OPEN CALL – Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, Nellie Bly Memorial | Deadline July 12 at 3pm

RIOC seeks artists interested in creating a public monument that honors the achievements of Nellie Bly and continues an initiative to increase the number of statues on Roosevelt Island that commemorate the accomplishments of important women in New York’s history. If you are such an artist, please APPLY to this open call.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
An advisory panel comprised of individuals representing a broad range of expertise and backgrounds will assess the bidders and create a shortlist of up to five finalists. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is an effort to solicit artists or artist teams who are interested in being considered to design a permanent public memorial of Nellie Bly, her influence on women’s rights and changing the harsh conditions in the former Blackwell Island Insane Asylum. The review panel will be comprised of representatives from RIOC, professional artist(s) and local Roosevelt Island Community Organization(s).

PROJECT BUDGET
The project’s budget will range from $250,000 to $500,000 and must include all project costs, including but not limited to the following:
 Artist’s fees Design service Community engagement Site preparation Engineering Fabrication Travel
Transportation of the work to the site Insurance Permits Installation Documentation of the artwork Contingency

Please note: If the artist(s) need additional funding to complete the work, fundraising and other methods for donations are encouraged.

WHO MAY APPLY
Professional visual artists or artist teams, working in any and all media, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and who are at least 18 years of age, are eligible to apply. Employees of the City of New York, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and RIOC Board Members and their family members are not eligible to apply. If applying as an artist team, please identify the team member who will serve as the lead artist.

Click here for RFQ PDF with all the details and a Link to Apply!

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RIOC OPENS CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR NELLIE BLY MEMORIAL
Will be placed near site of former Blackwell Island Insane Asylum (Roosevelt Island, NY – June 24, 2019) – The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) has issued a formal Call for Artists to create a memorial for Nellie Bly, the ground-breaking journalist who exposed the horrors of the Blackwell Island Insane Asylum in 1887 her on Roosevelt Island. The proposed memorial is part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s ongoing initiative to bring attention to the many contributions that women have made to New York State’s history.

While working as an investigative reporter for Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World in 1887, Ms. Bly went undercover as a patient at the infamous insane asylum for ten grueling days. Upon her release, she went on to publish a harrowing account of her experiences in the book titled Ten Days in a Mad-House. The work not only made Ms. Bly famous, but also led to reforms at other mental health facilities throughout the United States. She went on to have an impressive career as a journalist, where she covered important historic events such as the women’s suffrage movement in the early twentieth century and the Eastern Front during World War I.

“Nellie Bly’s life serves as an inspiration that transcends history,” said Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. “Her commitment to reform, whether in the workplace, in healthcare, or as an important voice in the suffrage movement serve as an example to the women of today. Since her impressive career began here, I believe Roosevelt Island is the ideal place for a memorial that honors her achievements.”

Click here for RFQ PDF with all the details and a Link to Apply!