RFQ for Itinerant Immersive

Call to Multimedia, 2-D, and 3-D Installation Artists. Emerging Artists Encouraged to Apply!


An Oklahoma-Based Immersive Traveling Art Installation
Budget Range: $500.00-$12,500.00 per artist
Deadline: March 20th, 2023 at 11:59 PM CDT
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 24th, 2023 at 11:59 PM CDT

Budget:

We are requesting qualifications from artists with experience in space activation through art installation or with artwork that can lean towards immersive installation. We will be accepting 10 to 25 Artists with projects both large and small. Budgets will be considered between $500.00 to $12,500.00 USD per project. 


Summary of Opportunity:

Itinerant Immersive is a new venture created by Ben Ezzell, an Attorney and Artist based in Enid, OK to design, build, and show traveling immersive art installations. In Spring 2022 he co-led the creation of “Sugar High”, a temporary immersive installation in downtown Enid with work from 24 artists from across the state of Oklahoma, which saw over 6,000 visitors over its six-week run. The goal of Itinerant Immersive is to develop a series of installations built into mobile platforms that can extend the reach of immersive art and maintain commercial viability by moving the entire structure intact from city to city, charging a modest admission fee, selling merchandise, and hosting events.


Eligibility:

This call is intended to solicit submissions from a broad range of artists, not limited to any medium, geographic location, or experience level. Our goal is to create a diverse installation with an emphasis on analog interactivity (physical interaction).

All local, regional, and international artists, artist teams, architects, designers, and multimedia specialists are invited to submit their qualifications.

*New and emerging artists are particularly encouraged to submit and contact staff for application support.*


Theme:

The theme of the first Itinerant Immersive installation is an abandoned spaceship. We have purchased and gutted a single-wide manufactured home and are in the process of rebuilding it as a spaceship. The entire structure is about 70’ long and 16’ wide. Before going further, you are encouraged to review the draft floor plan posted above and watch this video that provides a more detailed examination. The space is flexible, consider these outlines as a starting point.

The setting of the spaceship is some vague point in the future, but not so far in the future as to be unrecognizable. Humanity occupies habitats across the solar system but does not travel faster than light. Occupants of the spaceship spend most of their time with a consistent up and down, either via thrust gravity or by means of—usually reliable—artificial gravity.

Imagine that this is a well-used but adequately maintained privately owned commercial cargo ship. Weapons exist for self-defense purposes both to protect its inhabitants from other people and the vagaries of space travel. But its occupants have disappeared and visitors will be encouraged to explore their living and work spaces. The “alien menace” identified in the above floor plan is a placeholder for one of many standard sci-fi tropes and is the ultimate cause of the spaceship’s abandonment. Some aspects of the installation will likely be bleak and invite exploration of how the spaceship became abandoned. Although we are not seeking to occupy the horror genre, we are also not intending for the exhibit to be G-rated. Our intention is to make this experience viable for a broad audience. You are encouraged to explore concepts and themes which hold interest for you in your submission.


Available Elements:

*These rooms can hold an entire idea or a project could expand to multiple rooms*

●      Bridge Command/Control Console

●      Defense/Gunner Station

●      Captain’s Quarters

●      Medical Bay

●      Laboratory

●      Workshop

●      Engineering

●      Spacesuit Locker

●      Galley

●      Crew Living Quarters

●      Crew Bunk Room

●      Alien Menace

●      Outside Sculpture


Application Materials:

***Large projects (approximately over $1,000.00 USD) will be asked to participate in a finalist round, which includes a detailed project proposal and fabrication. ***

●      Artist name or names of all team members

●      Contact Person

●      Contact Address

●      Contact Phone Number

●      Contact Email Address

●      Website (for all team members)

●      Social Media handles (for all team members)

●      Resume/CV (Keep to 1 page, create a single PDF combining multiple team member CV, 1-page each)

●      Short description of proposed artwork (300 words maximum)

●      Floor Plan Considerations (one or multiple spaces)

●      Images of prior work (maximum five images or links)

●      Link to video(s) of prior work (optional, no more than three will be reviewed)

●      Brief description of past work and how it will translate to this call (200 words maximum)

●      Rough Estimate of Proposal Costs (total dollar amount)

Submissions will be accepted via the google forms link below.

Click image to view full size floor plan

Selection Process:

All submissions will be reviewed by a committee chosen by Itinerant Immersive staff. Initial determinations will be based on the eligibility criteria outlined in this RFQ and the space limitations of the facility. Artists may be asked to consider alternate locations, configurations, and scale to accommodate all desired submissions. Artists/Artists Teams selected as finalists will be compensated between $250.00 to $500.00 USD for their full proposals. This range is dependent on the size and scope of the proposed project.

***As a reminder, small projects under $1,000.00 USD with limited support needed by staff, will be considered without the additional support materials detailed below for Finalists.***

Finalists will be given further instructions on how to submit their proposals, which will include:

●      A one-page or less statement about the proposed work

●      Illustrations and/or models of the proposed design

●      Detailed project budget (including artists fees, materials, travel, etc.)

●      Installation/production details (surface prep, on-site equipment)

●      Timeline (noting milestones towards completion and installation)

●      Maintenance plan (details on material durability, safety, and potential maintenance costs)

●      Two references who can speak on previous work


Selection Criteria to be applied and interpreted by the selection committee:

●      Technical feasibility of proposed project

●      Good work habits: ability to meet deadlines, experience with budgeting, good communication, problem-solving—as supported by references

●      Collaboration (artists teams or artists proposing collaborative elements in their work)

●      New or innovative methods (upcycling, found materials, resourcefulness)

●      Analog Interactivity (how will the audience interact with the installation? preference for interaction beyond digital screens)

●      Safety, accessibility, durability, maintenance requirements, permanence of materials, etc


Finalist and Small Project Applicant Expectations:

●      Finalists will be provided with additional information on how to submit their full proposals on April 2nd, 2023.

●      All artists will be responsible for delivering their artwork to the installation site in Enid, OK and Itinerant Immersive staff will be on-site to assist with artwork installation.

●      Itinerant Immersive is documenting the development and creation of this installation. All artists will be expected to participate and have their likeness and/or in-progress work featured in promotional materials.

●      All Artists will be asked to tag and promote Itinerant Immersive when promoting their work associated with this project.


Resources for Finalists and Small Project Applicants:

To the extent that an artist is willing and able to travel to Enid, we will make certain resources available to assist in the creation of your art. It is our hope that by making our extensive workshop and material resources available to everyone who submits a final proposal, we can encourage artists to stretch themselves and explore new mediums and methods.

**Please note that this is a resource but not a requirement.**


Available tools, equipment, material, and resources include but are not limited to the following:

●      Woodworking Tools – ShopBot CNC machine, table saw, band saws, chop saw, various cordless power tools, clamps, sanders.

●      Metalworking Tools – MIG welder, TIG welder, oxy acetylene torch, small mill, small lathe, belt grinder, drill presses.

●      Electrical Tools – Soldering irons, wire cutters/strippers, conduit benders, crimpers, testers.

●      Printing – Letterpresses, silkscreen press, conveyor dryer, movable type, ink.

●    Material – Fasteners of many kinds, brackets, hinges, steel cable, speakers, plywood, dimensional lumber, polycarbonate, vinyl hose, paint, scrap metal, assorted aircraft components.


Projected Timeline:

February 27th, 2023 – Request for Qualifications Open

March 20th, 2023 – Submission deadline at 11:59 PM CST

March 24th, 2023 – Submission deadline at 11:59 PM CST

April 2nd 2023 – Notifications sent out to selected finalists and small project applicants

April, 2023 – Contract negotiations for small project applicants

April 25th, 2023 – Finalists application deadline at 11:59 PM CST

May 15th, 2023 –  Announcement of final slate of artists

May, 2023 – Contract negotiations with finalists

May, June, & July, 2023 – Workshop availability in Enid

August 14th, 2023 – Final deadline for delivery

October 1st, 2023 – Targeted Opening

The final product will first be exhibited in Enid, OK but then travel to other cities across the region.

Your submission should be designed for a lifespan of 3-5 years assuming regular maintenance by Itinerant Immersive staff.


Final Agreements and Insurance:

The final selected artist/team will be required to sign Artist Agreements with Itinerant Immersive for creation and installation of the artwork in addition to a General Waiver for Visual Arts Rights Act (VARA).

Artists, at their option, are responsible for any desired insurance against damage to or loss of artwork during fabrication, delivery, or installation as well as responsible for any desired insurance against potential injury while working in the Enid workshop and a liability waiver will be provided. All Itinerant Immersive responsibilities to the artists’ work will be outlined in the aforementioned agreement.


Questions?

Artists are encouraged to reach out to Ben Ezzell at BEzzell@ItinerantImmersive.com with any questions, concerns, and any future inquiries regarding available resources. Ben Ezzell will be available throughout application windows to discuss ideas, plans, or to meet via in-person or virtually.

 

**For those artists living outside the Enid area, free temporary living accommodations may be available through Atelier 339, Inc. to facilitate travel to Enid for either collaboration or installation. Please contact Ben Ezzell for details or to secure accommodations.