The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) announced recently that it will install public arts projects throughout the City’s redevelopment areas, and is inviting artists to participate in the project with a partnership with the Arts Council of Long Beach.
The RDA plans to commission artistic enhancements and artworks for 13 sites throughout the City, and will select artists with prior public art experience. Opportunities include entrance markers, gateway sculptures, landscape enhancements, streetscape enhancements and median enhancements.
“Art and culture help shape the identity of a community, and are important to our quality of life,” said Craig Beck, RDA Manager. “It’s a privilege for the RDA to be able to create opportunities for artists to beautify our corridors and gateways, and contribute to our City’s unique sense of identity.”
The 13 sites and corridors are:
1) Ocean Blvd. at Linden Ave. (Potential Gateway site)
2) Ocean Blvd. medians between the 710 Freeway and Alamitos Ave.
3) PCH between the 710 and the western City limits
4) Santa Fe Ave. medians between PCH and Wardlow Ave.
5) Pacific Ave. between PCH and Willow St.
6) Alamitos Ave. between 6th and 7th Streets, outside Museum of Latin American Art
7) Market Street and Dairy Ave., northwest corner (Pocket Park)
8) Plymouth and Elm, northwest corner (Pocket Park)
9) 55th Way, east of Paramount (Pops Davenport Park)
10) Artesia Blvd., west of Long Beach Blvd.
11) Atlantic Ave. between 56th and 59th Streets
12) Atlantic Ave. between the 405 Freeway and Del Amo Blvd.
13) Long Beach Blvd. between 1st and Willow Streets
Selected finalists will be paid honoraria to develop and present their proposals for public art projects to the selection committee, which will include local artists, community and RDA representatives.
The deadline for receipt of application materials is December 20, 2007. Individuals interested in obtaining the Request for Proposals may visit http://rda.longbeach.gov/ and click on “Current RFP’s and Development Opportunities.”