Prospectus #289 Curry County Ninth Judicial District Court - Public Art Commission

The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee (LSC) of the Curry County Courthouse seek to commission an artist/artist team to create and install multiple artworks to hang from the East and North interior walls of the entrance of the lobby of the Curry County Courthouse in Clovis, NM. New Mexico or Western Texas based artists with relevant public art experience are encouraged to submit qualifications. Five (5) finalists will be selected and paid $2,000 + travel expenses to create and present a formal proposal, with a total budget of $150,000 awarded to the selected artist/artist team whose design is commensurate with the size and scope of the project.

Long project description

AIPP Mission Statement

The Art in Public Places program enriches New Mexico’s public spaces through an innovative and diverse public art collection. Since its inception in 1986, the program has placed more than 3,000 works of art in all of New Mexico’s 33 counties.  Our goal is to reflect the diversity of the arts in New Mexico, the Southwest, and the nation while building a dynamic public art collection for the State of New Mexico.

Through a fair and open public process, committees made up of local and regional representatives work with New Mexico Arts staff to select artwork for their communities. The Art in Public Places program then commissions large-scale projects that are designed for integration directly into the architecture or landscape of a given site, or the program purchases existing original artwork to be placed in or around public buildings permanently or on loan.

Project intent: 

The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee (LSC) of Curry County Courthouse (CNM) seek to commission an artist/artist team to create and install artwork(s) to hang from the East and North interior walls of the entrance of the lobby of the Curry County Courthouse in Clovis, NM. New Mexico or Western Texas based artists with relevant public art experience are encouraged to submit qualifications. The Curry County Courthouse is a space where civilians come to schedule hearings, file civil complaints, conduct business with clerks and await trial dates, and is therefore a space that would benefit from inspirational, calming, uplifting and/or soothing works of art to balance the oftentimes stressful nature of business conducted there. 

The LSC will consider the work and practices of artists/artist teams that range from figurative/representational to non-objective/abstract. Artwork media/construction can be traditional/mixed/experimental in nature but MUST BE constructed out of materials that will survive a permanent installation in an indoor setting with high public traffic and regular exposure to bright light. Artworks that explore the history, landscapes, culture, industry, etc of Eastern New Mexico, and the town of Clovis in particular, are encouraged. 

The project must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, safe for both children and adults and must meet all applicable code requirements, including ADA compliance. Light and/or lighting elements may be included as components in the design, though if natural light is used, the glare should be kept minimal or non-existent. If kinetic features or components are proposed, the resulting sounds should also be minimal. Designs that use water or water features will not be considered. Access to electricity and other technical needs can be served via connections/ports in the ceiling to accommodate artist’s proposals that engage with new media and technologically reliant components.

At the selected artist’s expense, the artwork may require certification by an electrical, civil and/or structural engineer licensed to practice in the state of New Mexico and reviewed by a professional fine art conservator (if applicable).

Site Information

Two interior sites have been selected for this commission: the North Wall and the East Wall of the lobby entrance. Artists may chose to submit artwork for both or one of the walls depending on the nature of their proposal. The North Wall measuring approximately 18.5 feet high x 20 feet wide with a clearance of five feet from the floor and below the light fixtures. The selected proposal provide visual engagement as people enter the lobby from 700 N. Main St., Suite 11. Clovis, NM 88101 as well as sit safely out of reach from physical interaction by viewers. The East Wall is adjacent to the North Wall and measures roughly 18.5 feet high x 18 feet wide clearing both the seating and hanging light fixtures.

Please use this link to view photos and schematics of the space: Curry County Courthouse Lobby images 

ABOUT THE CURRY COUNTY COURTHOUSE

The Curry County Courthouse in Clovis, New Mexico is a three-and-a-half-story Art Deco-style courthouse which was built in 1936. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

It was designed by architect Robert E. Merrell of Schaefer & Merrell architectural firm. It was expanded in 1954 with a two-story addition, also designed by Robert E. Merrell, over the site of the preceding 1910 courthouse.

Merrell also designed the NRHP-listed Hotel Clovis, at 210 Main St. in Clovis, and the NRHP-listed Roosevelt County Courthouse at 100 W. 2nd St. in Portales, New Mexico.

PROJECT AMOUNT

After finalist presentation fees, $150,000 is available to commission an artist/artist team to create and install public artworks to hang from the East and North interior walls of the entrance of the lobby of the Curry County Courthouse in Clovis, NM. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, equipment, labor, permits, engineering documents, insurance, taxes, travel, installation, shipping, identification plaque, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project. The commission will be awarded to the selected artist/artist team whose design is commensurate with the size and scope of the project. There is no additional funding.  THIS IS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ONLY. DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR ARTWORK AT THIS TIME, PLEASE SEE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS BELOW.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

The Local Selection Committee (LSC) is made up of representatives from the owner/user agency (Curry County): Owner Agency representative, User Agency Representative, Architect/Facilities Representative, Local Artist, Local Arts Professional, and Local Project Director. Under the guidance of an AIPP Project Coordinator, the LSC is responsible for prospectus development, submission review, finalist selection and ultimately selecting the artist or artist team to be awarded the commission project. Artists may research the project using any resource except for direct discussion with individual members of the Local Selection Committee or the New Mexico Arts Commission.

The selection criteria shall include but is not limited to: 

• The professional qualifications of the artist(s) as evidenced by the supporting materials.
• Proven ability to undertake projects of the described scope.
• Artistic merit and superior caliber craftsmanship as evidenced by provided images.
• Suitability of submission to project intent and site.

Up to five finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal for one of the available locations listed above. Finalists will receive a $2,000 honorarium for a written proposal, presentation, and a maquette and/or digital rendering of the proposed artwork. One site visit will be required of each finalist to include an in-person presentation of the artwork proposal to the Local Selection Committee and a public presentation at the site. All maquettes, samples, and written proposals will become the property of Curry County unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Additionally, each finalist/team will receive a travel stipend based on mapped mileage according to the following schedule:

$500 for travel and lodging between 50 – 300 miles one-way.

$900 for travel and lodging between 301 – 800 miles one-way.

$1,800 for travel and lodging 801 miles and over one-way.

Artists or artist teams short-listed as finalists for this project will be required to enter into a Finalist Presentation Contract with the State of New Mexico. A sample Finalist Presentation Contract is available on New Mexico Arts website or upon request.

The artist or artist team that is ultimately awarded the commission project will be required to enter into a Professional Services Contract with the State of New Mexico. A sample Professional Services Contract is available on New Mexico Arts website or upon request.

Project Timeline

May 8, 2026 – Project Announced

July 8, 2026 – Application Submission Deadline

August 2026 (3-4 weeks) - Jurying of Submissions by LSC

Late August 2026 – Notification of 5 Finalists

November/December 2026– Finalist Presentations (in-person at Curry County Courthouse; Finalist(s) Selection Notification

QUESTIONS/FOLLOW UP

Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to Kiersten Fellrath, Public Art Program Coordinator, at 505-699-4910, email: Kiersten.Fellrath@dca.nm.gov

If you would like to have your submission materials reviewed by an AIPP staff person, please make an appointment no less than two weeks prior to the submission deadline. Technical assistance calls increase dramatically during the final two weeks of the open submission period; therefore we cannot guarantee review during the final two weeks of the competition. Submission materials will not be reviewed on the day of the deadline.

Deadline for Submission: 11:59pm, July 8, 2026

Please read the following information carefully, as incomplete, or late submissions will not be accepted. Supplemental information beyond what is requested will not be reviewed by the Local Selection Committee. Failure to provide any of the published requirements could result in disqualification from the competition. Duplicate submissions will not be accepted. All materials must be submitted via CaFÉ (https://www.callforentry.org/) according to the specifications outlined below:

• An artist statement/letter of interest written specifically to address the following: Describe your artwork/approach/style/perspective/background. Answer: What excites you about this opportunity to create a public artwork for this site?
• A current chronological resume or curriculum vitae and/or helpful links to personal website/online portfolio/social media demonstrating relevant work experience, particularly public art, publicly or privately funded. Include links to websites, social media or any additional information that will assist the LSC with learning more about you and your art.
• 10-15 images and/or 5 videos of artwork PREVIOUSLY created (portfolio) that showcase your artwork/style/perspective. Complete image citations will be required, including artwork title, medium, height, width and depth, price or value, year completed, and description. Please review and adhere to the Image and Media Preparation page on CaFÉ when formatting your images or videos. Tutorials can be downloaded using the links near the bottom of the page. By default, CaFÉ will organize the images in your submission alphabetically. If you wish to present the images to the committee in a different order you must prioritize the images before submitting an application.

This REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS is open to all artists/artist teams currently residing in the United States. Artists submitting qualifications should demonstrate a level of experience and professionalism that is commensurate with the project scope and budget.

AIPP regulations state that 1% funds may not be spent for artwork created for an institution or agency by an employee of the institution or agency. Qualifications submitted by and on behalf of current employees or family of current employees of CNM or NM Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) will not be considered. Applicants may be required to provide verifiable proof of current employment at the discretion of AIPP Program staff. Past employees are eligible to submit proposals but may not become employed by CNM or NMDCA for the duration of the project.