Arts council seeking qualifications from Indiana artists for Indianapolis Cultural Trail

Arts council seeking qualifications from Indiana artists for Indianapolis Cultural Trail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 1, 2006

Contact: Gail Swanstrom, 317.631.6542 x166 gail@indyculturaltrail.org
Erin Pipkin, 317.631.6400 epipkin@bjmpr.com

ARTS COUNCIL SEEKING QUALIFICATIONS FROM INDIANA ARTISTS FOR INDIANAPOLIS CULTURAL TRAIL

Hoosier artists encouraged to respond by November 17

INDIANAPOLIS - The Arts Council of Indianapolis, on behalf of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, is requesting qualifications from Indiana artists who are interested in creating an outdoor site-specific public art project. The Arts Council is the leader of the Trail�s Public Art Team charged with selecting artists and managing a $2 million budget for public art projects that will be incorporated along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

While this Request for Qualifications is an open call to artists living in Indiana, the final pool of qualified artists will include artists from other parts of the world as determined by the Public Art Team�s Curatorial Advisory Committee. The Curatorial Advisory Committee is comprised of local curators of contemporary art, local artists and relevant design professionals. The Public Art Team will work with neighborhood stakeholders to select artists and art projects that reflect the unique characteristics of each of the five downtown Cultural Districts connected by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail while supporting the project leaders� goals of creating a world-class, 21st century icon and an unprecedented model for multi-modal transportation systems in urban areas.

This is the only open call currently planned for the Trail. To reply to the request for qualifications (RFQ), artists must be 18 years of age or older and provide proof of residency in Indiana.

The 7.5-mile trail will expose users to downtown�s dynamic arts amenities and the city�s rich heritage, providing an inspiring and safe way to travel and exercise throughout Indianapolis and serving as the downtown hub for the central Indiana greenway system.

The five downtown cultural districts connected by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail include Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave, The Canal & White River State Park and Wholesale District. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail will also connect with the Monon Trail via Mass Ave at 10th Street, allowing visitors easy access to Broad Ripple Village from downtown.

Construction of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will begin in March 2007, with the corridor along Alabama Street. The project will be built in six corridor stages over three years, and is projected to be complete in 2009.

More information about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is available at www.IndyCulturalTrail.org.