In partnership with the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency, the Council on Culture & Arts seeks public art proposals by Dec. 10 that celebrate the rich history and culture of the areas surrounding the Capital Cascades Trail and FAMU Way Extension projects.
The Capital Cascades Trail project is designed to provide a multi-faceted, multi-use stormwater and recreation facility and connected trail network. It is separated into physically distinct segments stretching across 4.25 miles of downtown Tallahassee.
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Segment 3 of the Capital Cascades Trail project, often referred to as the FAMU Way Corridor, creates a new east-west roadway from South Monroe Street to Lake Bradford Road, a distance of approximately 1.5 miles. The corridor provides increased connectivity between Florida A&M University and Florida State University.
One of the planned amenities of Segment 3 of the Capital Cascades Trail is the History and Culture Trail project, which will focus on honoring stories of African American neighborhoods and economic engines of the communities located adjacent to the FAMU Way Corridor.
The History and Culture Trail project will highlight the historical contributions and cultural impact of these communities and their stories through artistic cultural and historical interpretations.
Interpretive history kiosks will display images, photographs and historic information about the neighborhoods, businesses and people living and working in the area surrounding the Capital Cascades Trail Segment 3 and FAMU Way projects. Public art installations are planned to complement the educational kiosks.
All artists 18 years of age or older are invited to submit single proposal for any or all of the five identified artwork locations. Proposals for both 2-D (murals) and 3-D (sculpture) artworks will be considered. Artists who apply must have successfully completed at least one outdoor art project in a public space. Special consideration will be given to artists of color and artists who reside in Tallahassee and/or the Big Bend Region (within a 100 mile radius of Tallahassee).
“We’re excited to welcome local and regional artists to submit their ideas and we’re also extending the invitation well beyond our community in hopes that artists around the nation and the world will be inspired by the rich history of this area,” said Amanda Karioth Thompson, COCA’s Assistant Director.
Proposed artworks should represent the overarching goals of the project and must:
- Highlight the history of the Tallahassee African-American community who has historically called the Project area home, as well as the significant history of FAMU and the local civil rights movement.
- Improve civic engagement, enhance civil discourse, and encourage thoughtful and meaningful dialogue among people regarding the story of the surrounding communities
- Enhance the tolerance, diversity, and understanding of our communal history
- Add cultural value by communicating Tallahassee’s unique identity, social value by engaging opportunities for interaction and self-reflection
Additionally, proposed artworks should represent the individual themes aligned with each of the five identified locations along the trial. Submitted works will be judged on responsiveness to the themes as well as artistic merit, design, craftsmanship, safety, and compatibility with the environment.
Selected artists will receive a lump sum award for design, materials, fabrication, and installation. Selected artworks will be incorporated into the project and permanently displayed along the Capital Cascades Trail on FAMU Way. The application closes Dec. 10, 2021. Visit coca.tallahasseearts.org/art-in-public-places/history-and-culture-trail for more details, links, and the application.
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