A $25,000 National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) grant will help fund a community-driven public art installation along the Bay Trail in Redwood City called the Pirate Ship, the city announced Tuesday.
The Pirate Ship project is set to be located next to the Redwood Shores Branch Library at 399 Marine Parkway and has been envisioned as an art sculpture that offers space for play and library activities. It is expected to open in 2019.
Redwood City is acquiring the large interactive sculpture (pictured above) from noted artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, who built the “partially sunken pirate ship” for a temporary art park in Atlantic City in 2012, according to city documents.
Arts organization Fung Collaboratives presented the city with the opportunity to acquire the Pirate Ship. As part of the project, the sculpture’s artists will work with both park designers and community members to envision the interactive space, according to the city.
The $25,000 grant by the NEA will support oversight, a youth art competition and the development of shade structures that will serve as the Pirate Ship’s sails. The funds will also be used to support a project by Redwood City school children to illustrate and publish Ilya Kabakov’s granddaughter’s short story, the city said.
The Pirate Ship is the first installation by Migrations, a collaboration of local government agencies and Fung Collaboratives that supports adding art along the Bay Trail.
