Bermudian artists are being offered an exciting opportunity to leave their mark on posterity, thanks to a competition launched by the Bank of Bermuda Ltd. for an original piece of public art to be installed at the Reid Street entrance to its new building, now under construction.

The first step for artists to register interest is Friday, June 6.

The City of Hamilton plan requires the incorporation of a piece of public art into plans for any new building, and the idea of a competition evolved from internal discussions between the Bank's executive staff. The winning work will be displayed externally.

"This is a prime location, and one of the centrepieces of Reid Street," chief financial officer Nigel Crow said of the new site, "so we have added some extra value, which is why we will display the piece outside."

Outlining details of the competition, Mr. Crow said the Bank had no pre-conceived notions about what form the piece of public art should take, but "it must be tasteful, artistic and exciting, and fit in with the rest of Reid Street", and artists were encouraged "to think outside the box".

Adding to this, architect John Gardner, administrator of the process to select the piece of public art, said: "It can be anything which positive – something which stimulates people to think, adds energy, and makes a statement."

Expanding on the overall concept, Mr. Crow said the Bank was "looking for one major piece of art to be displayed at the western end of the Reid Street facade of the new building, but we have no idea what it is going to look like, and that is where the excitement comes in. We have given the artists a blank canvas to let their ideas flow, and create something which is unique for their own artistic talents, for the Bank to meet its own requirements, and for Bermuda as a whole. We have opened (the competition) up to Bermudians from young to old, and professional to amateur, and they can use a variety of media – metal, wood, paint, or whatever – but it must be durable since it will be positioned outside."

Entry is open to all Bermudian artists, spouses of Bermudians, those with Permanent Residence status, and Bermudian students who are currently enrolled in and studying at an accredited university, college, or school of art.

Alternatively, any artist who is not Bermudian may align him or herself with a Bermudian artist to form a design team is also eligible.

"Everyone who wants to can take part in this if they wish," Mr. Crow said.

While artists are being given carte blanche in terms of imagination and thinking outside the box, and the Bank is not imposing strict parameters regarding the purchase price of the winning design from the artist, in addition to other considerations, it will have to financially viable.

"Like everything, (the question will be) 'Is it right for what we want?' Then obviously we will consider whether or not the cost is appropriate," Mr. Crow said.

The winning work is to be positioned in the public walkway leading into the bank on Reid Street, in a setback which is 25 feet long and up to 10 feet deep. While there are no specific size criteria, it must allow clear passage for pedestrians to walk up a ramp and into the bank. Similarly, there are no limitations as to whether the work is one piece, a group of pieces, or even how it will be installed.

The competition is a multi-step process, of which the first part of Step One is artists registering "interest" by this coming Friday, June 6. The next part of Step One is submitting their ideas by noon on June 27.

A full 'Request for Proposal' (RFP) package was distributed to artists some weeks ago through various arts organisations, but anyone still wishing a hard copy can either collect it from the offices of Cooper & Gardner or the Kaleidoscope Foundation on Jubilee Road in Devonshire.

It is also available on website www.garch.bm

This is an extensive document, complete with site plans, and its terminology may be confusing to some, in which case Mr. Gardner will be pleased to assist. (telephone 292-2521 or e-mail jgardner@cgarch.bm).

"It is really all about the idea, and artists should not be intimidated by the process or the RFP, which is a fairly structured format because we are dealing with a major business institution," Mr. Gardner said.

"I am available to assist artists in a neutral capacity if they need me."

To that end, one briefing has already been held with artists at the Kaleidoscope Foundation on Jubilee Road, Devonshire, and another is planned for 6 p.m. tomorrow evening at the same location, at which Mr. Gardner and Robert Morelli, head of corporate real estate at the Bank, will be present.

"So far, the response has been good," Mr. Crow said.

"There is a lot of excitement in the art community, and obviously we are looking for as broad an interest as possible so we can really get something which is extremely special for public display."

Asked who will judge the entries, the chief financial officer confirmed this would be done by "a local committee with wide-ranging backgrounds from within and without the Bank".

Because of his role as process administrator, Mr. Gardener noted he would not be submitting a design proposal, although he admitted that, under different circumstances, he would have welcomed the opportunity to compete. Instead, he praised the Bank's initiative in tapping into the talents of local artists.

"In my experience as an architect and an artist, this is as genuine and wide-ranging an initiative as I have seen, particularly with its desire to reveal and present the best that this community can offer in terms of public art," he said. The earliest projected completion date for the winning piece to be available for installation is April, 2009.