PA R R A M AT TA S Q U A R E P U B L I C A R T P R O J E C T SCALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI) FROM ARTISTS

A P P L I C AT I O N S O P E N5 AUGUST 2019

A P P L I C AT I O N D E A D L I N EFRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2019 11:59 PM (GMT+10)

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PA R R A M AT TA S Q U A R E P U B L I C A R T L O C AT I O N S

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P R O J E C T O V E R V I E W The City of Parramatta invites artists and artist teams residing both domestically and internationally to submit their qualifications to be considered for the Parramatta Square Public Art Projects. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are encouraged to apply.

This opportunity is for two large-scale sculptures in the Parramatta Square public domain, which is currently under construction.

P R O J E C T B A C K G R O U N DThe City of Parramatta embraces what was, is and always will be Aboriginal Country. Parramatta has been home to the Darug people for over 60,000 years and we support and value the continuing connection this community maintains to Country. Parramatta is an ancient place of knowledge, ceremony, farming and trade. We recognise it as a place of shared and challenging histories: a place of early contact and colonisation, the site of resistance and sustained frontier wars. The Darug people are the traditional custodians of the site known today as Parramatta Square.

Parramatta Square will be the civic and commercial heart of the City of Parramatta. It will be the central public domain space and the civic seat of government for the City of Parramatta local government area. Parramatta Square’s public domain will be a lively and engaging connection between the world-class buildings that surround it. It will also be an important gathering place, destination and transit area for the many people who move through Parramatta on a daily basis.

With an overall footprint slightly greater in size than Martin Place in the Sydney CBD and Federation Square in the Melbourne CBD, Parramatta Square will provide the City with a significant public space, framed by heritage buildings, the vertical campus of Western Sydney University, and a suite of architecturally designed commercial office towers. Parramatta Square is situated at the very heart of the City’s central business district and adjacent to Parramatta’s transport rail and bus interchange and the future Parramatta Light Rail line.

The Parramatta Square public domain requires a bold approach to public art. The following broad themes derived from the Cultural Plan for Parramatta’s CBD 2017-2022, have been developed to stimulate ideas:

GATHERING PLACE: Historically - and for the foreseeable future - Parramatta Square is associated with gathering. This could be understood in terms of the geological river valley and the histories of indigenous culture, of fresh and saltwater peoples. It refers to the gathering of Eels, the gathering of data, gathering for debates and ceremonies. Parramatta’s history and future is told through the gathering of many threads, of wanderers of many cultures past and present, gathered towards a common future, diversity and unity. Parramatta Square will be the ‘city’s hands’ – holding, gathering, embracing.

URBAN RHYTHMS: Parramatta as the origin of civic government, then suburbanised, and now an example of urban leadership and an economic driver as Sydney’s new Central City. Parramatta Square, as a key destination in the City of Parramatta, leads and responds to the rhythm of growth and change. Parramatta Square as the ‘city’s feet’ – striding, connecting, reliable.

CITY BAROMETER: Parramatta Square as the city’s barometer – collecting, responding and sharing real time information and data, referencing and interrogating historical data, and imagining the future. This theme looks back to the ancient custodians of the land, and forward to a city and world transformed by climate and technological change. Parramatta Square as the ‘city’s brain’ – thinking, communicating, responding.

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P R O J E C T D E S C R I P T I O NWithin the public domain design there are two public art zones, one at the eastern and the other at the western end of the public domain. These have been designated for the delivery of two key nodal large-scale sculptural artworks. The footprint for each is approximately 5m x 5m. Electricity and data connectivity will be provided.

The western part of the precinct (Public Art, Site 1) is historically significant as it:• Continues to be an important gathering place for local Darug and visiting Aboriginal peoples;• Was the site of a colonial market place to trade animals and fresh produce;• Is connected to the place where Annual Feasts were held in the early 1800s by Colonial Governors for

Aboriginal peoples;• Is the site in close proximity to the former Native Institute where Aboriginal children were taken to be taught

in the ways of the colonialists, separated from family, culture and Country.

P R O J E C T B U D G E T

The budget for each of the artworks is approximately $2.2 million (AUD) inclusive of gst, all artist’s fees, as well as associated expenses for design, fabrication, insurance, transportation and installation.

A R T I S T S E L E C T I O N P R O C E S SARTIST QUALIFICATION PANEL:Applications will be reviewed by an internal working group comprised of: Council’s Senior Officer Public Art; Manager City Animation; Group Manager, City Experience; Group Manager, Cultural Strategy; and Community Capacity Building Officer – First Peoples Engagement and Strategy. A qualified short list (nominally 25 applicants) will be established.

ARTIST SELECTION PANEL:This shortlist of qualified artists will be presented to the Artist Selection Panel consisting of nine voting members and two non-voting members:

• Two (2) City of Parramatta Councilors (voting)• Two (2) independent arts professionals (voting)• One (1) ATSI arts professional (voting)• One (1) community representative (voting)• City of Parramatta Senior Officer Public Art (voting)• City of Parramatta City Architect (voting)• City of Parramatta Group Manager, City Experience (voting)• One (1) representative of the Parramatta Square public domain design team (JMD Design) (non-voting)• One (1) City of Parramatta Procurement Officer (non-voting).

After considering the artists’ qualifications in relationship to the selection criteria (see below), the Artist Selection Panel will identify up to six (6) finalists for the two public artworks to proceed to the finalist shortlist. The finalists will be invited to develop a conceptual proposal after attending an orientation session with the project team and key stakeholders. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $5,000.00 for the development of a conceptual design proposal, plus the reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses, approved by Council prior to travel arrangementsbeing made for the orientation and panel interview.

The finalist proposals shall be displayed on Council’s website for community comment and feedback prior to the final selection panel meeting.

The Artist Selection Panel will reconvene to consider the finalists’ concepts and community feedback in an interview format and will select one artist for each opportunity, and an alternate for the formal endorsement of City of Parramatta Council.

All Council meetings are open to the public and are posted on the website at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.

To check the meeting schedule please go to our calendar.

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A R T I S T S E L E C T I O N C O N S I D E R AT I O N S• Complete application and submit prior to the application deadline.

• Artwork examples submitted represent the artist’s own original creative work.

• The artist’s work reflects artistic excellence, innovation and originality, as evidenced by professional quality of craftsmanship and mastery of skills, techniques; professional approaches to processes and presentation, and/or communicate a unique vision or perspective.

• The artist’s work is judged to be appropriate to the goals of the project.

• The artist’s professional experience is adequate to meet the demands of the project. Qualifying activities would include some combination of the following: education and training as an artist, an exhibition record in museums, commercial art galleries, and/or non-profit art spaces, previous public or private commissions; participation in artist-in-residency programs, or other related activities indicative of a professional art practice.

• The artist is available to participate in the design, approval and implementation of the project as required.

• Assessed ability to meet project deadlines and to perform work in a timely and professional manner.

• Results of reference checks for project finalists.

H O W T O A P P LYApplications are available through SmartyGrants (https://parracity.smartygrants.com.au/PS-PublicArt-EOI), an online application system for calls for entry. There is no charge to artists for using SmartyGrants. Please be sure to allow adequate time to submit your application as technical difficulties can occur.

Applications will not be accepted after the Friday 15 November 2019, 11:59 pm (GMT+10) deadline.

APPLICATION MATERIALS INCLUDE:

1. ARTISTIC PRACTICE DETAILS• This should be a summary of your artistic focus and professional career, especially as your background relates to

your qualifications for this project. Do not make a specific proposal for a new commission.• 350 word maximum.

2. RESUME• 2 page maximum.

3. 10 IMAGES OF PREVIOUS WORK• Up to 10 images in one file (pdf or ppt) up to 10MB. • Video/Moving Imagery please provide direct URL links (max 5 minutes of content in total).

4. IMAGE DETAILS• When you upload your images, SmartyGrants then will prompt you to fill out image details. Please include

the title, medium, dimensions, and year for each work. You may also include a brief statement (2 sentences maximum) about each work.

E L I G I B I L I T YEligibility is open to all domestic and international professional, practicing artists.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are encouraged to apply.

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P R O J E C T T I M E L I N E

AT TA C H M E N T S / L I N K SCultural plan

Parramatta Square website

Reconciliation Action Plan

C O N TA C TJustine TopferCity of Parramatta Senior Officer Public Art

JTopfer@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

+61 2 9806 5849

The City of Parramatta acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, the Darug Peoples, and pay their respects to Elders past and present.

EOI issued 5 August 2019

EOI deadline 15 November 2019

Artist Qualification Panel Early December 2019

Artist Selection Panel (Meeting One) Early December 2019

Applicant notification via email Mid December 2019

Artist Selection Panel (Meeting Two) Mid March 2020

Approval of selected artists by Council Early April 2020

Artist under contract Mid May 2020

Anticipated completion December 2021