Tupper Lake Train Station Public Art Installation

Call for Artists - Tupper Lake Train Station Public Art Installation 

Submission Deadline: July 22, 2025 

Budget: Not to exceed $23,800 

Project Overview 

The Town of Tupper Lake invites artists or artist teams to submit proposals for a site-specific  public art installation at the Tupper Lake Train Station. This signature piece will serve as a visual  gateway, celebrating Tupper Lake’s rich heritage, natural beauty, and community spirit. 

This project is a joint project of the Town of Tupper Lake and Tupper Arts, funded through grants from The Fund for Tupper Lake at Adirondack Foundation and the Department of Environmental  Conservation Adirondack Communities Smart Growth Program. 

Project Goals 

• Reflect Tupper Lake’s Identity: Create artwork that resonates with the town's history, culture,  and natural surroundings. 

• Encourage Interaction: Design an engaging piece that invites public and social media  interaction and becomes a focal point for visitors and residents alike. 

• Utilize Natural and Recycled Materials: Street art that incorporates locally-sourced, recycled or natural materials to reflect the Adirondack environment. 

• Enhance the Site: Complement the train station's aesthetics and contribute to the area's  revitalization efforts. 

Site Details 

• Location: Outdoor area at the Tupper Lake Train Station. 

• Allocated Space: An 8x8-foot area in a prominent location will be designated for the  installation in site design. 

• Considerations: Durability, ease of maintenance, weather resistance, and safety for public  interaction. 

Suggested Tupper Lake Themes (Not Exclusive) 

• Lumberjack heritage and timber industry 

• Adirondack guides and wilderness exploration 

• Railroading history in the North Country 

• Iconic Adirondack elements (flora, fauna, geography) 

• Sculptural styles reminiscent of local artists 

• Gateway features symbolizing connection and discovery

Budget 

The project has total funding of $23,800. The not-to-exceed cost proposal submitted should  include all aspects of the project including artist fees, materials, fabrication, transportation,  installation and expenses. 

Eligibility 

Open to professional artists or artist teams with experience in large-scale public art. Submission Requirements 

• Statement of interest (1 page) 

• Concept proposal (1–2 pages) 

• Preliminary sketches or design concepts 

• Portfolio of up to 5 previous works 

• Detailed cost proposal with full budget breakdown 

• Proposed timeline for completion 

Selection Criteria 

• Artistic merit and originality 

• Relevance to Tupper Lake's history and brand 

• Feasibility and durability of the proposed work 

• Potential for community and social media engagement 

• Alignment with budget and timeline 

Timeline 

• Call Released: May 27, 2025 

• Submission Deadline: 2:00 pm on July 22, 2025 

• Artist Selection: August 15, 2025 

• Installation Timeline: Site available in fall 2025; completion by June 1, 2026. Submission Process 

Please submit all materials in a single PDF to: tupperlakecommunitydevelopment@gmail.com no  later than 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. 

Subject Line: Train Station Public Art Proposal – [Artist Name] 

Conditions Governing Responses 

The Town of Tupper Lake reserves the right to: 

• Accept or reject any or all submissions. 

• Cancel the selection process or change the schedule.

• Request qualified respondents to consider contracting for only certain elements of the  project. 

• Require respondents to clarify aspects of their understanding of and approach to the  project in person, by email or by telephone/video conference. 

• Waive or modify minor irregularities in responses received. 

• Negotiate with respondents to best serve the interests of the Town of Tupper Lake. • Amend this proposal after release, with due notice given. 

• Reject any and all responses to this RFP and seek new proposals when it is in the best  interest of the Town to do so. 

• Incorporate this RFP and the selected Proposer’s response to this RFP as a part of any  formal agreement between the Town and the Proposer. 

Public Information  

All documents, conversations, correspondence, etc. between the Town and Proposers are public  information subject to the laws and regulations concerning disclosure that govern the New York  State municipalities, unless specifically identified otherwise. 

Consultant Contract Requirements 

The selected consultant will be required to execute a contract with the Town of Tupper Lake.  

Respondents should be aware that the following clauses will be required in the consulting  agreement: 

• This agreement may be terminated by either party at any time without cause by 10 days  written notification.  

• Payment by the Town will be made as follows: 

o Upfront payment for materials. 

o Half of remaining cost at 50% completion. 

o Final payment upon completion. 

• This Agreement is governed by the law of the State of New York. If a dispute cannot be  worked out amicably between the parties, all claims, disputes and other matters in  question, arising out of, or relating to, this agreement or any breach of it, the exclusive venue  for any action brought hereunder shall be in Franklin County, New York. 

Grant Requirements  

The Town of Tupper Lake is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Successful  respondents will be required to agree to comply with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity  Act. New York State has established15% Minority and 15% Women’s Owned Business  Enterprises goals for this grant.

Additional Considerations 

• The Town is not responsible for responses that are not received or that do not arrive by the  submission deadline. 

• Expenses incurred in the preparation of responses shall be borne by the respondent(s)  with the express understanding that the respondent(s) may not apply to the Town for  reimbursement for these expenses. 

• By submitting a response, the respondent agrees that it will not make any claim for or  have any right to damages because of any lack of information or misinterpretation of the  information provided in the response. 

• If respondent provides material(s) of a confidential nature for disclosure to third parties,  • The Town of Tupper Lake is not liable for any costs incurred by any individual or firm for  work performed to prepare its response or for any travel and or other expenses incurred in  the preparation and/or submission of its response or participation in subsequent  interviews or presentations. Further, the Town of Tupper Lake is not liable for any costs  incurred prior to approval of the contract. 

Notification of Award 

The successful respondent will be notified by phone, followed by written confirmation. For those  proposals that are not accepted, respondents will be notified in writing, via email.  

The Town of Tupper Lake will authorize the award of a contract to the successful respondent. In  the event a contract cannot be finalized within 30 days of the award, the Town of Tupper Lake  reserves the right to enter into negotiations with another respondent.  

Questions 

To ensure they receive any addenda or additional information, artists considering submission of a  response should notify Melissa McManus at tupperlakecommunitydevelopment@gmail.com.  Questions concerning responses to the RFP must be submitted by June 30, 2025 to the email  above. Written answers and clarifications will be emailed to all firms who have notified the Town of Tupper Lake that they will be submitting a proposal by July 10, 2025.