Pancake Breakfast Community Celebration April 29th at the Cummington Community House!
Open Call for Public Art - Request For Proposals
Cummington Cultural District Arts Activation 2022
The Cummington Cultural District Committee is pleased to announce a request for proposals (RFP) for its first public art initiative —Reflections. The project will include a temporary installation of 6-8 unique pieces of public art in the Cummington Village area, as well as a community celebration and public participation project. The project is funded with a grant from RuralLISC to Hilltown Community Development who will act as fiscal agent.
Project Overview & Scope
For the last two years, a committee has been working on applying for a Cultural District designation for Cummington based on its unique history and cultural assets. As part of the launch, the committee seeks to initiate a highly visible and positive public arts event which celebrates Cummington’s community spirit and connects to the town’s natural beauty and agricultural heritage.
The Committee has chosen for a theme Reflections based on the dual meaning of the word and its alignment to the Cultural District goals of connecting local people to the area’s history and the natural beauty around them.
We seek original works of art which:
· Respond in a meaningful way to this theme
· Celebrate the community spirit and history of Cummington in a positive way
· Will be on public display for approximately 5 months
Artist Stipends
Sculpture Proposal
Artists will receive an honorarium of $625 and in addition may submit up to $600 of materials receipts for reimbursement for materials costs incurred within the grant period of 8/1/21 – 9/30/22 (with submission of legible receipts). Additional funds may be available to cover installation costs (approximately $250/piece).
Optional Community Participation Art Project
Artists will also have the option of facilitating one of several participatory community art projects. These projects will take place at different dates and venues during the 5 months that the exhibition is on display. The Cultural District Committee will be suggesting projects, but artists are also welcomed to propose their own art project that allows for community participation. There is a $375 stipend for leading a community participation project. Artists do not have to have a sculpture in the exhibition to submit a proposal to lead a community project.
Artists will receive half the stipend upon the execution of an Artist Contract and the submission of a W9 form. The rest will be received upon completion of the project with an invoice and receipts.
Art Guidelines and Specifics
The art should respond to the theme thoughtfully and REFLECT Cummington’s distinctive sense of place, history and culture.
Preference will be given to artists from Cummington and the adjacent towns of Ashfield, Windsor, Worthington, Chesterfield, Goshen and Plainfield. A secondary preference will be given to artists with ties to the Hilltowns and understanding of the community.
Other selection criteria will include: aesthetics, originality, safety, feasibility, scale and durability.
One site is reserved for a youth project.
The committee is committed to a supportive and inclusive community art project.
Proposals may be new or existing work.
Open to individual, collaborative or partnership projects. One primary point of contact must be provided and only one stipend payment will be issued to the primary point of contact.
The selected artist will be responsible for maintenance of their art for the duration of the installation – approximately five months.
Potential host sites include:
· Cummington Community House – lawn
· Cummington Village Church – lawn
· Kingman Tavern Museum – lawn and/or barn
· The Parsonage – garden and or lawn
· Eversource building – chain link fence
· Pettingill Park – grass or gazebo
· Former Berkshire Trail Elementary School
· Other private property tbd
Different media are welcome – sculpture, stone, fabric, mosaic, mural, light, or video projections, etc.
Use of environmentally friendly materials is encouraged.
A temporary installation has the potential to be permanent if both site host and artist come to an agreement independently of this project and the committee’s work.
Cummington Cultural District (CCD) Responsibilities
· CCD will coordinate installation with the selected artists and the site hosts
· CCD will provide a contract and payments to the selected artists
· CCD will publicize the installation and host an interactive community event to celebrate the launch
Selection Process
A subcommittee of the CCD will act as the selection committee – with input from the site hosts and relevant town committees.
Committee members are: Ilse Godfrey, Bob Godfrey, Katy Eiseman, John Bye, and Leslie Ferrin.
Timeline
Deadline for Proposal Submission: April 4, 2022 (11:59pm)
Selection Committee Decision: April 9, 2022
Contracts Signed: April 18, 2022
Installation: June 1 – June 20, 2022
Community Launch Event: June 2022
Removal of Installation by November 5, 2022
CCD Vision and Goals
The vision for the Cultural District is to engage the entire town in an inclusive and positive effort to identify priorities and work towards a vibrant Village area with collaborative programming and marketing to new audiences to experience all the things which make Cummington special.
Goal 1 - Community Cohesion - Only One Cummington!
Goal 2 - Collaborative Programming & Marketing
Goal 3 - Enhance and Improve space and buildings with arts and culture
Artist Agreements
The selected individual must comply with program guidelines, including installation timeline.