Ohio Percent for Art/University of Akron - Polsky Building Commission RFQ

Description

Ohio Percent for Art/University of Akron Polsky Building Artwork Commission RFQ

Open To: Ohio artists                                                                                                         
Commission Amount: $95,250
Entry Open Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
Entry Deadline: Friday, January 22, 2027

Project Summary: University of Akron (UA) is inviting Ohio artists to submit up to nine (9) digital images of past work, a combined artist statement and cv/resume as one pdf, for the Polsky Building Percent for Art Project commission. From the submissions, a group of semi-finalists will be selected to visit the campus, meet with the committee (comprised of UA faculty and staff), and visit the artwork site location(s) to create a site-specific artwork proposal. UA employees and their spouses are not eligible to apply for this commission. Students enrolled in any degree or certificate-granting program are not eligible to apply.

Project Background and Building History: 

For decades, the redevelopment of the old A. Polsky Co. Department Store, which closed just before Christmas in 1978, then reopened as a University of Akron building in 1993, was considered vital to the university and city alike. Yet little has been done to transform the fortress-like building that takes up an entire city block — from Main Street to High Street — into a community amenity that welcomes residents and visitors downtown.The renovated building will house a bookstore and a cafe with outdoor seating on Main Street. Polsky will be reconfigured to house more community amenities, including retail and meeting spaces. The recent work at Lock 3, across the street from Polsky, the converting of the Bowery project at 156 S. Main St., and the Akron Law Building at 159 S. Main St. into apartments, have brought more people to the city center. Opening Polsky to the rest of the city is a next step in combining Akron’s needs and the university’s, while pushing for more investment downtown. Made at Myers, a store selling artwork made at University of Akron's Myers' School of Art, will enjoy a Main Street facade. The Barnes & Noble bookstore and Starbucks that are now accessible off High Street will feature public-facing storefronts on Main Street and will be open longer hours to better serve patrons of downtown evening events.

The second floor, which houses Akron Early College and Allied Health, will remain the same. The third-floor High Street entrance will have added study commons with soft seating and create community spaces that can be accessed on weekends for small events. And the university plans to relocate a number of administrative employees to the building’s third floor. Doing so has dual purposes — it brings more year-round office workers downtown while helping the university reach its goal of emptying buildings to eliminate 1 million square feet of space over the next decade.

Mission of School or Site:  
The University of Akron is a publicly supported metropolitan institution dedicated to developing informed and engaged members of society. It provides comprehensive educational programs ranging from associate to doctoral levels, supports robust research efforts across the arts, sciences, and professional fields, and offers valuable service to the community. The university is committed to excellence in undergraduate education and to achieving distinction in selected areas of graduate study, research, inquiry, and creative activity.
UA emphasizes several key principles aligned with its mission:
Educating students through free, open, and rigorous intellectual inquiry, enabling them to seek truth and form informed conclusions. Creating a community that respects individual autonomy, supports personal growth, and encourages civil discourse and freedom of expression.Ensuring equal opportunity and equal standards for all faculty, staff, and students, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Artistic Goals of the Commissioned Piece:
The primary objective is to create an artwork for the 23' long wall outside the Administration Offices in the University of Akron's Polsky Building. The site will be highly visible by students, faculty, and staff that enter the 3rd Floor of Polsky Building. 
Practical Considerations:
Artwork considered for the UA Polsky Building project must be durable and suitably maintenance-free, and withstand high-traffic environments.
Design considerations include:

Commissioned artwork should:

An image of one of the artwork site locations is above. More will be shared with semi-finalists at the site visit. 
 
Selection Review Process:
Interested artists should complete the online form by visiting: ohiopercentforart-uapolskybldgrfq.artcall.org
In addition to the nine (9) images of past work uploaded, artists should include an artist statement/resume (max 4 pages) as a pdf attachment. This a Request for Qualifications; proposals will not be considered. 
 
The Advisory Selection Committee will review submitted materials and will develop a list of semi-finalist artists that will be invited to meet with the committee for a site visit. After the site visit, the semi-finalists will create a site-specific proposal for artwork for the University of Akron Building project. Each semi-finalist will be offered a proposal fee in addition to an honorarium for their site visit.  Artist proposals will be judged competitively by the Committee.  Submitted proposals become the property of University of Akron.

Ohio Arts Council Staff:
Kathy Signorino, Artist Programs and Percent for Art Director
614-728-6140 or kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov
ArtCall.org Application Steps
Log into the system using your login credentials or create a login: ohiopercentforart-uapolskybldgrfq.artcall.orgUpdate user profile.Click the submit profile update.At the next page click the orange “Add New Application+” button. Please note: you do not have to create a portfolio.Select the category that matches your artwork.Create a title for your application (for example: Public Art Portfolio)Enter the image information for your nine (9) images.Agree to the terms by checking the box.Hit Submit.A new page will open, click the blue attachment button, where you can add your nine (9) images and upload your cv/resume (max 4 pages). After first image is uploaded just select the grey add additional image button to add your next image.Once you upload all your images, and cv/resume your application is complete.
Note: You may edit your entry until the deadline day.