Request for Qualifications (RFQ): Logo Design for Uproar Festival of Public Art
The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) seeks a creative freelance graphic designer, design firm, artist, or agency to create a logo for Uproar Festival of Public Art. Uproar is a new countywide festival taking place July 14 – August 12, 2023. The logo will capture the vibrant character of the festival and serve as an engaging visual representation of this exciting new event.
ABOUT THE OCAC
The Orange County Arts Commission, located in Hillsborough, is an agency of Orange County government. We work to develop the arts in Orange County, North Carolina, which includes the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, & Hillsborough. Our mission is to promote and strengthen the artistic and cultural development of Orange County, North Carolina.
Created on February 4, 1985, the OCAC is the Local Arts Agency for Orange County and the Designated County Partner with the NC Arts Council. We provide grant funding and support for a broad range of high quality arts programs. We also serve as an arts information clearinghouse and operate a community arts space, the Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough.
PROJECT OVERVIEW & SCOPE
Uproar is a new, large-scale arts festival to be presented July 14 – August 12, 2023 in the downtowns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough. Its purpose is three-fold:
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To showcase high-quality, curated, three-dimensional art in both traditional and nontraditional locations throughout the downtowns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough while financially compensating and celebrating the participating artists.
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To generate foot traffic, visitation, and patronage for businesses throughout our downtown communities during a traditionally low-traffic time of year while showcasing our community hospitality.
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To provide the public with an accessible, barrier-free activity that encourages interaction with art, where they are directly responsible for selecting a winner.
The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) is the lead coordinator of the festival. Our partner organizations include:
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Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership
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Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau
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Greater Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce
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Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce
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Orange County Arts Alliance (fundraising arm of the OCAC)
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Orange County Department of Economic Development
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Town of Hillsborough
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Town of Carrboro
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Town of Chapel Hill
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UNC-Chapel Hill
Uproar is inspired by similar events including Art Prize in Grand Rapids, MI and Art Fields in Lake City, SC. Like the events inspiring Uproar, the festival will be an economic boon for our communities and bring attention to Orange County through a showcase of large-scale, fascinating works of public art. Our festival will prioritize support of participating artists, creating an environment where artists are compensated and celebrated. It will also prioritize accessibility; all parts of our festival will be enjoyed by all people, no matter their abilities.
Artists will apply to participate and be juried by professional visual artists to evaluate quality, materials, and scope of work. Accepted artists will be compensated to support their travel and/or installation costs. They will be housed in the homes of community members and/or in partner hotels, making the experience as affordable and welcoming as possible.
Selected works of art will be installed in completely accessible, outdoor public spaces. The public will seek out the locations of the installations, voting on their favorite pieces through an online portal. The piece with the most votes will receive a People’s Choice Award. A professional jury will also evaluate entries and award prizes. The prize for the People’s Choice Award and jurors’ first place award will be the same dollar amount ($10,000), prioritizing the public’s input and participation.
Scope of Work
The scope of the project will extend from concept to creation and include the following requirements of the selected artist/agency:
• Three logo concepts for consideration by festival stakeholders
• Three revisions of selected logo with the option to add additional revisions on an hourly rate basis
• Final digital file(s) in vector format (.EPS) of the approved logo in full-color, single color, and grayscale formats
• Appropriate font files for the logo and a brand guide are encouraged but not required
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Professional History & Contact Information
Applicants will provide a brief professional history along with the following information:
• Contact person
• Title
• Company name and address (if applicable)
• Website
• Direct telephone / mobile phone
References and Work Samples
Applicants will provide portfolio samples that demonstrate technical and creative execution for similar projects as well as two references for similar projects.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SUBMISSION
This is an open and competitive process for artists, designers and design firms. Priority will be given to artists and agencies based in Orange County, NC. Applications will be evaluated by a panel of artists and festival stakeholders. Three applicants will be selected as finalists and paid a $500 stipend to create up to 3 proposed final designs. One final applicant will be selected and paid $4,000 for creation of the final logo.
Timeline:
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RFQ Announcement: Monday, August 29, 2022
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Application deadline: Monday, September 19, 2022
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Final applicants notified: week of September 26, 2022
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Finalists submission deadline: Friday, October 14, 2022
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Notification of selected artist/team: Friday, October 21, 2022
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Desired completion date: Friday, November 11
Questions?
Please contact Katie Murray, director of the Orange County Arts Commission at kmurray@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-2335. Email is preferred.