back to resourcesDetroit Civic Sculpture – TCF Center
TCF Center is seeking proposals for a large-scale exterior sculpture. The sculpture will reside outside the beautifully renovated convention center in downtown Detroit. It will be placed in the center of the main entrance circle drive.
There are only a few truly iconic sculptures that define the global and innovative City of Detroit, including Spirit of Detroit by Marshall Fredericks (1958), Joe Louis Memorial by Robert Graham (1986) and Transcending by David Barr and Sergio De Giusti (2003).
This new sculpture will significantly enhance the cultural offerings in downtown Detroit through its affirmative message, aesthetic impact and prominent location. The piece will celebrate Detroit with local residents and the 1.4 million annual visitors to TCF Center.
Artists are urged to consider the physical placement, material and size in their proposals. Three artists will be invited to create a maquette of their design. From this, one proposal will be awarded a budget of $250,000 to support its conceptualization, fabrication and installment, with an additional $50,000 for the artist.
Schedule:
January 15 – Call for Artists is announced
February 28 – RSVP required to attend mandatory meeting at TCF Center, Detroit. Detailed information packet will be distributed to all who RSVP.
March 1 – Tour for all interested artists. Please note the March 1, 2020 meeting is mandatory. Either the artist or the artist’s representative must be in attendance. For those unable to physically attend and with special permission, the meeting will be live streamed. Please RSVP by February 28. There will be an information packet with detailed instructions for this project distributed in advance to all who RSVP. It is to your benefit to RSVP early and to attend in person. This will allow you to review this information in advance of the meeting and to see the site, building and surroundings in person.
June 2, 2020, at 5pm – Deadline for proposals.
June: Jury to review proposals.
July 15 – Top three proposals announced. These artists will receive a $5,000 stipend to create a maquette of their proposed sculpture.
September 1 – Maquette complete.
September: Jury will review three designs and present to DRCFA Art Foundation Board for approval.
October 1 – Final selection announced.
applicable to artists working in these mediums:
About DRCFA Art Foundation
The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) was created in 2009 to operate the Convention and Exhibition Center in Detroit under long-term lease from the City of Detroit. The DRCFA Board of Directors is comprised of five representatives selected by the Governor of Michigan, the Mayor of Detroit, and the county executives of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. The DRCFA receives funding from revenues at the center as well as support from the state’s Convention Fund.