Arts Services Inc. of Western New York (ASI), on behalf of Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace’s Office, invites artists in all appropriate mediums (2-dimensional and 3-dimensional) from throughout Western New York to submit proposals for an outdoor public art project located in Cayuga Creek Park in Lancaster, NY. The park is located off of West Main Street within the Village of Lancaster. The public art will be placed on a concrete slab located within the park.

Project Background and Goals

Assemblymember Wallace and Mayor Ruda of the Village of Lancaster would like to further the development of Cayuga Creek Park by adding a public art component. Currently, the Village of Lancaster is building a park and the park environment can be enhanced through a mural or other public art piece.

Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace’s Office is seeking a public art piece that is creative and will draw people to Cayuga Creek Park and the Village of Lancaster. The theme of the public art piece should encourage residents and visitors alike to visit the park and engage with the piece. This piece is meant to encourage people to engage, take photos, and share the work and inspire people to visit the Village of Lancaster to see it. The public art piece will be adhered directly to a specific concrete wall within the park. The concrete is located in front of Gabrielle’s Bakery and 716 Athletics (19 W Main Street, Lancaster).

Artists are encouraged to visit the park to inspect dimensions, placement, and other characteristics of the concrete wall. The park can be accessed from Pacway Road (at the corner of Pacway and Broadway). NOTE: Pacway does not appear on Google Maps, but does appear on Apple Maps. Artists can contact the Village of Lancaster’s Village Hall (716-683-2105) for questions. This is an active construction site, but is currently dormant during the winter. Artists should be cautious when visiting because it is still under construction.

The chosen work should:

  • Draw in individuals who are walking and/or driving through the Village and encourage them to engage, interact, and take photos with the piece;
  • Proposed design should convey a welcoming, dynamic, and fun environment within the Village of Lancaster’s central thoroughfare and public park area;
  • The entire concrete wall is available for use, however only the side of the concrete wall that is facing the park and Cayuga Creek should be designed. Do NOT design the side of the concrete wall that faces West Main Street. The piece of slanted concrete is measured at 19ft 9 inches, the highest side measuring at 5ft 4 inches and the lowest side measuring at 5ft 10 inches.
  • Have an expected lifespan of 3-5 years unprotected from the elements.

Budget

A commission of $10,000-$12,000 is available for the chosen artist to create and install their work.

Artists are required to provide all supplies and materials to complete the work, including a scissor lift or bucket truck, if needed. Storage options are not available on site. Please include any and all requests in artist proposal. Artist should detail what assistance or materials are provided by his/her/themself and what may be required or needed by the Village or others in their proposal (if applicable).

Timeline

  • Deadline to Submit: No later than 5 pm on Friday, May 26th
  • June: Selection of Artist
  • July: Public Announcement of Selection
  • Late Summer/early Fall: Mural implementation & Planning Meetings; completed and installed work (weather-dependent as well as construction dependent)

*The timeline will adhere and may need to change due to the park construction status and concrete wall preparation (if needed) to execute a public art piece when appropriate; including factoring in proper weather conditions.

Proposals should include:

  • A description of the work including materials and dimensions;
  • Sketches of the work;
  • A budget including artist fees, supplies and materials, and any other costs associated to create the work;
  • Links to examples of past work; and
  • Contact information (including email, phone, and address).

Proposals should be sent electronically (in PDF form) to info@asiwny.org with the subject line ‘Lancaster NY Proposal’, as can questions. Since the site is open and available to the public, a site visit to see it can be done at any time necessary. The park can be accessed at Pacway Road (at the corner of Pacway and Broadway). Artists are encouraged to visit the park to inspect dimensions, placement, and other characteristics of the concrete wall. Artists can contact the Village of Lancaster’s Village Hall (716-683-2105) for questions. This is an active construction site, but is currently dormant during the winter. Artists should be cautious when visiting because it is still under construction.

Proposals are due no later than 5 pm on Friday, May 26th

A panel of qualified, arts and business professionals (including community members of the Village of Lancaster and other Lancaster parties) will review proposals for their eligibility and appropriateness for the project. When the final artist is selected, his/she/they will have regular planning and logistics meetings with ASI and other appropriate parties, including building/property owners. Prior to final design and installation of the public art work, a contract is drawn up between ASI, the artist, and building/property owner. This contract identifies roles and responsibilities of each party, including ownership and copyright of artistic content and usage.