including design, labor, layout, materials, installation, application of a protective coating, and travel/lodging expenses. Compensation will be dispensed as follows: 50% at the beginning of the project within 30 days of a signed contract between the City of Williamsburg and the selected artist(s), with the remaining 50% being dispensed upon satisfactory completion of the mural(s). PROJECT TIMELINE RFQ Launch Date Thursday, September 1, 2022 Deadline for Submissions Thursday, October 13, 2022 WPAC Initial Review Monday, October 24, 2022 Public Input November 2022 Architectural Review Board (ARB) November 2022 Courtesy Review of Finalists Selected Winner(s) Announced November 2022 Installation Fall/Winter 2022/2023 3 Page 13 of 18  PROJECT THEME, LOCATION & SITE SPECIFICATIONS The location outlined below is privately owned by Midtown Row, an experience-based retail, entertainment, and residential district in the City of Williamsburg. The City of Williamsburg has permission to develop the space with the installation of a mural. The mural surface is brick. ▪ Theme: “Community Connections.” During the 2020 State of City address, Mayor Douglas Pons unveiled a new vision statement for City of Williamsburg — a change for the first time in nearly 30 years. This new statement will help the City work toward what we envision for the Williamsburg of 2040: One Williamsburg that is courageously leading, innovating a modern city, prioritizing safety and wellness, engaging with our partners, while connecting with the world. To gain a better perspective of the City, applicants are encouraged to review its Vision & Goals. ▪ Location: 1242 Richmond Road, Williamsburg; on inner side of Food Lion, adjacent to Sal’s by Victor (circled in purple below) ▪ Size: 15’ x 40’ 4 Page 14 of 18  ELIGIBILITY The project is open to all qualified artists and artistic teams, including students. ▪ Experience with public art and large murals is preferred, but not required. ▪ Artist(s) must be willing to meet all contractual obligations and adhere to the project timeline. ▪ Artistic teams must designate a single point of contact. This person must be willing to sign all contracts and related documents for the compensation. COMPENSATION The City of Williamsburg will compensate the artist/artistic team in the amount of up to, but not to exceed, the outlined budget of $17,000. ▪ Details on what should be included in the budget are listed under Submission Requirements. ▪ This compensation will cover design, labor, layout, materials, installation, application of a protective coating, equipment rental, travel expenses; and insurance. ▪ Compensation will be made in two equal payments: 50% within 30 days of a signed contract and 50% after all contractual deliverables are received. RESPONSIBILITIES The following responsibilities are in partnership between the City of Williamsburg and Midtown Row as outlined in its bailment agreement: ▪ Prepping the surface (cleaning, patching); ▪ Providing a secure storage space for any materials (paints, brushes, rollers, etc.); ▪ Building permission; and ▪ Ongoing maintenance. The selected artist(s) shall be responsible for the following: ▪ Obtaining materials (paints, brushes, rollers, and the associated accoutrement); ▪ Applying protective coating; 5 Page 15 of 18  ▪ Design installation; ▪ Prepping and safeguarding the site each day of work for ease, comfort, safety, and cleanliness; ▪ Required cleaning up of site at the end of work, leaving the site bereft of any obstacles and paint; and ▪ Providing proof of liability insurance coverage, as determined satisfactory in the sole discretion of the City of Williamsburg. The selected artist(s) will also be required to: ▪ Appear in photographs and/or video during the installation of the murals; and ▪ Be available to meet and answer questions from City leadership, staff, and members of the media. SELECTION CRITERIA The City of Williamsburg staff, WPAC, and Midtown Row will review all eligible proposals to select up to five (5) finalists. The following criteria will be used in selecting the finalists: ▪ Mural design and its expression of the theme ▪ Submittal of all required materials as outlined in the RFQ ▪ Originality: creativity and uniqueness of proposed artwork concept for this project ▪ Quality and craftsmanship of product as exhibited by past work ▪ Feasibility: artist’s proven track record and ability to complete the work on time and within budget The City reserves the right, at any time prior to awarding the contract, to reject any and all proposals, or any part thereof, to make no award, and/or issue a new RFQ, or make modifications, corrections or additions to the information contained therein. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS To ensure consideration for this RFQ, your submission should be complete and meeting the criteria listed below. Up to two design proposals for each site may be submitted. All submission must be completed electronically. ▪ Proposals must be submitted no later than Thursday, October13, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. 6 Page 16 of 18  ▪ Provide a current vitae/resume, no longer than one (1) page. ▪ Include three (3) professional references. Please include name, address, phone number, and email address for each reference. ▪ While not required, you may provide imagery of previous outdoor murals OR large- scale artwork. ▪ Provide letter of interest briefly expressing your interest in the project as well as the Mural Title with a narrative describing the imagery’s meaning/concept or significance, how the mural may reflect or enrich the City of Williamsburg. ▪ Include a project timeline for installation needs. ▪ The proposed design should be clearly rendered, with approximate measurements, and include a sketch of the design as an overlay of the building wall to show dimension and scale. ▪ Provide a proposed budget to include all expenses for all materials, labor costs, etc., to not exceed the compensation amounts listed in this RFQ. POLICIES ▪ Contingent on weather, each mural should be completed within four (4) weeks. ▪ Selected artist(s) will be required to sign indemnification and hold harmless agreements with the City of Williamsburg and property owner, Midtown Row. ▪ Some proposals not selected for this project may be kept on file by the City of Williamsburg for possible future considerations. ▪ Artist(s) will retain the ownership of the design ideas submitted for this RFQ until a selection has been made and a contract signed between the artist(s) and City of Williamsburg. ▪ At the time the contract is awarded, the ownership of the design and the artwork produced – in this case the public mural project – will become the property of the City of Williamsburg and Midtown Row. ▪ Artist/artistic teams submitting proposals should be aware that City of Williamsburg reserves the right, working with the artist(s), to require changes to the design, and absent changes made as required by the City of Williamsburg, the artist(s) will be selected. If an artist(s) does not complete the mural as approved by the City of Williamsburg, in its sole control and discretion, the City still owns the design and mural, to the extent that it is completed, and may engage another artist(s) to complete the mural in its entirety without further obligation or liability to the artist(s). 7 Page 17 of 18  RFQ Submission Form Williamsburg Public Art Council – Mural(s) RFQ #: Issue Date: 09/01/22 Applicant’s Name ____________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ City _______________________________________ State _____________________ Zip Code______________________ Phone ________________________________ Email Address _______________________________________________ Website (optional) __________________________________________________________________________________ Attachment Checklist You must include the following documentation with your submission. ____ Vitae/Resume ____ Letter of Interest ____ Three (3) professional references ____ Expected timeline to complete the work with weather constraints ____ Detailed, full-color sketch to scale of your proposed mural submission ____ Projected budget not to exceed the allocated amount for the wall(s) ____ Portfolio and/or examples of artwork, including any exterior murals or large- scale art projects Signature This proposal accurately represents my mural plans, and I/we are fully prepared and capable of executing the mural as described within a time frame that will be agreed upon by myself and the City of Williamsburg. Signature__________________________________________________________________ Date _____________________ Printed Name ____________________________________________________________ - YOUR MUST RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM WITH YOUR SUBMISSION - 8 Page 18 of 18