REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The BIG Back Yard A garden exhibition/summer outdoor installation on view at Powell Gardens May 12-October 22, 2018 Powell Gardens, Kansas City s botanical garden, seeks design proposals for a special outdoor exhibition that will inspire visitors to linger on our lawns, relax while relishing beautiful landscapes and botanical collections, and play in Kansas City s big back yard. The year 2018 marks the 30 th anniversary of Powell Gardens, and offers BIG celebrations all year long. Located just east of Kansas City on Highway 50, Powell Gardens wishes to create engaging, larger-than-life outdoor spaces for visitors that encourage play, inspire imagination, and promote relaxation with a dash of humor and whimsy. This regional exhibition will feature between seven to ten outdoor structures that will relate to the theme of an urban backyard. Design/build proposals must include interactive elements and allow visitors to sit, climb, rest, play, etc. Structures must withstand outdoor elements including but not limited to hot sun, thunderstorms, high winds, etc. and meet general health and safety standards. Designers whose ideas are selected for construction will have their work enjoyed by thousands of visitors of all ages and abilities and will have their names published in relation to their work on our website, in press releases, social media and elsewhere. Design finalists will be selected in early January 2018 by a panel of judges. Each winning designer will receive a stipend of $4,000 and will be responsible for all aspects of construction, on-site installation, any needed maintenance during the exhibition period, and the removal of each structure at the close of the exhibition. Collaboration between individuals and businesses is encouraged! Required: All interested parties must attend a pre-design meeting scheduled at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8, at Powell Gardens at which time questions will be answered and a full walk-through of available sites for the exhibition will take place. Please RSVP by November 3 by calling 816-697-2600 x308 or emailing kpeterson@powellgardens.org. Design due date: January 8, 2018. There is a non-refundable $35 application fee due at the time of submission. Questions? Please call Kristy Peterson at 816-697-2600 x308 or learn more at www.powellgardens.org/ - 1 -
Entry & Design General Entry Information Exhibition is on view May 12-October 22, 2018, at Powell Gardens, Kansas City s botanical garden. Anyone is welcome to submit designs. Teaming between a designer and builder is acceptable and encouraged. There is a non-refundable application fee of $35.00 per design submission. Please make fees payable in the form of a check to Powell Gardens. All fees must be received with the submitted design entry by 5:00 p.m., Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. Design Designs should relate to the theme of The BIG Back Yard. Creative sculptural approaches should play with the idea of scale (larger than life) and encourage visitor interaction. Descriptive words that should inspire your design: Whimsical, playful, restful, fun, big, engaging, relaxing, humorous, colorful, entertaining, and memorable. The exhibition s goal is to encourage visitors to linger, smile, picnic, play, relax, and engage with the landscape and beauty of the gardens. Our visitors favorite exhibitions have been those they can interact with whether that means walking in, sitting on, climbing on or looking out. All entries should be interactive, engaging, and strong enough to withstand heavy use by visitors and the outdoor elements. Powell Gardens has pre-selected several locations for proposals that are numbered on the attached map. An onsite walk-through of these spaces will be conducted at the Nov. 8 meeting. Deadline for design submissions is Jan. 8, 2018. (All designs should include an artist rendering or sketch and plan view showing scale, etc. A 3-D model will be accepted but is not required.) Photos of the sites will be available on Powell Gardens website. Submit entries directly to: The BIG Back Yard, Powell Gardens, 1609 NW Hwy 50, Kingsville, MO 64061-9000. Submission standards: Designs should include the estimated budget for the structure and a general description of materials. Please state the site number of preference and whether the design is flexible for other locations. A notable panel of jurors will select winning designs by Jan. 12. Winners will be notified shortly thereafter and names will be posted on Powell Gardens website. There will be a stipend of $4,000 for each winning team ($2,000 will be payable to the team/designer after announcement of winners with the final payment due October 22, at the close of the exhibition after the structure is removed from the garden site). The name of the designer/builder (team) will be listed on the main brochure handout and at each structure. Powell Gardens retains the right to use any and all of the images and renderings of designs for promotion of the exhibition. Each team must be prepared to provide images and additional information for use in promotional materials if your design is selected. - 2 -
Additionally, winning teams whose designs are selected may be invited by Powell Gardens staff to do media interviews and/or engage with the public for presentations or programs. A willingness and ability to talk about your design and structure and/or interface with the public is encouraged. - 3 -
Judging Judging Because judging will be blind, please obscure your name on your entry. Designs will be judged on the following criteria: Interactive nature for all ages (families, kids, adults, ADA accessible) Reflection of theme Creativity, imagination, fun, capacity to engage Creative uses of materials Durability (choice of weather-resistant materials, withstanding of elements, etc.) Executable design and build Environmentally friendly use of green building materials and recycled materials is encouraged. Inclusion of artist rendering, plan view and application fee WOW and whimsical factor Flexibility for location Safety Special Publicity Opportunity If your design concept is portable or could be reassembled on a new site, you can garner even more community good will by allowing Powell Gardens to auction off your entry as a fund raiser to support the Gardens. Such entries will receive extra callouts in our newsletter and in publicity relating to the auction. - 4 -
Construction & Installation Construction & Installation Designs will be site specific, and a visit to Powell Gardens to look at the locations is required. Please specify which location your entry is designed for and whether your design can be modified for other locations. If selected, it is the responsibility of the designer to arrange for construction and installation of the entry at Powell Gardens between April 9 and May 10, 2018 during regular business hours. Any plants used must be both drought tolerant and accompanied by a drip irrigation system installed by the designer. (No water is available on the island site.) Any digging or other changes to the landscape must be pre-authorized by Powell Gardens staff during a preconstruction meeting. Exhibition entry must be weather and wind resistant and hold up to the rigors of the elements and thousands of visitors for the duration of the exhibition. It is the responsibility of the designer/builder to disassemble and remove entries from Powell Gardens Oct. 23-26, 2018 during regular business hours (open seven days a week 9 a.m.-6 p.m.). Powell Gardens is not responsible for any damage due to vandalism, weather, acts of God, etc. Powell Gardens has the authority to remove any entry they deem unfit (that has not been repaired) at any time during the length of the exhibition. Designer is responsible for any repairs to the exhibition entry during the length of the exhibition. Exhibition entries will remain the property of the designer at the conclusion of event (unless designer agrees to allow Powell Gardens to auction off the entry as a fund raiser or wishes to donate it to Powell Gardens IF Powell Gardens desires the entry as a permanent fixture). - 5 -