PROJECT OVERVIEW
On November 6, 2018, the City of Tucson voters approved Proposition 407, a $225 million bond package for capital improvements via General Obligation bonds. The bond funds will be dedicated to improving City park amenities (playgrounds, sports fields, pools, splash pads, and recreation center) as well as connections (pedestrian pathways, bicycle pathways, pedestrian and bicycle safety). The program will be implemented in three phases; 2019-2022, 2023-2025, 2026-2028.
This Call to Artists is for artwork that will be integrated into Phase 2 of Prop 407 park improvements for Santa Rita Park:
Prop 407 Park Improvements Features
- Three new ramadas
- New splash pad
- New walking path
- New playground with shade structure
- Construct two new parking lots
- Construct one new restroom
- Renovate irrigation system
- Upgrade existing lights on baseball field to LED
- Upgrade existing lights on two softball fields to LED
Public Art Component
The City of Tucson Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona invites artists to submit qualifications for the opportunity to create innovative public artwork for the Santa Rita Park Project.
This Request for Qualifications public art opportunity is open to all forms of public art that are appropriate for the Southern Arizona climate. Public artwork(s) for this project may include but are not limited to murals, mosaics, concrete slab, and/or metalwork design enhancements on walking surfaces, walls, and fencing (e.g., concrete walkways, splash pad and playground surfaces, masonry), and other integrated aesthetic elements. The artwork components will be exposed to harsh desert elements, sustainable materials as well as functionality in this climate are essential to address longevity and maintenance.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Public art project timelines follow the schedule of the larger improvement. Dates are subject to change.
| Thursday, October 26, 2023 | Call to Artist Guidelines Posted |
| Thursday December 14, 2023 | New Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Arizona Time |
| December 2023 | Application Review Stage Self-paced online application review |
| January 2024 | Artist Selection Meeting 1: Select 3 finalists 2 Hours – Virtual Zoom Public Meeting Review all application scores and select 3 finalists. |
| January 2024 | Artist Selection Meeting 2: Finalists Presentations and Interviews 2 Hours – Virtual Zoom Public MeetingPresentation and Q/A from each finalist. Panel selects one Artist/Artist Team. |
| Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | Present selected artist at PACD Public Meeting |
| March 2024 – July 2024 | Artwork Design Phase: Panel Meetings, Broader Public Meetings. |
| July 2024-May 2025 | Fabrication, Installation. |
PROJECT PLANS
ARTWORK BUDGET
The all-inclusive maximum budget listed above is for all artworks and related costs. This includes the artist fee, insurance, stamped engineering plans, tax requirements, mileage, research, community engagement, panel meetings, contract labor, fabrication, platforms, earthwork, lighting, and installation of the artwork(s). Please note that raw material prices may change during the scope of this project.
ELIGIBILITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST
This public art opportunity is open to all professional artists and artist teams.
Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona employees, board members and their immediate family members are prohibited from applying to this project. Any person in a position to receive financial gain from the selection of artist(s) will be ineligible to serve on a public art project panel. All panel members must declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves if a conflict of interest arises.
Applications must be completed solely by the artist or team lead applying for the project. Applications submitted from Artists’ representatives, managers, or galleries will not be accepted. Artist teams are required to select a team lead that will contract directly with the city to become a vendor. The city will disburse funds only to this individual. The team lead will also be the point of contact for all communications. Artists applying as a member of a team are not eligible to apply as an individual.
PUBLIC INTERFACE AND EXPECTATIONS
Community feedback and participation is essential to creating artwork that represents neighborhood identities and cultures in the design of the artwork. The selected artists will be required to attend one or more public meetings for the project. The artist must attend a public meeting to present a drawing and/or maquette of the proposed artwork.
SELECTION PROCESS
Artists are selected through a fair and equitable selection process by a panel of seven or more individuals including local artists and art professionals, project stakeholders and members of the community. New panels are formed for every public art project. Arts Foundation staff do not directly participate in the art selection process. Our role is to facilitate the process in accordance with the City of Tucson Public Art Program. The panel will review all artist submissions and conduct two artist selection meetings to determine the panel’s recommended artist for this project. The first artist selection meeting will determine three artists/artist teams as finalists. The three finalists will provide a presentation on their scope of work and interest in this specific project to the panel, followed by a Q&A session. The panel recommendation for the commission will be presented at the PACD public meeting listed above.
Once the artist is selected, the panel will convene as many times as necessary throughout the project and specifically to: 1. Review all design concepts. 2. Recommend any changes to designs based on their expertise and the response to community input. 3. Recommend that the artist proceed to Risk Management Review and production when satisfied that all design issues have been resolved, consensus on the final design achieved, and that the Public Involvement Plan has been implemented in accordance with the Public Art Program Selection Policy.
HOW TO APPLY
Prepare Application
Carefully review the eligibility, expectations, and scope of this opportunity prior to submitting your application.
- Prepare your artist statement. The statement must include your particular interest in this project and project location. 300 word maximum.
- Prepare your resume. Two page maximum. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf
- Prepare (6) artwork image samples. Images must represent completed work; proposals or renderings will not be accepted. Acceptable file types: .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png
- Prepare your image list. A document listing each artwork image sample. For each image submitted please list the title, date, dimensions, your role in the project, and provide a thumbnail of the image. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf
Submit Application
- Go to Submittable: artsfoundtucson.submittable.com/submit
- Select the project from the list.
- Login or sign up for an account.
- Complete the eligibility requirements.
- Complete all applicant Information.
- Submit your artist statement.
- Upload your resume.
- Upload (6) artwork image samples.
- Upload your image list.
- Complete demographic data.
- Review your application and submit form.
A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you used to create your Submittable account.
You may be contacted regarding your application via Submittable, email, or by phone.
APPLICATION HELP
If you have questions about the application process or content of your application, please email us at publicart@artsfoundtucson.org or call (520) 624-0595
If you encounter any technical issues with the online application platform, please email the Submittable at support@submittable.com or call (855) 467-8264.
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