Gene Friend Recreation Center Improvement Project

Artist Qualification Panel: The eligible applications will be presented to an Artist Qualification Panel consisting of two (2) arts professionals and one (1) SFAC staff member who will review and score the applications to identify a shortlist of qualified artists to be considered for both the Gymnasium Integrated Wall Opportunity and the Two-Dimensional Artwork Program, outlined below. The scoring criteria for both art opportunities will include the artists’ meaningful connection to SoMa. 

Artist Review Panel: For the Gymnasium Integrated Wall Opportunity: The shortlist of qualified artists will be presented to the Artist Review Panel consisting of three (3) arts professionals, one (1) representative of the client agency, one (1) representative from the design team, one (1) Arts Commissioner, and one (1) community representative. The panel will identify three finalists who will be invited to develop conceptual site-specific proposals after attending an orientation session with the project team and key stakeholders. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $2,500 plus travel reimbursement for development of a proposal.  

The Artist Review Panel will reconvene to consider the finalists’ proposals in an interview format along with any community input and will recommend one artist for the project to the Arts Commission. 

For the Two-Dimensional Artwork Program: SFAC staff will shortlist artists from the qualified pool who work in two-dimensional media such as painting, drawing, photography, textile and collage. Shortlisted artists will be presented to the Two-Dimensional Artwork Program Artist Review Panel comprised of two (2) arts professionals, one (1) representative of the client agency, one (1) Arts Commissioner, and one (1) community representative. 

The Artist Review Panel will score the shortlisted artists based on the following criteria: Artistic merit, innovation and originality as evidenced by representations of past work and other supporting material, Artist’s work is judged to be appropriate to the goals of the project, and Artist’s meaningful connection to the neighborhood. The highest-scoring artists will be invited to submit images of up to 6 original artworks that are available for purchase for the Two-Dimensional Artwork Program.  

The Artist Review Panel will reconvene to score the submitted artworks. Artworks receiving the highest scores will be presented to the Visual Arts Committee for approval. Purchases will be finalized pending in-person reviews of the artwork. 

Arts Commission Approval: The Artist Review Panel’s recommendations are first submitted first to the Visual Arts Committee (VAC), a subcommittee of the Arts Commission and then to the full Arts Commission for approval. All Artist Review Panel recommendations are subject to the Visual Arts Committee and Full Arts Commission. 

All Arts Commission meetings and Public Art Review Panel meetings are open to the public and are posted on the Arts Commission website at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. To check the meeting schedule for public art projects, please go to our calendar.   
 

ARTIST SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS 
Selection Criteria for Artists and Artwork: Artists and artwork will be selected in accordance with the Mission and Goals of the Civic Art Collection and in accordance with the criteria below. Criteria to be used when considering when scoring an artist’s application for a commission and/or acquisition of artwork by either purchase or commission shall include, but not be limited to the following considerations. Per City contracting requirements, artist applicants who are registered as a Local Business Enterprise will be given a rating bonus of 10% relative to other applicants. 

Artistic Merit: Artistic Merit may be judged by such measures as originality of concept and artistic vision; the degree to which the work engages the viewer emotionally, intellectually, spiritually; the qualify of craftsmanship or mastery of skills and techniques. Artistic merit may also be credited to artwork that reflects a significant or direct relationship between the artist and distinct racial or cultural communities.  

Relevant Skills & Experience: Review Panels and the Commission shall consider the assessed ability of an artist to successfully implement a proposed project, such as the ability to work constructively with other project stakeholders, meet deadlines, willingness to resolve issues as they arise, and generally manage the demands of the project. Cultural competency and/or significant connection between the artist and the project constituency, or experience that may particularly qualify an artist to meet project goals may also be considered. 

Meet Project Goals: The proposed artwork (or the assessed ability of an artist to design a proposal) meets the specific goals of the project as defined in the this RFQ.  

The Artwork is Appropriate to the Site: The artwork or proposed artwork is appropriate for its intended display location in terms of scale, media, design or imagery and is judged to be relevant within the context of the surrounding community, and is compatible with the mission and operations of the client department. 

Feasibility, maintainability: Proposed objects shall be evaluated relative to their feasibility and evidence of the artist’s ability to successfully complete the work as proposed. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to: project budget, timeline, and the artist’s experience. Due consideration shall be given to the structural and surface soundness, and to inherent resistance to theft, vandalism and weathering, and to the cost and amount of ongoing maintenance and/or repair anticipated.  

Contributes to the Quality of the Civic Art Collection:  The  artwork is  judged to support and improve the city’s collection in terms of artistic qualify and diversity of artists represented. The Arts Commission is committed to acquiring art works that reflect diversity in style, scale, media, and artistic sources as well as diverse cultural communities and perspectives.  The Arts Commission also encourages exploratory types of work as well as established art forms.   

Public Safety and Accessibility: Artwork shall be evaluated to ensure that it does not present a hazard to public safety and complies Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and with all other applicable building codes.   

Duplication:  Artists will be asked to warrant, as a condition of their agreement with the City,that the artwork commissioned or purchased is unique and an edition of one, and shall not be duplicated unless it is part of a limited edition or otherwise stated to the contrary in the artist’s contract with the Commission. 

Artists’ meaningful connection to the SoMa neighborhood.