The City of Wauwatosa is inviting artists to contribute to the city’s vibrant public art scene by designing public art benches for a new park currently under construction. This initiative underscores the city's dedication to integrating public art into community spaces, enhancing the park with creative and functional installations.

Four public art benches will be strategically placed in the park, indicated by yellow circles on the park's layout map. These benches will provide not only seating but also unique artistic expressions for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy. Artists are encouraged to submit designs that are functional, durable, aesthetically pleasing, and suitable for permanent outdoor display.

The ideal public art bench should:

• Serve as a functional piece of seating.
• Be durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions.
• Be aesthetically pleasing and appropriate for public display.
• Be large enough to accommodate two seated adults.
• Each bench will be installed on a level surface measuring 4 feet by 8 feet, ensuring stability and integration with the park’s landscape.
• Artists will have the creative freedom to choose the subject of their design, and each bench will feature a plaque identifying the artist and the title of their work.

Artists must be over 18 years old. Proposals should include a mock-up of the public art bench and a written description of the concept. 

In addition to the public art benches, the park will feature a sculpture from an award-winning, internationally recognized artist, further establishing Wauwatosa as a hub for public art.

Timeline

Download the full proposal requirements. The proposal submission deadline is Friday, August 30, 2024. Selected artists will be announced by Friday, September 13, 2024. The public art bench installation will take place in May 2025.

Payment

Each artist selected will be awarded $8,000 to design and produce their public art bench. There is a travel stipend of $1,000 provided to artists, dependent on the distance they are traveling. $4,000 will be released at the time artists begin the creation of the bench. The remaining amount will be released after the public art bench installation and final delivery.