MOCA Requests Qualifications from Artists to Memorialize City of Houston Municipal Employees – Deadline is Feb. 5th
The Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), on behalf of Houston Public Works, is requesting submissions of qualifications from artists and artist teams to design, fabricate, and install a public memorial in honor of City of Houston municipal employees who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is open to all artists and artist teams over 18 years old, living or working in the Greater Houston area: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, or Waller counties.
“As Mayor, I’m proud to announce a heartfelt initiative, spear-headed by Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock, to honor the service and sacrifice of our municipal workers. This memorial will pay tribute to the lives lost by those serving our community, symbolizing the dedication City of Houston employees have demonstrated in service to their city and our recognition for their deep sacrifice,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Let this memorial stand as a beacon, recognizing their unwavering commitment and ensuring their legacy lives on.”
The work that City of Houston employees engage in can be hazardous, at times, and as such there are employees of the city who have lost their lives in the line of civic duty who remain to be recognized. The memorial effort is intended to highlight these municipal workers, celebrate their strength, recognize their sacrifice, and to honor their lives for posterity. Upon completion, the artwork will reside in Buffalo Bayou Park, north of Buffalo Bayou.
The release of the RFQ is the first step among many in reviewing proposals for this permanent, site-specific commission. Through an evaluation by a three-person panel of artists and arts professionals, the RFQ phase of artist selection will determine three finalists who will develop artistic concepts for panelist consideration. Even at this early stage, artists are encouraged to keep in mind the sensitive nature of the site for artwork, near the banks of the Buffalo Bayou, and the unpredictable weather and environmental conditions prevalent in Houston, season to season.
With support from MOCA, Houston Arts Alliance (HAA), will manage the artist selection process for this investment in public art, which has a reserved budget of $165,000. For this effort, HAA continues its support for artist applicants speaking Spanish.
Interested artists and artists teams should submit their qualifications and artwork samples to HAA, by Monday, February 5, 2024, at 5:00 pm.