Arist Opportunity : site-specific artwork Marian Anderson Recreation Center, Philadelphia

Call to Artists/Request for Qualifications Urban Youth Academy at th eMarian Anderson Recreation Center

 
INTRODUCTION
The City of Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program through the Office of Arts, Culture and the CreativeEconomy (OACCE), in collaboration with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, announce a competition to commission a site-specific artwork at the forthcoming Urban Youth Academy at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center.  This commission is part of a $1.1 million facility expansion of the SouthPhiladelphia recreation center.  

 
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
At present, the Marian Anderson Recreation Center (740 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146) consists of a recreation center, baseball field, and playground.  Through a partnership with Major LeagueBaseball, the recreation center will break ground in April 2015 on the Urban Youth Academy (UYA), anew single story, steel framed 7,333 square foot facility which will be added to the existing structure.
 
UYA’s mission is to use baseball as a means of instruction and education in urban environments in orderto enhance the quality of life in the surrounding communities.  A core tenet is that baseball “effectivelydevelop(s) character and is critical for interpersonal development and success.” Programs will work topositively develop integrity, respect, accountability, character, self-discipline, personal responsibility, andteamwork.
Program curriculum includes but is not limited to baseball and softball instruction, camps and clinics,educational programs developed in cooperation with local accredited educational institutions, high levelcompetitive baseball and softball tournaments, and community events.

The City seeks to commission a high quality, original artwork that enhances these goals of individual growth and/or team development; offering artistic insight to sports and communityinteraction.  Potential sites include the exterior and interior walls, either directly onto the walls or installedupon them.  A budget of $11,000 has been allocated for this Percent for Art commission.  This sum isinclusive of all artist(s) fees, insurance, fabrication, installation, travel, and all other project relatedexpenses.
 
Full details at the link below.
 
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Michael A. Nutter, Mayor

OFFICE OF ARTS, CULTURE AND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
Helen Haynes, Chief Cultural Officer
Margot Berg, Director, Public Art Program
Jacque Liu, Project Manager, Percent for Art