Thank Yous (Recycled) by Mark Salinas; image courtesy of the artist
Updates
On Monday, December 2nd, we held selection panels for two different initiatives, the Times Square Transformation project and the Valentine Heart Competition. Times Square Transformation is a partnership project with the NYC Department of Design and Construction to turn the vinyl mesh on construction fencing into a rotating, contemporary art gallery. Now in its sixth year, the Valentine Heart Competition is an annual installation where we invite partners to join as curators. This year, Van Alen Institute curated submissions. While Times Square Transformation is an open call to the international arts community, the Valentine Heart Competition is a solicited call to emerging architect studios. In addition to the direct project partners, our selection panels also have representation from several city agencies, leaders of cultural institutions and specialists in the field from our art advisory committee or from the partner’s board.
We have debated about selection processes and how to be continually transparent, inclusive and yet proactive in generating diverse proposals. We want to always emphasize the importance of open calls for their wider reach and inclusion, but also be mindful of the fact that they can generate less fully-developed proposals. While solicited proposals don’t afford us a larger reach, they are often developed in collaboration with our team and proffer more appropriate submissions. Therefore, it is more effective to use the open call process for projects that have very specific parameters, facilitating more successful submissions. Open calls can also draw media attention to a program or project, and offer opportunities and visibility to lesser-known artists. The solicited call with a curatorial partner yields a smaller selection but allows a more comprehensive, guided conversation for sophisticated proposals. We discussed each of these processes with our arts advisors and agreed upon the most productive way for panelists to make informed choices.
Recent Wins
Times Square Transformation
For this rotating, contemporary art gallery on construction fencing, we held an open call. As we look forward to several years of asymmetrically shaped, evolving, wandering reconstruction of the Broadway plazas, we want to showcase artists and concepts focused on systems, transformation and the unique identity of Times Square. The open call was distributed through Art-Agenda as well as via our advisors and partner institutions. The resulting proposals reflected a global perspective on Times Square and raised awareness of the program. As we have very precise specifications for the fencing, it was easy to give the applicants a clear proposal format and templates to use for their renderings. Ultimately, it was Queens-based artist Mark Salinas who won this round, and though he is local, we did not already know him from our existing networks. Through the selection process, the panel identified additional concepts that could be worked into revised proposals for future exhibitions.
Valentine Heart Competition
In October, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of the legendary TKTS booth/Red Steps on Duffy Square, whose design was the result of a competition curated and overseen by Van Alen Institute. To celebrate this anniversary, we invited Val Alen to curate our sixth annual Valentine Heart Competition. Their expertise in the architecture and design of the public realm enables them to select emerging architects who can excel in temporary design installations for public space, even while working within a potentially challenging budget. Each proposal required considerable attention to detail because this kind of project must endure four weeks of New York City winter, as well as up to 400,000 visitors per day. Consequently, for this competition we wanted to work with a smaller selection panel and with curatorial partners who were informed about the project and the studio. Young Projects, based in Brooklyn, won the competition with a sculpture that engages the audience in finding their ideal mates via interactive viewing and listening posts associated with astrological signs. While previous projects have focused on the concept of celebrating your partner or love, this design is the first to incorporate the idea of actually finding him or her.
Insight/Provocation
Not every project requires the same selection process or panel. It is essential to consider the appropriate selection process to generate the network reach and creative diversity necessary for each project. One wants to receive strong proposals and leave room for surprising concepts, approaches, and even applicants. It is necessary to think about what the applicant needs in order to deliver. Some projects require more sophisticated artists, due to the complexity of the installation or execution, and therefore, a wide-open call may not be appropriate. While the process and the expectations need to be clear, there is no one template for all projects.
The selection meeting should also take advantage of the expertise in the room. Expertise can relate to the medium, the site, or proposal review process. Bring critical voices and perspectives together as early as possible so that everyone involved feels informed and confident in the final choice, especially in communicating with partners, press and the public. A clear and efficient process is crucial, but it should never be more important than allowing the appropriate conversation to unfold. Leave room for informal conversation; projects should prompt larger questions and discussion of broader issues and contexts that allow your panel members the pleasure of exploring with their peers. Through conversation, the panel also gains consensus on objectives for the final choice. Facilitating the process must marry objective information-sharing and program directors’ own professional questions about the strengths and weaknesses of any submission. Help your panel by considering the practicalities and logistics before asking panels to make recommendations—no one wants to push for something that cannot be realized. Where appropriate, short-list selections so that there is ample time to discuss the complexity of the projects that raise the keenest interest. Establishing manageable and enjoyable meetings with reasonable expectations will open the most appropriate and productive conversation. Ultimately, we all want to encourage successful proposals, selections and processes.