Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority Art Foundation Announces Call to Artists for National Sculpture Competition at World-Class TCF Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Large-Scale, Permanent Sculpture in Main Entrance Circle Drive to Join TCF Center’s Public Art Collection
DETROIT, MI (15 JANUARY 2020) – Today, the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) Art Foundation, or Art at TCF Center, announced a call to artists for a large-scale, public sculpture in the center of the TCF Center’s main entrance circle drive on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit. This national competition invites artists from across the country to submit proposals for this permanent, civic sculpture, which will join the public art collection at TCF Center that includes work by internationally respected artists such as Hubert Massey, Robert Sestok, Tyree Guyton, and Gilda Snowden, among others. More information on the call to artists is available here.
“We are excited to launch this national competition in search of a stunning and thought-provoking civic sculpture that will have a permanent home at the front entrance of our world-class TCF Center in downtown Detroit,’’ said Larry Alexander, DRCFA Board Chairman. “Our hope is that this piece will highlight our great city’s culture, achievements and strong spirit of innovation and design. The sculpture will welcome Detroiters and the nearly 1.4 million people who visit TCF Center annually.”
The sculpture competition is part of a public art initiative launched by the DRCFA and the DRCFA Art Foundation. Through Art at TCF Center, Detroit joins major convention centers throughout the country featuring public art including cities such as Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. In September 2019, the DRCFA Art Foundation unveiled a 30’ x 30’ permanent fresco, “Detroit: Crossroad of Innovation,” by renowned artist Hubert Massey, which is located outside of the Grand Riverview Ballroom at TCF Center. TCF Center’s curator is Maureen Devine.
“This significant civic sculpture will continue to elevate our art collection at TCF Center, which is free and accessible to the public,” said Lisa Canada, DRCFA Art Foundation Chairperson and DRCFA Vice Chair. “Through our national sculpture competition, our goal is to promote our region and to create an enhanced visitor experience through art. We have beautiful and meaningful artwork throughout TCF Center and look forward to expanding our collection with this important and exciting public art initiative.”
Art at TCF Center Detroit – Call to Artists for National Sculpture Competition
Artists are encouraged to consider the physical placement, material and size in their proposals. Preferred themes may reflect the positive changes and growth ongoing in Detroit and Southeast Michigan, the strong spirit of innovation and design, the global impact of Detroit, and renaissance of the region. The sculpture cannot exceed 30’ in height or 8’ in diameter.
The proposals will be reviewed by a jury, comprised of expert panelists, and three artists will be invited to create a maquette of their design. The three finalists will each present a maquette to the jury and DRCFA Art Foundation Board for the final selection. The winning proposal will be awarded a budget of $250,000 to support its conceptualization, fabrication and installment, with an additional $50,000 for the artist.
All interested artists must RSVP for a mandatory onsite meeting on March 1, 2020 at TCF Center no later than February 28, 2020. Please email mdevine@drcfa.org to RSVP. The final entry deadline via CaFÉ is June 2, 2020 at 5pm. Register at https://artist.callforentry.org/register_info.php.
Located downtown on the beautiful Detroit Riverfront, TCF Center is one of the nation’s largest convention centers, offering 723,000 square feet of exhibit space.
About TCF Center
With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, TCF Center, formerly Cobo Center, boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and is the 17th largest convention center in the country. Visit online at www.tcfcenterdetroit.com.
About the DRCFA
On 9/15/09, operational control of Cobo Center transferred to the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, under a collaborative agreement by the Michigan State Legislature, the City of Detroit, and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Each of these entities has an appointed member on the DRCFA Board. Larry Alexander is the appointee of the Governor of the State of Michigan and serves as Chairman of the Board. For more information visit: http://www.drcfa.org/.
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