The 8/4 Memorial Committee is seeking artists, artist teams, designers, or architects to design a public artwork to serve as a memorial for the victims of the tragic events that took place in The Oregon District neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, on August 4, 2019. Eligible artists are invited to provide the necessary information via The Contemporary Dayton’s website at https://codayton.org/events/call-for-entry/. The submission deadline is December 5, 2022. Up to 5 artists will be selected and paid a stipend of $1,500 each to present a final design. The winning artist or artist team will receive an award of $200,000 to create the public art memorial.

The RFQ and project expectations were carefully established following several public input surveys and meetings. The goal of the public artwork will be to memorialize the lives lost in the 8/4 event as well as everyone affected; include community engagement to inspire hope, unity, and healing; and provide a meditative space for reflection and remembrance.

“This memorial will play a major role in the healing of our community,” said Sandy Hunt, co-chair of the 8/4 Memorial Committee. “Survivors, family members of victims, and the general public all provided us with their perspectives on what this artwork will mean to those who were affected by the tragedy. It’s important to us to provide something accessible and meaningful to support everyone’s recovery.”

The RFQ is the first phase of a three-phased process concluding with the installation of a public art memorial. The Committee will select semi-finalists from the RFQ. Senior-finalists will receive a stipend to develop the final work.

Eligible applicants can respond to the RFQ by submitting:

I. Letter of Interest

Artist Name, Address, Phone, Email Address, and Website and/or social pages for Artist and/or all Artist Team Members.
Your interest in the Project and your experience working on comparable projects, including your experience with architectural and engineering project teams. Include your philosophy on public art, its integration into surrounding environment and how your work and experience will complement this project.
Any experience that they you may have working with social change through your artwork and what your approach is to working with people in a community.
Please describe your eligibility with the multiple criteria for this project from Eligibility section of this RFQ.
References, to include at least three (3) art and/or design professionals who have detailed knowledge of the artist’s work and working methods, including fulfilling deadlines, working with the community, etc. Include the contact name, organization, address, telephone number, and email for each reference.
II. Résumé / CV Submit a brief, current résumé or CV that includes all contact information, website, previous public art commissions, design team experience, exhibitions, awards, grants and education, if applicable. If submitting as a team of artists, please compile all résumés into a single document.

III. Images of Your Work Please submit images and information for up to 5 past commissioned projects. To do that, please include the main image, title of the artwork, the medium, the dimensions, and date created or installed. These images will serve as an overview of your work relevant to this RFQ. Please submit JPEG images with a minimum of 620px wide, and a maximum file size of 5mb. Horizontal images are preferred. Slides, prints or any physical submissions of artwork will not be accepted.

Submission information can be found at https://codayton.org/events/call-for-entry/. The Co will host two artist information sessions to be held at Dayton Metro Library Main Branch on Thursday, October 20, and at the Wesley Community Center on Saturday, November 5. The RFP process allows the 8/4 Memorial Committee to attract as many qualified artists as possible and streamline the final selection process to ensure a successful project.

“This memorial is about connection and coming together,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, co-chair of the 8/4 Memorial Committee. “We are looking for an artist or group of artists who can understand how this event affected our community and how they can help us pay tribute to the nine people we lost and the countless others who were impacted.”

Up to five semi-finalists will be selected through the Request for Qualifications. Each artist or artist team selected to proceed to the second phase of the project will be paid to develop and present full proposals. The Request for Proposals phase of the search will include site visits, interviews, and artwork proposal development.

Questions about the 8/4 Memorial Committee and the 8/4 Memorial may be directed to co-chairs Sandy Gudorf (email gudorf@downtowndayton.org or call 937-224-1518) and Sandy Hunt (email hunts@mcohio.org or call 937-225-6262). Questions about the Request for Qualifications and the RFP process should be directed to Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant, The Contemporary Dayton, (cking@codayton.org or call 937-224-3882).