Gene Carey Animal Shelter & Adoption Center Expansion Integrated Public Art, City of Lewisville, TX

The City of Lewisville, Texas is seeking qualifications from artists who wish to create a large-scale 3D work of art that can be integrated into an expansion being planned for the Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.

The City of Lewisville, Texas is seeking qualifications from artists who wish to create a large-scale 3D work of art that can be integrated into an expansion being planned for the Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.

 The Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center serves the City of Lewisville through providing professional and compassionate animal care for all residents. The shelter provides education and resources while maintaining compliance, public safety, and disease prevention. Providing forever homes for animals through adoptions, fostering, and collaborating with placement partners.

Due to a significant increase in demand for the shelter in recent years, a $9.9M expansion was proposed and passed by voters in the 2024 Bond Election. The expansion will include additional kennel space, separation of cat and dog intake space, upgraded surgical suite, expansion of storage, additional staff/office space, dedicated volunteer space for program development, and incorporate integrated public art to enhance the facility.

The expansion is currently in the final stages of design and construction is expected to start by late 2025.

Specifically, the City seeks an artist, or artist team, who can create a unique large-scale 3D work of art that can be architecturally integrated into the publicly accessible areas included in the expansion, including but not limited to the outside elevation of the facility. The art should relate to animals that may be available or serviced at the facility. The art should reflect the playful nature and positive emotional connections between pets and humans. Artists with experience creating immersive and interactive concepts are encouraged to apply.   

This project is open to United States-based artists only.

Background and Context

Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center

The Lewisville Animal Shelter originally opened in 1977. The shelter served primarily as temporary housing for stray animals found in Lewisville.

In 2012, the facility relocated to a new larger space with easier access by the public and was named The Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. The facility is currently 14,000 sq ft and features modern amenities including meet and greet yard space and rooms for those considering adopting an animal. Unfortunately, the shelter has seen a significant increase in the number of animals that need sheltering, particularly due to owner surrenders in recent years, leading to kennel space regularly exceeding capacity.

In the past year, the center has performed more than 2,900 animal intakes and has had 800 adoptions.

About Gene Carey 

Gene Carey served as Mayor of Lewisville from 2000-2009, making him the longest serving mayor in Lewisville history. Prior to being elected as Mayor, Carey served on City Council for seven years, and after his time as Mayor, he continued to serve on several City boards and commissions until his passing in 2016. Carey was a life-long devoted animal lover and several images of him with his dogs are available for consideration or inspiration to the commissioned artist. 

2024 City of Lewisville Bond Package

This project is funded by the City of Lewisville 2024 Bond Program. The City’s Public Art Program is managing the call, contract, and artist relations for this project. More information on the approved 2024 Bond packages can be found here.

Lewisville, Texas

Lewisville was formed in 1847 and incorporated in 1925. Located north of Dallas along Interstate 35E in the bustling DFW Metroplex, the city currently has a culturally diverse population of about 135,000 residents and is a major retail and employment center for the region. Key features include Lewisville Lake, the LLELA Nature Preserve, and historic Old Town Lewisville.

Lewisville Public Art Program

The City’s Public Art Master Plan was originally adopted in 2018, and updated in 2024. The plan sets out a vision for the role that public art can play in Lewisville’s future as a successful city. The City of Lewisville views the public art program as a valuable way to express civic pride, an extension of Lewisville’s commitment to provide residents and visitors with access to arts and cultural experiences, and  a way to visually highlight the city’s cultural and economic diversity. Adding art to city facilities, public parks, and greenspaces are key components to this plan.

Project Scope and Parameters

The City of Lewisville has established a specific scope and parameters for this public art project with the intent of creating a unique and inspiring work of art for those who visit and will use the Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. The City is looking for an artist or team of artists that will be able to adhere to these parameters through their work.

Appropriate and Unique: The City is seeking an original, one-of-a-kind art project that is appropriate for Lewisville and for the diverse community that will experience it.

Artistic Considerations: Preference will be given to artists who are experienced with large-scale 3D works of art that are integrated into facilities at the time of construction. Artistic practices with consideration of durable and sustainable approaches are highly desired. Artists who work with themes of animals are strongly encouraged to apply.  Interactive and immersive art concepts that engage the community preferred. The City seeks artists with experience creating art that spans a large area, or includes multiple areas such as inside and outside elements. 

Other Important Considerations

The facility will begin construction in late 2025 and the artist will need to work directly and efficiently with the building architect to finalize plans for the artwork so integration can be included with the architectural plans.  

Traditional, colorful, powder-coating finishes on outdoor components of the work are not allowed due to limited longevity in Texas' extreme climate. Alternative, longer-lasting, methods for incorporating colored metal into the artwork will be considered. 

Artworks considered to be interactive (e.g. touchable, climbable) must meet all local and state ADA requirements.

Placement of Piece(s)

Due to the funding source for this project, the final work of art must be incorporated into the architecture of the facility or installed onto the building in some way. Stand-alone elements only cannot be considered, and any stand-alone elements selected will be limited within the larger scope of the project.

Early renderings of expansion plans 

Images of current shelter exterior and interior 

Materials and Media

Durability and Maintenance: The artwork should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. If interactive elements are part of the project, then replacement parts should be readily available or easily sourced for future replacement and maintenance. This project may be outdoors, and will be in the public realm, and may therefore be exposed to physical stressors such as touching and potentially climbing by center users, as well as all types of weather including intense sun, wind, rain, and frozen precipitation. The artwork should not have any sound effects or sound scape elements included so as to not upset animals coming to or residing at the Center. 

The selected artist will be required to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal for the project. Artists with past projects that have successful long-term durability and proven maintenance potential (as informed by materials submitted and reference checks) are strongly encouraged to apply.  All awarded public art contracts will be reviewed by the City to ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance and durability, as well as ADA standards.

Budget: The budget for this commission is up to $175,000 USD which will be allocated to a single artist or artist team. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the creation of the artwork including, but not limited to: the artist’s design fee, materials, consultation fees (such as structural engineering), insurance, tools, fabrication, studio expenses, transportation, installation, travel to and from the site for installation/dedication, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs. The City will be responsible for preparing the site for the installation of the artwork and for signage for the completed work. The artist is expected to travel to Lewisville two to three times for this project; once for a site visit before the final design is complete and for a community presentation, and a second time for the installation of the work. It is highly desired that the artist also attends a dedication event after installation is completed. Additionally, several virtual meeting check-ins with the selection panel or the full Arts Advisory Board, and regular updates to city staff, will be required throughout the fabrication process.

Timeline

Friday, May 16, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (MST) -  Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

Mid-June 2025 - Notification sent to Finalists

Early August 2025 - Finalist interviews and presentations

Late Summer 2025 - Selected artist notification

In response to this call, applicants will be asked to submit a Statement of Interest, up to eight digital images and/or video samples of past work, a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) and up to three professional references (if available) via the CaFÉ™ online application system (www.callforentry.org). 

Required Materials: (Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. The applicant’s name must appear on all materials submitted.

1.     Statement of Interest – Please submit a statement outlining your interest in the project.  Please include your experience working on projects of this kind. You may also include an explanation of ways your art has encouraged community engagement and examples of past support of animal services if available. Artist’s statement should also briefly explain how you may approach addressing the stated scope and parameters of the project if commissioned. Please name your file accordingly: Last Name.First Initial.Statement (i.e. Smith.J.Statement.pdf).

2.     Digital Images and/or Video – Please submit up to eight work samples, including digital images or video of previously completed artworks.

Please do not send specific proposals; the panel will not consider them.  You may refer to completed artworks or projects submitted in your application that exemplify the aesthetic direction you might consider for the project if you are a finalist.   

3.     Résumé or CV – Please submit a current résumé or CV that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist. Please name your file accordingly: Last Name.First Initial.Resume (i.e. Smith.J.Resume.pdf).

4.     References – Please provide information for up to three professional references, including their name, title, phone number and email address. Please provide the context in which the person knows you. Please name your file accordingly: Last Name.First Initial.References (i.e. Smith.J.References.pdf).

Process and expectations for finalist interviews: From these application materials, the artist selection panel will choose up to three finalists for telephone or online interview.  Finalists will be given additional details about what to prepare for the interview which will include the request to develop a site-specific proposal and general budget breakdown.  Finalists will be paid $1,500 (USD) for their time in preparing a proposal and for participating in the interview process. From the interview process, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission and recommended to Lewisville City Council for approval.

The selected artist or artist team for the commission will collaborate with City Staff, Representatives from the Architecture firm selected for the expansion project, and representatives from the Arts Advisory and Animal Services Board members on final design, and will be responsible for fabricating the artwork, bringing it to the site and installing it.

This project is open to United States-based artists (only), regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or disability.

Artists working in a variety of 3-D and outdoor appropriate media are eligible to apply. This is not an appropriate call for artists working only in mural or 2-D art.

Artists without access to a computer can call 972.219.8446 to make arrangements to use a computer at the City’s art center.