Local Artists Sought to Create Art for New City Hall

Arts Huntsville, in cooperation with the City of Huntsville, has released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for local artists for Phase II of the public art plan for the new City Hall. The City Hall public art plan was developed in accordance with the Huntsville Public Art Master Plan under the guidance of the Huntsville Public Art Committee and Arts Huntsville, which is contracted by the City of Huntsville to manage the City’s public art program.

Local artists will be featured across four locations in the new City Hall, including: a security entry area on the first floor, a pre-function area and corridor on the sixth floor hosting Huntsville City Council offices, and a conference room on the seventh floor hosting the mayor’s office. Artwork budgets for the four featured locations range from $30,000 – $60,000. The City Hall public art projects are intended to inspire a sense of reflection, community and/or civic engagement. Currently under construction, Huntsville’s new City Hall complex is slated for completion in 2024.

“While City Hall serves extremely important functional purposes for our community as the seat of municipal government, it also serves an important symbolical role,” said Huntsville City Administrator John Hamilton. “It provides a gathering spot and outward facing representation of our great city – adding interest and beauty contributed by our local artist community furthers the iconic nature of this important public infrastructure.”

A concept rendering of one of the four locations in Huntsville’s new city hall that will feature the work of local artists.

Following the initial RFQ process, up to fourteen semi-finalist artists or artistic teams will receive $1,500 honorariums to create and present a design proposal. Four finalists will be selected in December 2022, and all Huntsville City Hall public art awards will be announced in early 2023.

“We are excited to see what our community of local artists will contribute to this civic space,” said Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Jauken. “This is an excellent opportunity for artists to celebrate Huntsville’s people, history, or our natural environment through their artwork.”

Interested local artists can read the full RFQ and begin the application process at  artshuntsville.slideroom.com. The deadline for submissions is July 24. A video orientation for interested artists will be released the week of June 13 on the Arts Huntsville YouTube Channel. Questions can be directed to Art Program Manager Jennifer Johnson at [email protected].