The three-phased process begins with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from eligible artists.
October 11, 2022 (DAYTON, Ohio) – The 8/4 Memorial Committee is seeking artists, artist teams,
designers, or architects to design a public artwork to serve as a memorial for the victims of the tragic
events that took place in The Oregon District neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, on August 4, 2019. Eligible
artists are invited to provide the necessary information via The Contemporary Dayton’s website at
https://codayton.org/events/call-for-entry/. The submission deadline is December 5, 2022. Up to 5
artists will be selected and paid a stipend of $1,500 each to present a final design. The winning artist or
artist team will receive an award of $200,000 to create the public art memorial.
The RFQ and project expectations were carefully established following several public input surveys and
meetings. The goal of the public artwork will be to memorialize the lives lost in the 8/4 event as well as
everyone affected; include community engagement to inspire hope, unity, and healing; and provide a
meditative space for reflection and remembrance.
“This memorial will play a major role in the healing of our community,” said Sandy Hunt, co-chair of the
8/4 Memorial Committee. “Survivors, family members of victims, and the general public all provided us
with their perspectives on what this artwork will mean to those who were affected by the tragedy. It’s
important to us to provide something accessible and meaningful to support everyone’s recovery.”
Artists, or at least one member of the artist team, must meet one or more of the following criteria: be a
current or recent resident of the Dayton area, have a connection to a current or recent resident of the
Dayton area, or have a connection to or have been affected by the 8/4 event or a similar event. The
Contemporary Dayton, known as “The Co,” will organize artist team meet-up sessions via ZOOM to allow
interested artists to connect and form teams that meet the eligibility criteria. The Artist Team Meet–up
ZOOMs will take place on Wednesday, November 2, at 6 p.m.; Sunday, November 6, at 2 p.m.; and on
Wednesday, November 16, at 6 p.m.
Eligible applicants can respond to the RFQ by submitting a letter of interest, a resume/cv, and samples
of past commissioned projects. Submission information can be found at
https://codayton.org/events/call-for-entry/. The Co will host two artist information sessions to be held
at Dayton Metro Library Main Branch on Thursday, October 20, and at the Wesley Community Center on
Saturday, November 5. The RFP process allows the 8/4 Memorial Committee to attract as many
qualified artists as possible and streamline the final selection process to ensure a successful project.
“This memorial is about connection and coming together,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, co-chair of the 8/4
Memorial Committee. “We are looking for an artist or group of artists who can understand how this
event affected our community and how they can help us pay tribute to the nine people we lost and the
countless others who were impacted.”
Up to five semi-finalists will be selected through the Request for Qualifications. Each artist or artist team
selected to proceed to the second phase of the project will be paid to develop and present full
proposals. The Request for Proposals phase of the search will include site visits, interviews, and artwork
proposal development.
Questions about the 8/4 Memorial Committee and the 8/4 Memorial may be directed to co-chairs Sandy
Gudorf (email gudorf@downtowndayton.org or call 937-224-1518) and Sandy Hunt (email
hunts@mcohio.org or call 937-225-6262). Questions about the Request for Qualifications and the RFP
process should be directed to Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant, The Contemporary Dayton,
(cking@codayton.org or call 937-224-3882).
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