Fashion Outlets of Chicago

Arts Program Curator

Prepared October 11, 2018

Proprietary and Confidential

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Macerich’s Fashion Outlets of Chicago is an award-winning, indoor shopping center that is home to more than 130 designer outlets, high-end amenities and an impressive contemporary art collection. The 530,000 square-foot, two-level destination featuring both luxury and mainstream retail stores is a one-of-a-kind upscale property that redefines and elevates the outlet shopping experience. Located minutes from O’Hare International Airport in Rosemont, Ill., Fashion Outlets of Chicago attracts 10-12 million local, regional, national and international guests on a yearly basis.

Incorporated in 1956 and located between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and the City of Chicago, the Village of Rosemont, Illinois is one of the nation’s premier case studies in community ingenuity. With a population of 4,000, Rosemont’s leadership has transformed the village into a top entertainment destination. Home to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, MB Financial Park entertainment district, Allstate Arena and the Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont attracts an estimated 75,000 visitors every day.

PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

To set Fashion Outlets of Chicago apart from other outlet shopping centers, Macerich developed the “Arts Initiative,” merging engaging contemporary art with fashion in order to bring an added meaning to community art while elevating the shoppers’ experience. Fashion Outlets of Chicago worked with Miami-based collective Primary Projects who curated art from 10 nationally and internationally renowned contemporary artists at the onset of the center’s opening in 2013. Artists featured in the collective include Daniel Arsham, Bhakti Baxter, Jim Drain, Chicago-based artist Cody Hudson, Alvaro Ilizarbe, Kenton Parker, Bert Rodriguez, Jen Stark and Austyn Weiner. The diverse collection of art can be found throughout Fashion Outlets of Chicago’s common areas and includes painted murals and hanging installations.

Three years after the initial launch of the Arts Initiative,Fashion Outlets of Chicago, in collaboration with the Village of Rosemont, would like to revitalize, rebrand and enhance its artsprogramming in order to reinforce its commitment to providing shoppers with a unique experience and to make Fashion Outlets of Chicago a true cultural destination.

Components of the revitalized arts program include, but are not limited to, commissioning local, national and international artists for the permanent collection; creating a mobile exhibition space for rotating exhibits of local art; creating a work of art to encourage social media interaction; creating special events for shoppers and art collectors such as art talks; and working with college students in an annual competition. All artists, work, galleries and other arts program partners recommended by the selected curator will be submitted to Fashion Outlets of Chicago and the Village of Rosemont for approval.

Local marketing and public relations firm Carol Fox and Associateswill serve as the Project Manager for the campaign and will be the liaison between the selected curator and Fashion Outlets of Chicago/Village of Rosemont.

Carol Fox and Associates and Fashion Outlets of Chicago/Village of Rosemont seek to identify and select one outside curator to conceptualize and oversee the selection of artists, exhibitions and installations. The remainder of this document provides additional information that will allow acurator to understand the scope of project work and develop a proposal in the format desired by the Fashion Outlets of Chicago/Village of Rosemont.

ADMINISTRATIVE

CONTACT

Any questions concerning technical specifications or Statement of Work (SOW) requirements must be directed to:

Name / Alex Jakubiak, Carol Fox and Associates
Address / 1412 W. Belmont Avenue | Chicago, IL 60657
Phone / 773.969.5039
FAX / 773.327.3834
Email /

DUE DATES

A written confirmation of the curator’s intent to respond to this RFP is required by July 15, 2016. All proposals are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2016.The revitalized arts program is schedule to launch in September/October 2016. Any proposal received via email after the required time and date specified for receipt shall be considered late and non-responsive. Any late proposals will not be evaluated for award. Please send proposals to Carol Fox and Associates.

RFP QUESTIONS

Questions can be submitted via phone to Alex Jakubiak directly at any time. Please visit fashionoutletsofchicago.com and/or Rosemont.comto familiarize yourself with Fashion Outlets of Chicago/Village of Rosemont and their offerings.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS-TENTATIVE

Event / Date
1. RFP Distribution to Curators / Friday, July 8, 2016
2. Written Confirmation of Vendors with Bid Intention / Wednesday, July 15
3. RFP Proposals Due / Wednesday, July 27
4. Review of Proposals / July 28 - August 1, 2016
5. Final Curator Selection / Tuesday, August 2, 2016
6. Anticipated decision and selection of Curator / Wednesday, August 3, 2016

GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Award of the contract resulting from this RFP will be based upon the curator whose proposal will best solidify Fashion Outlets of Chicago and the Village of Rosemontas top cultural destinations.

Fashion Outlets of Chicagoand the Village of Rosemont reserve the right to:

  • Reject any or all offers and discontinue this RFP process without obligation or liability to any potential curator,
  • Accept other than the lowest priced offer, and
  • Award a contract on the basis of initial offers received, without discussions or requests for best and final offers.

Curator's proposal shall be submitted in several parts as set forth below.

The curator’s proposal in response to this RFP will be incorporated into the final agreement between Fashion Outlets of Chicago, the Village of Rosemont and the selected curator. The submitted proposals are suggested to include each of the following sections:

  1. Curator Background
  2. Samples of Past Work
  3. Programming Strategy
  4. Sample program recommendationsfor the arts program
  5. Detailed and Itemized Fees
  6. References - Please list the name and contact information for three professional references

The detailed requirements for each of the above-mentioned sections are outlined below.

DETAILED RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

CURATOR BACKGROUND

Provide the following information about yourself:

  • Contact name, title, address, direct telephone and email address.
  • Brief history, including educational background, past programming projects and exhibitions.

This section will present a high-level synopsis of the curator’s expertise and qualifications related to this RFP. The background should identify the main benefits of working with the selected curator.

SAMPLES OF PAST WORK

Include detailed samples of past curatorial and programming projects comparable to theFashion Outlets of Chicago/Village of Rosemont arts program. For any past exhibition work, please provide images if possible.

PROGRAMMING STRATEGY

Propose a method and approach to manage the arts programalong with recommendations associated with the project.

SAMPLE PROGRAMS FOR PROGRAM

Include descriptions and samples of possible programs and exhibitions for theFashion Outlets of Chicago/Village of Rosemont arts program. Possible programs include but are not limited to commissioning local, national and international artists for the permanent collection; creating a mobile exhibition space for rotating exhibits of local art; creating a work of art to encourage social media interaction; creating special events for shoppers and art collectors such as art talks; and working with college students in an annual competition.

DETAILED AND ITEMIZED FEES

Include a fee breakdown by project phase and estimated expenses. Please include any annual or monthly fees and associated expenses.

REFERENCES

Provide three current references for which you have performed similar work.

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

CRITERIA

Any award to be made pursuant to this RFP will be based upon the proposal with appropriate consideration given to the creative approach, programming suggestions and affordability of fees. Evaluation of offers will be based upon the curator’s responsiveness to the RFP and the total price quoted for all items covered by the RFP.

The following elements will be the primary considerations in evaluating all submitted proposals and in the selection of a creative vendor:

  1. Completion of all required responses in the correct format.
  2. The extent to which the curator’s proposal fulfills the stated requirements of Fashion Outlets of Chicago and the Village of Rosemontas set out in this RFP.
  3. The curator’s stability, experiences and record of past performance in delivering such services.
  4. Overall cost of curator’s proposal.

Fashion Outlets of Chicago and the Village of Rosemontmay, at their discretion and without explanation to the prospective curator, at any time choose to discontinue this RFP without obligation to such prospective curators.

SCOPE OF WORK

REQUIREMENTS

The curator must be available to develop and execute Fashion Outlets of Chicago/Village of Rosemont’s revitalization of its arts programming.

DELIVERABLES

At the conclusion of the proposal, Fashion Outlets of Chicagoand the Village of Rosemont requirewritten documentation of the curator’s intended approach and recommendations associated with the project.

A formal presentation of the curator’s proposal to Project Manager Carol Fox and Associates as well as Fashion Outlets of Chicago and Village of Rosemont representatives may also be required.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

A 1-2 page document developed to summarize the scope, approach, timeline and recommendations, in a manner suitable for senior management.

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