Eligibility & Guidelines

• Request for Proposals opens: September 15, 2023
• Proposal Submission Deadline: November 19, 2023
• Notification of Finalists: Week of December 18, 2023
• Final Proposal Deadline w/ lighting specs: April 3, 2024
  
• Exhibit Install: August 7-20, 2024
• Opening Viewing: August 24, 2024
• Exhibition duration: August 28 – October 26, 2024
  
• De-install: October 28-November 1, 2024

Light-based installation project of compelling scale to be illuminated within 16-acres of outdoor gardens and 10,000 sq ft tropical conservatory.

• Consider a large number of smaller pieces positioned in wide open space or one central structure that may be constructed onsite
• Traditional object based sculpture will not be considered.
• Examples of scale of past GLEAM installations include:
  • 90’ long x 20’ tall - kinetic installation
  • 20’ 4V dome
  • (3) 20’ tree structures with 8’ wing span
  • 14’ x 17’ three dimensional neon installation
  • 8’x 9’x 160’ light tunnel installed on bridge
  • 15’ x 10’ projection installation
  • 10’x10’x10’ mobile with projection to further amplify the installation size
• Scale map of the outdoor gardens available in the Artist Toolkit.
• Consider the many aspect/angles of light;
  • Shadows
  • Reflective materials
  • Altering the Gardens’ landscape with lighting
  • Projection mapping
  • Color theory
  • Kinetics - motion or the illusion of
  • Transmission of light through a medium
  • Accompany of soundscapes
  • To review images of previous GLEAM installations, see past exhibits.

Consider the variety of settings Olbrich Botanical Gardens offers when designing proposal:

• Large open spaces - meadows, fields, Great Lawn (140’ circumference)
• Permanent building structures – metal donors arbor, stone tower, wood pavilions
• Water features – long pools, fountains, circular pond
• Enclosed areas – hedged courtyard
• Glass tropical conservatory – 10,000 sq. ft. pyramid shape
• Rock Garden - natural amphitheater
• Iconic trees - white pines, sycamores, cottonwoods

As a public garden, Olbrich Botanical Garden has a special interest in featuring light-installations focused on botanically inspired themes or concepts focused on entomology. Highlighting flora and fauna native to the state of Wisconsin is a plus.

• Installation must be weather worthy for Midwestern autumn conditions: rain, wind, frost, etc.
  • Electrical components must be contained in outdoor rated dry boxes or an acceptable alternative.
  • Projector enclosures must be weatherproof and constructed to include a proper intake and output fan ventilation system for cooling purposes.
• Installation must be stable and safe for public audiences of all ages.
  • Installations located over or in the Gardens’ water features must use proper conduit to ensure safety and functionality, this feature will be evaluated by a licensed electrician.
  • Installations of exceeding height must include secondary safety structures as a safe guard in the event of a base or anchor failure. Note: Olbrich Botanical Gardens is built on top of natural marshland. Structural assessment by licensed professional contracted by the artist/designer may be required with final technical proposal.
• Installation must be able to function on outdoor timers (provided by Olbrich Gardens) scheduled for specific days of the week and times of day.

Interactive components/aspects are encouraged.

• Consider a continuous flow of visitor traffic when designing installations involving motion sensors. Visitors may approach installation from a variety of angles, avoid directional specific.
• Offering more then one point of interactive contact or control is strongly recommended. i.e. five dance pads, three musical instrument panels, four QR code stations
• Interactive components must be proven in their final form prior to install, durable, and able to withstand temperature variations and excessive usage (30,000+ visitors).

• Augmented reality should be proposed as an add-on or secondary component of a physical installation present onsite at the Gardens.
• AR components must be accessible by QR code versus a specific app that may need to be download by guests to engage with this feature.
• Note: Olbrich Gardens’ Thai Sala will undergo a restoration process in 2023/2024 so this structure may not be open to the public during the GLEAM exhibit next fall.

Installation proposals that include a community collaboration aspect will be given special consideration.   

• Community members create/develop components of the installation prior to install.
• Workshop partnerships with Olbrich Gardens’ education department may be possible.
• Guest interactions change the composition of the installation over the duration of the exhibition.

Stipend (variable, within $120,000 total) includes all aspects of project;

• Site visit expenses (not to exceed $1,000), conducted prior to final proposal submission. Strongly recommended for site specific installations.
• Design
• Materials and equipment including lighting fixtures, controller, cabling, speakers, dry boxes, etc.
• Creation
• Designer Travel /Hotel or Airbnb Accommodations. A limited number of hosted accommodations may be available.
• Labor (artist and assistants) to install and de-install. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is able to offer limited assistance with install/de-install.
• Maintenance/repair/parts replacement
• In 2024, the GLEAM team is considering proposals for a total of 8-10 installations with budgets of different sizes, stipends vary accordingly. 

 Potential outline of stipend breakdown –               

• $20,000 (1)
• $15,000 (4)
• $10,000 (3)
• $8,000 (1)

Artist/Lighting Designers receive 50% of the agreed upon stipend in April after the final proposal (including technical specs) has been approved.

The remaining 50% of the stipend will be provided after the install is completed according to the details agreed upon in the final proposal. Failure to complete the installation with the agreed upon lighting components/structural format/quantities may result in a forfeit of the second portion of the stipend.