Follow us on

Download and print the Call to Artist Brochure (PDF)

Sculpture Garden Program
The City of Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission is seeking artwork for the Biennial Sculpture Garden Exhibition. Responding to the City Council’s work plan, the Sculpture Garden Program was originated in 2009 as a temporary outdoor exhibition. This program aims to increase interest in our community for public art and offer artists a unique opportunity to showcase their original sculptural work to the Manhattan Beach community and its thousands of visitors.

Scope of Work
In late fall of 2018, a new series of sculptures for the Sculpture Garden Program will be installed. The sculptures will be chosen from digitally submitted design concepts submitted by March 2, 2018. The Cultural Arts Commission will select finalists at their May 2018 meeting. The approved artists will agree to loan their artwork to the City for a 24 month period with ownership rights remaining with the artists. The Commission reserves the right to cancel or request a revision to the project at any time as stated in the artist’s contract.

Works that explore an expanded notion of public sculpture are encouraged. All work entered must be freestanding and suitable for long-term outdoor public display. The durability of the work will be a consideration for selection, as will the public safety of the work. As the three sites where the works will be displayed are in high pedestrian traffic areas within the City of Manhattan Beach, the safety of the public, including children, must be taken into consideration. Work must be as vandal-proof as possible and cannot have sharp edges or be easily breakable or bendable. Work must be of sufficient size to minimize possibility for theft. All accepted entries must be capable of being properly secured to a concrete pad, or securely anchored in the ground. A typical footprint is 8 ft. by 8ft. but is dependent on the sculpture design. The Sculpture Garden program is open to all artists 18 years of age or older. All entries must be original work and artists are encouraged to be creative in their selection of materials while considering safety requirements common to publicly accessible works of art. Artwork must withstand a public and marine environment, including occasionally windy conditions, for the duration of the exhibit.

Installation
The completed art works will be prominently displayed at the Civic Center Plaza, the 13th Street Plaza, and the Manhattan Beach Art Center.

Goals
To create a successful temporary Sculpture Garden Program series that will:

• Enhance our city with a variety of unique original artwork
• Educate the public about art, specifically public art and sculpture
• Fit the criteria of the Public Art Master Plan

Proposal
The artist applicant is requested to submit an electronic entry highlighting their work and illustrating a concept for the Sculpture Garden Program. The entry should include ten images of current work in JPEG format. Three finalists will be required to create a physical model (Not to exceed 18x18x18 inch bounding box) and sketches of their proposed sculpture. A stipend of $300.00 will be provided for each finalist. Finalists will be required to submit construction drawings for the approval by the City Building Official. Contact information, including name, address, phone number and email address must be securely taped on the bottom or backside of the board.

Requirements
The sculpture can be any shape, form or design, and should conform to an approximate 8ft. by 8ft. footprint. The city engineers will review each design for safety and wind loading and recommend modifications, if necessary. Structural and engineering drawings are required to be submitted and approved prior to installation. Finalists will be able to work with City staff to finalize the permit process.

Submittals
For initial proposals please submit the following items:

• Electric proposal to Sculpture Garden Proposal Subject: Sculpture Garden Submissions
• Artist statement: (Some questions we are interested in but not limited to: What are your interests as an artist? What are you trying to communicate with this piece?) No more than 500 words.
• Submit a short portfolio which includes relevant work. (10 projects/art works minimum, note which are executed)
• Concept drawings to include:
  • Two elevation views of the proposed sculpture.
  • One perspective or axonometric drawing to explain the concept. (Hand sketched or computer generated)

Finalists

• Develop physical model to scale.
• Photographs and/or sketches of proposed artwork (no restriction on format, whatever describes your idea best)
• A separate single sheet containing the following: Name, address, phone number, and email
• Description of the design concept, dimensions, materials and value.
• Fabrication and installation plans to be reviewed by city engineers.
• Incomplete submittals will not be considered.

Artist Fee
Selected artists will be compensated with an honorarium of $12,000.00; 50% payable on execution of contract and 50% upon delivery and installation of the work. The art work remains the property of the artist and can be sold and removed after the loan period has ended. The loan period is 24 months, commencing on the opening day of the Sculpture installation. The loan period may be extended by mutual agreement. The City may elect to purchase the sculpture and has the right of refusal after the loan period has ended. Artist must submit a purchase price in the application if the artwork is for sale The City of Manhattan Beach Public Works Department will assist in the installation of artworks on a limited basis.

Artists who have submitted a proposal agree that the City of Manhattan Beach may display models and reproductions/images for noncommercial, educational, and promotional purpose with credit given to the Artist. The City will affix a plaque to each sculpture showing the Artist’s name and title of the artwork. The Artist is responsible for insuring the artwork before and after installation. The City will provide insurance for the piece for the length of the installation.

Selection Process
Proposals will be selected by the Cultural Arts Commission with recommendations to the City Council for approval. Criteria will include artistic merit, public safety and appropriateness of the artwork and materials used.

Eligibility
The competition is open to anyone 18 years or over, able to complete the requirements as specified, including the designing, fabrication and delivery of the artwork. This project is intended to be artistic in nature. No designs that include advertising, soliciting, campaigning or other promotional or commercially driven entries are eligible. Artists who have successfully executed a public art contract are encouraged to apply. Projects can be submitted by a group of artists, but specific contractual obligations may apply.

Schedule
Initial proposals are due on March 2, 2018. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted.

Submit proposals to: the Sculpture Garden Committee Subject: Sculpture Garden Submissions

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact the Sculpture Garden Committee.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer