Reimagined - Name plate for Nevada City Public Arts Commissioners

The Nevada City Public Arts Commission has a need for the creation of artistic and uniquely Nevada City name plates to identify the seven (7) Public Arts Commissioners when participating at public meetings, and the county needs your help to make it happen!

They are seeking community-based artists to design and create one-of-a-kind name plates to both identify commissioners and inspire art and artists in civic engagement in all things arts and culture in Nevada City.

Please review this full page for information about eligibility, artist criteria and goals, information about the existing name plates which represent what is not wanted, how to submit a proposal, and more.

Artist(s) Eligibility

  • This call is an invite for artist(s) in Nevada County.

  • Artist teams are eligible for the project.

  • Local, Nevada City, artist(s), community groups, and artists from the Grass Valley Nevada City Cultural District are highly sought-after for this project

Equal Artist Opportunity

Artists from historically and currently underserved and under-resourced communities are highly encouraged to apply. This Invite to Artist(s) is an Equal Artistic Opportunity: selection of the winning proposal will be made without regard to status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Art Criteria & Goals
The art should create a transformation from the existing business professional styled plastic and wood plate to something that identifies the commissioner by name and their role as a Public Arts Commissioner while respecting and being inspired by the City of Nevada City’s unique and centuries long support of art within the community.

The name plates should be:

  • Limited in size to 18” wide, 5” high, 5” deep

  • Display each commissioner’s name and the title “Public Arts Commissioner” in a font and size that is equally readable as the current name plates

  • Made of or respectful of natural, sustainable, or reusable materials

Expressions that would meet the requirements could include themes of:

  • ·Nature landscapes

  • Local flora and fauna

  • Uniquely Nevada City vibrant art

  • Cultural and historical importance to Nevada City

  • Nevada City buildings and icons

Existing Name Plates

The existing name plates represent what is not desired. The existing name plates are faux wood grain plastic plates mechanically engraved and affixed to wooden blocks with dimensions of 10.5” wide, 2” high, 2.5” deep.

Budget

The artist(s) should submit a budget for consideration that includes all artists’ fees such as design, labor, and transportation for creating seven (7) individual name plates. Costs such as insurance, taxes, studio overhead, and miscellaneous items are not eligible for inclusion.

Proposal Submission Information Proposals must be submitted through this FORM with attachments and time-stamped no later than 6 PM, Pacific Time, May 31, 2024.

Proposals should include:

  1. Project description, including sketch of proposed art and description of materials

  2. Resume or short biography

  3. Annotated list of previous projects (if available), including: description, dimensions, material, location, budget, client or commissioning organization, and any other relevant project information

  4. Budget breakdown which includes the design fee and material costs

  5. Optional: artists may submit up to 2 jpeg images of previous pieces (if available): labeled with piece name, date created, location of piece, materials used.

Selection Criteria

Art selection will be judged by the commission on a weighted system that is informed by the following criteria (in no particular order):

  • Completeness of proposal: Does it include all of the requested elements? (10 points)

  • Art Piece Content: Does the art piece capture a one-of-a-kind name plates to both identify commissioners and inspire art and artists in civic engagement in all things arts and culture in a uniquely Nevada City way? (10 points)

Maximum Points Possible = 20

Project Timeline

The timeline includes dates for the following milestones, as they apply:

  1. Call for Artists opens: April 8, 2024

  2. Submission deadline: May 31, 2024

  3. Review of artists proposals: June 8, 2024

  4. Winning Artist(s) Notified: Within 7 days of selection

  5. Artist(s) contracts finalized and signed: June 21, 2024

  6. Creation/Delivery: by September 1, 2024

  7. Unveiling and Celebration: September 4, 2024 (or at an earlier commission meeting)

For questions or additional information, please email Lisa McCandless, lisa.mccandless@nevadacityca.gov
CLICK HERE for access to the submission form or use the QR code on this image.

Michaelyn Logue