Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Lead Artist for Maimonides Mural/Public Art Project

Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Lead Artist for Maimonides Mural/Public Art Project

Maimonides Medical Center

Summary:

Maimonides Medical Center presents a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a lead artist/s to work on a mural or public artwork to be displayed in a prominent location on the Maimonides campus in Brooklyn, New York. The artwork will serve as a tribute to over a century of individuals working together to serve our vibrant community and beyond.  

The selected artist/s will work collaboratively with the Public Artwork Steering Committee (PASC) and Focus Group comprised of staff and/ or community members  to develop the artwork concept and design. The goal for the artwork is to honor the past, present, and future of Maimonides’ service to our community, a recognition and celebration of those who have come before and those yet to serve.

Maimonides Medical Center will select one professional artist (or one team of artists) to work closely with the PASC to develop the artwork scope and concept. The scope of the artwork lends itself most closely to mural work, but it not limited to such, and Maimonides invites creative and unique perspectives for artwork that will fulfill the aforementioned goal. This RFQ solicits professional artists whose portfolio will show experience working in large-scale public artwork, with a particular focus on connections to the borough of Brooklyn, New York. Experience working collaboratively with communities or healthcare centers is preferred.

Context: Over a Century of Excellence in Medicine

In 1911, a group of concerned women opened a dispensary to serve the poor and needy residents of their Brooklyn neighborhood - thereby planting the seed that would grow into Maimonides Medical Center. Over the last century, Maimonides has developed into a vital part of the Brooklyn community, as well as a thriving world-class medical center. Our physicians pioneered significant advancements in the field of medicine and, as we move into our second century, Maimonides will continue to reach for new levels of excellence - all the while remaining committed to its mission of providing high-quality, compassionate health care to the diverse patient population in our Brooklyn community.

Maimonides Medical Center was named for Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, a brilliant 12th-century philosopher who laid the foundation for the modern medical training of physicians. Rabbi Maimon, better known as Maimonides, was deeply committed to cultural tolerance and humane care, as well as high medical standards. It was he who said, "The physician should not treat the disease, but rather the patient who is suffering from it." At Maimonides Medical Center, we have practiced our namesake's philosophy with an unmatched passion for more than 100 years.

Maimonides was founded as the New Utrecht Dispensary. In 1919, several smaller dispensaries were consolidated and New Utrecht became Israel Hospital of Brooklyn. In 1920 it merged with Zion hospital and became United Israel Zion Hospital. New facilities were built to accommodate the growing number of patients (the building that is now our Administration building on Tenth Avenue). In 1947, United Israel Zion and Beth Moses hospitals were merged to create the medical center as it exists today, and the hospital was renamed in honor of Maimonides.

To this day we serve one of the most ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse communities in the world.

Timeline:

· RFQ Published: November 13, 2020

· RFQ Deadline: January 31, 2021

· Finalists Notified: February 12, 2021

· Finalists Interviewed: February 15 – 26, 2021

· Artist Selected: March 5, 2021

· Project Deadline: June 30, 2021

Project Budget:

The Project Budget is $15,000.00 for all artist fees including design services, community engagement, site preparation, fabrication, travel, and installation. Maimonides Medical Center will provide any necessary supplies, permits, insurance, and documentation. Maimonides Medical Center will execute a deliverables-based contract valued at $15,000.00 with the artist. Artists will be paid 25% upon contract signing, 25% upon PASC-accepted artwork design, and 50% upon completion. Maimonides Medical Center will cover all costs related to art supplies and additional materials for workshops and community events, equipment for the installation, special insurance, permits for mural/artwork sites and other relevant costs relating to the production of the mural/artwork.

Who May Apply:

Professional visual artists or artist teams working in any media, legally authorized to work in the United States, and who are at least 18 years of age, are eligible to apply. Artists with ties to the neighborhood and community of Maimonides Medical Center are encouraged to apply, as well as artists with experience in community engagement practices. Maimonides Medical Center is committed to the values of inclusion and advancing diversity in the field of arts and health. We highly encourage applicants that are traditionally underrepresented* to submit to this RFQ.

*Including, but not limited to: Immigrant, Indigenous, LGBTQIA, Person of Color, Person with Disability, Socioeconomic Disadvantage)

The project period will occur from March 5, 2021 through June 30, 2021.  

How To Apply:

Submit your contact information, biography, CV, portfolio, and statement at: https://forms.gle/4w2NQ9vJYWhpcAuC7

Deadline for Submission of RFQ:

Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 11:59pm ET

**Late applications may be disqualified from considerations.**

Finalist Interviews will be held during the dates of February 15 and February 26, 2021.