Seeking artists for youth center mosaic art

Artists or teams should submit qualifications for a $442,000 public art project at a youth services center. Apply by 5pm PST on January 31, 2025.

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Professional artists and teams can apply online to be considered for a mosaic or tile-based public art project at a newly renovated youth services center adjacent to one of the City's parks.

The public art piece will span approximately 885 square feet, covering a 20-foot by 35-foot exterior wall and extend into the interior lobby, which measures 20 feet by 18 feet. It will be visible from both inside and outside the center at Grove Park in South Berkeley.

The theme of the artwork may connect to the site, the youth center's programming, the park's history, or the diverse cultures and experiences of people in South Berkeley.

Any artist and creative team in the United States or its Territories can apply for the $442,000 contract. Artists from historically underrepresented populations, including African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American communities, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply on the Submittable application portal by 5:00pm PST on January 31, 2025.

Art installation details at the Center

The permanent artwork will be installed both outdoors and indoors at the future Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center, located next to Grove Park at 1730 Oregon Street. The retrofitted and renovated building is expected to be complete in 2027.

This opportunity is open to all artists or creative teams, regardless of experience with tile or mosaic work. The selected artist or team will have the opportunity to collaborate with a professional fabricator to transform two-dimensional artwork, such as digital designs, into a vibrant, permanent installation on the lobby wall.

The $442,000 contract will cover all associated costs, including the artist's design fee, fabrication, transportation, and installation.

Application review and selection process

After the January 31, 2025 application deadline, a review panel will evaluate artist applicants based on creativity, comparable experience, compatibility with project goals, site specificity, feasibility and maintenance, and project management.

Three finalists will be selected to create site-specific design proposals. Each finalist will receive a $2,000 honorarium for their proposal.

The review panel, made up of representatives from the Civic Arts Commission, Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission, architect team, and community, will meet in late 2025 to review the proposals and select a final artwork.

The recommended proposal will be submitted to the Civic Art Commission's Public Art Subcommittee for possible approval and then onto the full Civic Arts Commission to consider for final approval.

Revitalizing the Center for youth and community resilience

The Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center offers after-school and summer programs for teens and young adults, including tutoring, violence prevention, and leadership development. Managed by the Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department, the center focuses on teens and young adults, especially from historically marginalized communities, and provides the City's only teen-centered recreational programs, offering free or affordable options for at-risk youth.

With funding from the voter-approved T1 bond, the City is completing a seismic retrofit and upgrading both the interior and exterior of this 1950s building, transforming it into a modern, flexible, and accessible space. Additionally, the MLK Jr. Youth Services Center is designated as one of Berkeley's care and shelter facilities in the City's Resilience Strategy.

The Civic Arts Program fosters community connection through engaging artists to create impactful works that enrich our city. We collaborate with artists to bring forth permanent and temporary public art projects in various spaces throughout Berkeley, including parks, plazas, civic buildings, and more. Our goal is to enhance the built environment and reflect the distinctive character of our vibrant city.

Artists who would like to be considered must apply online by 5:00pm PT on January 31, 2025.

Links

• Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center Public Art Commission: application to submit qualifications
• Civic Arts Program: grants, newsletter sign up
• Grove Park: seismic retrofit and renovation project