Calendar of Events

Office of the President

Submissions

In 2010, President Emeritus, Thomas J. Schwarz established the President’s Committee for Public Art on Campus to encourage the display of student made, public art on campus. 

President Peña continues to see the importance of displaying student art work across campus and has charged the Committee to request proposals for consideration, including sculpture, murals, and new media art, to be installed in public spaces on the Purchase College campus.

Chosen installations remain in place for 1 to 3 years based on site rotation.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all current Purchase College students, regardless of major. Cross-disciplinary collaborations between current Purchase College students are encouraged.

Stipend

An award of $500.00 will go to the selected artist(s) with a budget of up to $3,500.00 to cover the cost of materials, fabrication, installation, maintenance costs, and de-installation.

Application Due Date

All applications for the 2024-2025 President’s Award for Public Art on Campus are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at the Google Drive link in the Applications Requirements section below.

Application Requirements

The following information should be provided in a SINGLE PDF document NO LARGER than 10MB in total uploaded to Google Drive:

Contact Information

  • Name, address, telephone, email, website (if any), class year, and major/advisor.

Project Description

  • Briefly describe the proposal including all materials, dimensions of the work and proposed method of installation.

Site Location

  • Identify the proposed location of the piece and include a description of why the artwork is appropriate for the site.
  • A rendering or sketch of the piece, showing the location and orientation of the piece, should be included.

Artist’s Statement

  • Provide a brief artist’s statement for the work explaining the intended impact on the public.

Artist’s Previous Experience

  • Describe previous experience that is relevant to the proposed project.
  • Up to 10 images of recent, relevant work and image scripts should be included.

Project Budget

  • Provide an estimated budget of anticipated expenses including materials, fabrication, installation, site restoration, transportation, and maintenance costs. Remember, if your proposal is ultimately selected, up to $3,500 will be provided to cover associated costs. Any costs beyond $3,500 total will not be covered by the College.

Maintenance

  • Briefly describe any maintenance requirements for the artwork during the display period, if any.

References

  • Provide the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of two people, preferably members of the Purchase College community, who are familiar with your work.

Other Requirements

Installation

  • The artist will be required to assist with the installation of the artwork.
  • Appropriate signage will be agreed upon by the artist and the committee and will be mounted near the artwork.

Maintenance

  • The artist will be available to assist with maintenance during the months the work is on display.
  • Neither the committee, nor the college, is responsible for any damage to the piece while it is installed at the site location.

Removal and Site Restoration

  • The removal of the work is the responsibility of the artist.
  • The artist is also responsible for restoring the site to its original condition, as necessary.

Documentation

  • The artist retains sole ownership of the artwork but agrees to allow Purchase College to use any depictions of the work for any lawful purpose and all non-commercial use.

Selection Criteria

The submitted proposals will be evaluated by the members of the President’s Committee for Public Art on Campus and their selection will be presented to the President for final approval.

All decisions are final. Decisions will be made on the basis of the submitted application and supporting materials and will consider the following criteria:

Artistic Merit

  • The proposed work should exhibit creativity and a high standard of design.
  • The artist’s application should, through previous work, demonstrate proficiency in the proposed medium.

Site

  • The proposed piece must be appropriate to the identified location in size, concept, and visual quality and should be responsive to the environmental and social context.
  • The installation must not disrupt pedestrian traffic or obstruct walkways.
  • Sites should be chosen from the list below:

Fort Awesome

Circle and concrete pad in Fort Awesome courtyard

CMFT Building

Lower lobby, courtyard, and upper lobby

Plaza and Arcades

Non-pedestrian locations

Student Services Building

South Side lobby window area

DHall/Quad

In vicinity of new amphitheater area

Other Sites

Pending approval from facilities and capital planning. Please contact Rachel Owens for more information on the approval process.

Design Aesthetic

  • Artists should consider, but need not be limited to, the history, culture and architecture of the Purchase College campus and those who live and work here.

Durability

  • Artworks should be constructed from durable materials suitable to the outdoor site.
  • Simplicity of maintenance and resistance to vandalism should be addressed in the design.

PLEASE CONTACT Rachel Owens, Associate Professor and Chair, Sculpture and Chair of the President’s Committee for Public Art on Campus, at m-rachel.owens@purchase.edu with any questions or concerns.