Bernalillo County is Seeking Public Comment for the Tiny Home Village Public Art Project
The three finalists for the Tiny Home Village public art project presented their concepts and designs on April 19, 2021. Bernalillo County’s Public Art Program is seeking public comment on the proposals to provide to the Bernalillo County Arts Board for consideration when choosing the finalist. The Arts Board is expected to make a decision on the winning proposal during the June 2021 monthly meeting of the board.
The proposals were posted on Bernco.gov for public review on April 30 2021. Comments will be accepted until May 17, 2021 at 5 p.m.
Please submit your comments to: publicartprogram@bernco.gov
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Project Background
The Tiny Home Village Project is a collaboration primarily between Bernalillo County and the Albuquerque Indian Center. The goals for the Bernalillo County Tiny Home Village are: to provide dignified, safe, stable and attractive transitional housing for people currently experiencing homelessness; incorporate housing, services and employment to stabilize residents and help them regain self-sufficiency; provide a safe space for those waiting for traditional affordable housing to become available; add deliberate and supported community-building, self-development, and provide life and work skills; and provide support for employment.
In June 2020, the Bernalillo County Arts Board solicited a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from artists for a public art piece at the Tiny Home Village. Artists residing in New Mexico were invited to apply. Artists submitting proposals were asked to demonstrate: an understanding of Bernalillo County; sensitivity towards the population of the Tiny Home Village and the surrounding community; and experience with community engagement. The county received 30 proposals from the call for art.
A selection committee made up of representatives from the Albuquerque Indian Center, Arts Board members, community members, and other stakeholders was formed in August 2020 to review the proposals submitted through the RFQ and to select the top three proposals to recommend to the Arts Board. On January 8, 2021 the Bernalillo County Arts Board approved the recommendations of the selection committee for the top three proposals. The three finalists were then invited to develop detailed proposals and present their concepts during a public meeting. The presentations took place on April 19, 2021.
$43,000 is available to commission the art from 1% for the Arts, from voter approved general obligation bonds. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, equipment, labor, permits, travel, installation, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.
Desired Outcome and Goals
The selection committee’s goals for the project were to enhance the facility and impact the health and wellbeing of the residents and the broader community. The public art piece at the Tiny Home Village can have a positive impact on residents and the community by supporting hopeful expectations about the future, improving mood and relieving stress. Artists and artist teams were asked to emphasize inspiring content that is sensitive to the Village’s population and surrounding community.
Artists and artist teams were asked to demonstrate experience with community engagement and to include Tiny Home Village residents in the creation and installation of the work. Additionally, artists and artist teams were asked to consider in their proposals: the role of art to be empowering and integrated into community mobility and recognizing the value and voice of the Tiny Home Villagers and the broader community; the sensory perceptual and social-emotional aspects of an artwork and how art may contribute to fostering the sense of belonging, safety, and ease; how art can make a 'space' welcoming; the fact that some artworks may cause overstimulation and be triggering for some Villagers; that the art may serve an interactive role, wherein Villagers can experience themselves with the piece, and manipulate and spend time with the art.
For more information about the Bernalillo County Public Art Program and the Tiny Home Village project, please see: https://www.bernco.gov/community-services/public-art-program.aspx
The Tiny Home Village formally opened its doors to the first group of residents on Feb. 10, 2020.
Anyone wishing to support the village and its residents with an online monetary donation, can do so through the Albuquerque Indian Center website at www.abqindiancenter.org.
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