JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville today announced a partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars to infuse public art into the exterior spaces of the Miller Electric Center, the new home of the team's football operations that is currently under construction adjacent to TIAA Bank Field. Public art plans for the space include two freestanding sculptural works on the main plaza, four exterior murals and two sculptural bike racks.
Today's announcement coincides with the issuance of calls to artists (CTAs) by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The CTAs are available at culturalcouncil.org/call-to-artists. Artist submissions are due by October 28, 2022.
"At the heart of the Miller Electric Center is the Jaguars' firm commitment to the revitalization of Downtown Jacksonville," said Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. "I love art, in all of its forms. I truly believe public art will be essential to ensuring our neighborhood has a unique cultural identity that reflects the pride of our fans, the pursuit of excellence by our football team and the soul of our city. I look forward to seeing how artists from Northeast Florida and beyond are inspired by this challenge."
The 125,000-square-foot Miller Electric Center represents a $120 million partnership between the City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars. In addition to team facilities such as practice fields, weight rooms and locker rooms, the space will also include enhanced fan amenities such as shaded viewing stands, concessions and a retail store. The addition of public art to the Miller Electric Center will be fully funded by the Jaguars.
"Together, the arts and athletics have the power to elevate our entire region's quality of life. We commend the Jacksonville Jaguars for opening their Miller Electric Center plans to artists in Northeast Florida and beyond. Their innovative commitment to public art will create positive momentum throughout our creative economy. We seek to inspire other NFL teams and artists to consider new ways to collaborate, both on and off the field, through this partnership," said Diana Donovan, executive director of the Cultural Council.
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville is managing the procurement process, including overseeing the CTAs, reviewing artists submissions, recommending selections for final approval and managing and administering contracts between the artists and the Jaguars. Installation for the public art projects is anticipated to be complete before the 2023 Jaguars football season begins, which is in alignment with the Miller Electric Center construction timeline.
Specific CTA response instructions vary based on the scope of each project, though all require an artist's statement, resume and images of the artist's completed projects.
For more information, visit culturalcouncil.org or 1stdowntownjacksonville.com.
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About the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville:
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville aims to enrich life in Northeast Florida by investing in Arts and Culture. Founded nearly 50 years ago, the Cultural Council operates as a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization staffed by professionals and governed by a volunteer board of directors. It provides a range of services to ignite the creative economy and to address the ever-changing needs of the arts and cultural sector and broader community. Learn more at culturalcouncil.org.
*Media Contacts: *CCGJ: Natalie DeYoung
