Yale Asian American Cultural Center Public Art Installation

Yale University’s Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) is seeking an artist(s) and/or artist teams interested in creating site specific original artwork to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the AACC. The AACC is located at 295 Crown Street, New Haven CT 06511. Established in 1981, the AACC is the third oldest of its kind on a U.S. college campus and exists as a result of Asian American student-led efforts to rally for a space on campus and thus remains today as a symbol of resistance, activism, visibility, and institutional recognition when Asian American invisibility was being fought. You can learn more about the AACC history and mission here. You can also review the AACC 40th Anniversary Virtual Museum for additional historical context. This opportunity is open to professional artists living anywhere in the United States. The application deadline is 12:00pm EST on Monday, July 12th.

A $20,000 fee will be awarded to the artist(s) selected to realize their work. Costs for materials and equipment needed to successfully install the artwork will be covered separately by Yale/AACC. Additionally, necessary lodging and agreed upon travel costs will be covered as part of a short-term, month-long artist residency co-sponsored by the Yale School of Art Painting/Printmaking Department.

The location for this piece of public art is on a large outer wall of the AACC building on the side facing High St. This AACC is amid a neighborhood of buildings serving the University and the
greater New Haven communities as well as its visitors. The vision for this project is for a signature artwork of exceptional quality and enduring value located in a prominent public space.
The site specific artwork should:
● Demonstrate artistic excellence
● Highlight the importance of the site as a university resource, and provide a recognizable
identity for the AACC
● Be an original art piece and that can weather outdoor elements for at least a decade
without maintenance
● Create a signature presence for the building
● Provide excitement and interest for the Yale and New Haven communities
● Celebrate the AACC’s identity, purpose, and rich history
● Identify with the AACC’s core values which are:
○ Building community and a sense of belonging
○ Advocacy and racial justice
○ Collective knowledge building
○ Celebrating cultures and histories of the Asian diaspora

Requirements

The competition is open to established professional artists living in the United States. Asian and Asian American artists are especially encouraged to apply. Only professional artists with reviewable portfolios are eligible to apply.
The Commissioned Artist(s) will work with the community, AACC 40th anniversary mural committee and Yale’s Committee for Art in Public Spaces to create a site-specific, durable piece for this installation. Applicants who wish to be considered should have experience working within the public process, in public settings, as well as a proven ability to fabricate their own work. The artwork for this site must reflect the Project Intent described above.

Application Instructions

Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit the following:
● Letter of Interest, no more than one page in length, which explains your interest in the short-term, month-long artist residency. Please include your name and contact information and state the format of your sample submittal (hard or digital copies)
● Artist’s Statement, no more than 200 words in length, describing your work
● Current Resume. If submitting as a team, an individual resume should be submitted for each team member
● A list of at least three professional references familiar with your work and working methods. The list must include complete addresses and telephone numbers
● Work samples of your work. All work samples must be submitted in either of the two following formats:
○ A minimum of eight digital images. All images must be sized at 250 dpi, with a maximum of 1400px at the widest dimension
■ Label files using the following format: last name_01.jpg
■ A PDF image list that includes your name as well as thumbnails with the titles, dates, media, and dimensions of your work. Each work should have a corresponding number to the digital image
○ A video that can be played on a desktop or laptop. Video should be no more than fifteen minutes in length. Do not submit original work. Note: if you are submitting a video, you may send up to two additional images supporting your qualification
to create public artwork. Each image must be formatted as instructed above

Artists applying as a team should submit the above mentioned for each individual artist on the team separately.
Optional: Each artist may include up to three selections of support materials such as reviews, news articles, web links and other related information.

The AACC reserves the right to solicit additional information or proposal clarification should the AACC deem such information necessary.
The AACC reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive informalities or irregularities in the proposal submission process, and to negotiate further with any Proposers.

Materials must be received by the AACC by 12:00pm EST on Monday, July
12th, 2021.

Please upload applications online here or mail
application materials to:
Yale Asian American Cultural Center
Attn: Joliana Yee
55 Whitney Avenue, 2nd second floor
New Haven CT 06520

The AACC will review the submissions and choose a shortlist of artists who will be scheduled for a virtual interview with the AACC 40th anniversary mural committee in late July/early August.
Two finalists will be invited to the Yale campus for an interview with the committee and members of the Yale community. If a proposal is selected, the final commission of artwork for the site will be awarded a week after the campus interview. The selection process will be in accordance with Yale University’s process for acquiring public art and selection panels.

Criteria for Selection
● A body of work reflecting artistic excellence
● Experience working in public settings and public process
● Experience fabricating and installing permanent artwork
● References provided as part of this application which will be contacted prior to final
selection