Public art coming for new fire station

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By John Curry

EMC News - The new Ottawa Fire Service fire station 46 on Iber Road in Stittsville is getting some public art.

This is in keeping with the city's Percent for Art Policy in which new construction projects include a public art component.

Three sites on the exterior of the station have been identified as a potential site for the public art.

Artists and artist-led teams are being invited to submit their qualifications for the opportunity to create this public art. Up to five artists will be short listed for interviews by a project selection committee which may be comprised of two regional artists, a community representative, the project's landscape architect, an artist with public art experience and the city's project manager. Monday, March 5 is the deadline for the submission of expressions of interest in the project by artists.

The work will involve creating original artwork that will involve community interaction, dialogue and collaboration that has helped lead to the final concept or creation. The artwork is to be conceptually and visually innovative while integrated into the fire station's exterior.

The artwork is to demonstrate artistic excellence, should address site characteristics, purpose and architecture, should be engaging to site users, should be safe for the public and should be durable and easily maintained.

This new public art is to be installed this coming fall.

Budget for the creation of this public art, along with a similar creation of public art for the new fire station 47 on Greenbank Road in Barrhaven, is $68,000 plus HST. This budget includes all costs required to design, fabricate and install the art as well as any other costs related to fulfilling the community collaborative component of the project.

The successful artist will be evaluated based on previous work, experience and qualifications as well as creativity of approach in collaborating and interacting with the community.