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Call for Artists

Olivia Gazda

Assistant to the City Manager

678-512-3219 11360 Lakefield Drive
Johns Creek, GA 30097

The Boardwalk at Town Center Artwork Commission, Johns Creek, GA

  • Budget: $150,000
  • Call Open: March 18, 2025
  • Call Close: April 11, 2025 at 5 p.m. EST

Call Summary

The City of Johns Creek invites experienced professional artists or artist teams to submit qualifications to create an iconic and site-responsive sculpture for the City’s newest park: The Boardwalk at Town Center under construction adjacent to City Hall.

Budget Description

The central focus of this commission is on one statement piece. The available budget is $150,000, intended to cover all artist fees (including necessary travel), design (including any needed engineering of base for installation), testing, fabrication, installation, a commemorative plaque, insurance, and any other fees or costs related to the development and installation of the artwork.

Project Description

The City of Johns Creek invites experienced professional artists or artist teams to submit qualifications to create an iconic and site-responsive work of art for The Boardwalk at Town Center (anticipated to open in the summer of 2026). The artwork is intended to become an anchoring signature piece that will become a permanent fixture in the City’s Town Center.  

The City of Johns Creek is not a traditional City in that it was incorporated on December 1, 2006, following a citizen-driven referendum focused on improving service delivery and enhancing local control. Although a newer city, the Johns Creek community has a long and rich history dating back to the 1800s. The City of Johns Creek is one of the most diverse cities in the state of Georgia, and City events including the Lunar New Year Celebration, the International Festival, the Juneteenth Celebration, the Literary Fair, and the Diwali Marketplace provide rich opportunities for residents to gather and celebrate the cultural diversity of our community.  

We encourage artists to be inspired by the City’s history and heritage, honoring the past, acknowledging the progress that has been made since the City’s incorporation, and celebrating the future yet to come.  

The artwork is intended to be installed in tandem with the grand opening of The Boardwalk at Town Center, anticipated for the summer of 2026. 

Artwork Goals

The City seeks to commission artwork that:

  • Is informed or inspired by the City’s history or heritage 
  • Evokes a sense of community and gathering  
  • Contributes to the overall placemaking and aesthetic appeal of the park 
  • Commemorates the opening of hte park and the City’s Town Center
  • Utilizes a medium/materials and fabrication techniques that are proven to be weather-enduring, high quality, and designed for permanency with a lifespan of at least 25 years.  

Artwork Location Description

The location of the artwork is intended to be within the City’s newest park, The Boardwalk at Town Center (formerly known as Creekside Park). Several locations in the park are under consideration for the artwork. These locations will be identified and shown during the site visit with the semi-finalists.

Eligibility

All professional artists or artist teams living in the United States may apply.
If artists apply as a team, the team should be listed on the application, specifying a team leader to receive notifications. Artists currently enrolled in a university or college degree program are not eligible to apply as the primary artist. Employees of the City of Johns Creek, members of the selection committee, and immediate family members of either group are not eligible to apply.

Applicants should have the following: 

  • Demonstrated experience in the design and execution of completed public art projects 
  • Experience and expertise with sculptures and installation of large-scale works 
  • Ability to meet insurance and indemnity requirements 
  • Must be age 18 or older

Application Requirements 

  • Contact Information: Name, Email, Phone, City of Residence, Website
  • Statement of Interest: 1000-word limit
  • The statement of interest should outline the artist’s interest in the project, the artist’s inspiration and primary medium(s), and provide examples of where the artist has previous artworks installed in public places. Applicants may apply as a single artist or team of artists. If applying as a team, identify all team members and each proposed project role (ex. lead artist, technical consultant, fabricator, etc.) in the letter. 
  • Resume/Artist CV: 2 pages maximum
  • A current professional resume or CV. If applying as a team, submit a resume of no more than 2-pages for each team member.
  • Work Examples: 3 – 10
  • Previous examples of the artist(s) work should include at least one image and include the following information (if applicable): Artist(s) Name, Title, Date, Dimensions of Work, Description of Site, Client, Project Timeline, and Budget. These examples should be consolidated into a single PDF attachment. Artists applying in teams should split the allotted number of work examples between themselves.
  • References: Minimum 3, Maximum 5
  • Applicants should provide professional references who can speak to the artist’s ability to meet deadlines, work with stakeholders, and create innovative work as part of a design team. Please include name, organization, phone number, and email for a minimum of three and a maximum of five references.  

Application Deadline: Friday, April 11 at 5 p.m. EST.

Selection Information

After the selection committee reviews qualifications, semi-finalists will be invited to attend an information session and site visit in May 2025. Travel stipends will not be provided. Full proposals will be due in June 2025 and shortly after the semi-finalists will present their proposals virtually to the selection committee. Each semi-finalist (artist or team of artists) will receive a $500 honorarium to complete a full proposal. The final selected artist(s) will enter into a contract with the City of Johns Creek and work collaboratively with the City to finalize the design and implement the proposed commission. 

Selection Criteria

The semi-finalists will be selected based on the following criteria (as evidenced in application materials and conversations with listed references): artistic merit in concept and fabrication; experience creating and fabricating large-scale artwork for outdoor settings; demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate with relevant stakeholders; demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget.  

The final artist(s) will be selected from the semi-finalists following the presentation of preliminary conceptual designs.  

Projected Timeline

  • March 18, 2025 – Call for Artists (Request for Qualifications) Released 
  • April 11, 2025 (5 p.m. EST) – Call for Artists Submission Deadline 
  • April 21, 2025 – Notification to Semi-Finalists  
  • Week of May 5, 2025 – Information Session and Site Visit (optional but encouraged) 
  • May 23, 2025 – Complete Proposals Due from Semi-Finalists 
  • May 29/30, 2025 – Virtual Semi-Finalist Artist(s) Presentations to Selection Committee 
  • June 9, 2025 – Recommendation for Award to Johns Creek City Council 
  • June 10, 2025 – Notification to Artist(s) 
  • June 2026 – Work installed for park opening 

Dates may be subject to change.