At the beginning of February, Erie Arts & Culture and the Erie Downtown Development Corporation published a national call to artists in connection with a newly designed outdoor sculpture exhibition titled the Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk. The deadline for artists to apply to the exhibition was February 22, 2021. Erie Arts & Culture wrote the Request for Proposals (RFP) and promoted the opportunity to artists throughout the nation. In total, Erie Arts & Culture received 60 submissions for the inaugural sculpture walk. Applications came from 15 states in total.
Erie Arts & Culture is now building an independent panel to review all submissions. The panel will consist of Downtown stakeholders, design professionals, artists, art educators, and art administrators. The review process will include criteria such as:
- Are the materials appropriate for four seasons and Erie’s weather?
- Would the sculpture enhance the visual landscape of Downtown Erie and the Bayfront?
- Is the sculpture interesting enough that it would help stimulate interest in residents and tourists to participate in the sculpture walk?
- Does the sculpture create a sense of “awe,” “wow,” or stimulate reflection, introspection, or contemplation?
- Is the sculpture suitable for a diverse audience of all ages?
The review panel will solidify the list of finalists no later than March 25, 2021. The announcement of the finalists will take place no later than May 6, 2021, once contracts are signed between the artists and the Erie Downtown Development Corporation. The target timeline for installation of the sculptures is June 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021, with a formal unveiling of the sculpture walk on July 1, 2021.
About:
Erie Arts & Culture and the Erie Downtown Development Corporation are initiating a public art project designed to be highly visible and create pedestrian-scaled environments for the enjoyment of residents, visitors, and the public at large. Sculptures will be displayed from June 2021 through August 2023 in Downtown Erie and along the Lake Erie Bayfront. For the first wave of this initiative, a minimum of eight and a maximum of 15 sculptures will be leased from artists and installed as temporary public art exhibitions.
Program goals include:
- Enhancing the visual landscape in Downtown Erie and along the Lake Erie Bayfront with an exhibit of original and unique pieces of art.
- Stimulating interest in Erie Arts & Culture’s public art initiatives and adding cultural and creative value to the area.
- Attracting visitors, residents, and businesses to the area.
- Serving as the foundation for developing an ongoing program throughout the City of Erie.
Click here for more information and potential locations of the sculptures
