Housing PROJECT OVERVIEW
Sugar Hill on Stone is a new affordable housing development located in the Sugar Hill neighborhood at 1910 N. Stone Avenue. The project will offer 66 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units across three- and four-story buildings. Amenities will include a BBQ area, a playground for children, and a multi-purpose community room. This development is part of the HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) Housing Strategy within Thrive in the 05, which invests in housing, community infrastructure, and social services in the Oracle/Miracle Mile area. Funded primarily through 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, HUD CNI funding, and gap financing from the City of Tucson General Fund, the project will serve households earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Sugar Hill on Stone is being co-developed by El Pueblo Housing Development—the City’s nonprofit affordable housing arm—and Gorman & Company as the Housing Implementation Entity for Choice Neighborhoods. Construction is underway, with completion anticipated in October 2026.
Core project partners for the public art project include the City of Tucson’s Housing and Community Development Department, Poster Mirto McDonald, Gorman & Company, and the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona.
PUBLIC ART COMPONENT
The Sugar Hill on Stone public art project is part of an affordable housing development that includes both exterior murals and interior artworks. The housing development is within the Sugar Hill neighborhood, a historically Black community with a rich legacy of cultural pride and civic engagement. Exterior murals are intended to build on recent creative placemaking efforts that celebrate the neighborhood’s people and history. The Project Team has engaged the neighbors about content at previous resident meetings to start the conversation. Some of the themes that came up include Black history and Tucson history. The intention is for the artist to continue engaging the neighborhood throughout the mural design process.
Interior artworks are intended to help create welcoming spaces for residents of the building. Community input for the interior art included themes such as jazz music, education, and history. The goals of this public art component are to contribute to Sugar Hill neighborhood’s ongoing creative placemaking efforts, create opportunities for neighborhood residents to be engaged in the project through the design of the murals, create opportunities for honoring and celebrating neighborhood history, culture, and identity, and enhance the development’s visual appeal by incorporating murals that create a vibrant, welcoming environment for both future residents and the broader community.
The artist will collaborate with and coordinate with the project team to fine-tune the timing of artwork installation and provide input on the finish—such as color and texture—needed for the mural surfaces. The artist is required to apply an anti-graffiti coating to the murals. The artist is responsible for providing and coordinating any scaffolding needed for the mural installation. The use of a lift is not possible at this site.
Mural and digital design details
Mural locations
SCOPE OF WORK
Public art project timelines follow the schedule of the larger improvement. Dates subject to change.
| Thursday, November 20, 2025 | Request for Qualifications Application Posted | |
| Thursday, January 8, 2026 | Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Arizona Time | |
| January 2026 | Artist Selection Meeting 1 (Panel only): The Panel will select three (3) finalists to interview. All applicants are notified. Finalists prepare for Artist Selection Meeting 2. | |
| February 2026 | Artist Selection Meeting 2 (Panel and Finalists): Finalists’ Interviews with Panel. Virtual Zoom Meeting. Finalists will provide a 15-minute presentation, followed by a 10-minute Q/A. | |
| March – May 2026 | Design Meeting 1 (Panel and Artist): In the first meeting, the selected artist/team will meet with the panel to discuss the project’s community, place, and historical context. The artist(s) will use this input to create three conceptual designs for the next meeting. Additional Design Meetings (Panel and Artist): In the second meeting, the artist(s) will present their concepts, and the panel will select one design to develop further. If no design is chosen, the artist(s) will continue refining their concepts. The panel will meet as needed until a final design is approved. Opportunities for engaging with the broader community can be identified during the design phase. | |
| June 2026-July 2027 | Mural Installation (Artist) Digital art submission deadline (for interior wall graphics): June 15, 2026 Mural completion deadline: July 31, 2026 |
ARTWORK BUDGET
The all-inclusive maximum budget listed above is for all artworks and related costs. The all-inclusive budget includes, but is not limited to, the artist fee(s), artwork materials, insurance, stamped engineering plans, tax requirements, research, community engagement, contract, labor, fabrication, platforms, earthwork, lighting, permits, and all related costs required for the installation of the artwork(s). Please note that due to recent changes in federal import/export policies, production material prices will 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.
Any person in a position to receive financial gain from the selection of artist(s) will be ineligible to serve on a Panel. All Panel members must declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if a conflict 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. The Arts Foundation will disburse funds only to this individual. The team lead will also be the point of contact for all communications. Artists applying as members of a team are not eligible to apply as individuals.
PUBLIC INTERFACE AND EXPECTATIONS
Community feedback and participation are essential to creating artwork that benefits and represents the diverse identities reflected in the project’s themes and concepts. The selected artist(s) will be required to attend at least two meetings with the panel.
ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS
Artists are selected through a fair and equitable selection process by a Panel comprised of project participants, stakeholders, and members of the community. New Panels are formed for every public art project. Arts Foundation staff do not directly participate in selecting artists or designs. The role of Arts Foundation staff is to facilitate the public art processes and discussions. The community panel will review and assess all artist submissions based on published criteria, and participate in two meetings to deliberate, interview, and select the recommended artist for this project. During the first meeting, the panel will determine which three artists/artist teams will be invited to interview as finalists. During the second meeting, each of the three finalists will deliver a presentation to the Panel demonstrating the scope of their work, conveying their qualifications, and articulating their interest in this specific project. Each presentation will be followed by a question and answer session with the panel.
Evaluation Criteria
The following criteria will be considered during the review of applications:
- Does the applicant show the ability to translate artistic concepts into materials suitable for public spaces, while considering public interaction, safety, maintenance, and the Sonoran Desert climate?
- Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to collaborate with project participants to create artwork designs that reflect local cultural and historical themes relevant to the project?
- Does the applicant demonstrate a high probability of successful completion for the scale and scope of this specific project?
Finalist Interview Questions
If you are a finalist for the project, you will be asked to present to the Panel with the following criteria and questions:
- Format: You will provide a 15-minute presentation, followed by a 10- minute Q&A with the Panel.
- Presentation Preparation: For your presentation, you will share examples of your work, as well as your experience and methods in public art. You will also share with the Panel why you are interested in this particular project. You may use any format for your presentation.
- Please address the following in your presentation.
- What excites you about this project?
- How do you come up with your design ideas?
- How do you involve the community in your public art projects?
- How do you stay on schedule and within budget?
*Additional questions may be asked if appropriate to a specific project.
Presentation preparation tips
- Provide a diverse range of examples of your work in your presentation. Read through the Project Overview and Exhibition Component outlined above to identify appropriate artwork media specific to the public art project.
- Research the area or subject of the project, the potential significant history, culture, and vision of the program. Panelists appreciate candidates who have done their research and know what they are signing up for.
- Provide specific examples of community engagement tools that you have utilized during your work as an artist and/or for public art projects.
- Take time to prepare your responses and presentation. We give you the questions ahead of time so you can provide thoughtful answers.
HOW TO APPLY
Carefully review the eligibility, expectations, and scope of this opportunity prior to submitting your application.
Prepare Application
- Prepare your artist statement. The statement must describe your qualifications for this position, your motivation to work with community, and your interest in this particular project theme. Your artist statement is a key part of the review process. We encourage you to be thoughtful and intentional when writing. (300 word limit)
- Prepare your resume. Two pages maximum. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf
- Prepare six (6) samples of your artwork. Artwork samples must represent completed work by the applicant(s). Proposals or renderings will not be accepted. Acceptable file types: .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .doc, .docx, .pdf, .m4a, .mp3, .wav, .mp4, .mpg, .ppt, .pptx. For each sample submitted, if applicable, please include the title, date, location, dimensions, materials used, budget, and your role in the project.
Submit Application
- Go to Submittable: artsfoundtucson.submittable.com/submit
- Select the project from the list.
- Log in or sign up for an account.
- Complete all applicant Information.
- Submit your artist statement.
- Upload your resume.
- Upload (6) artwork image samples and details.
- Review your application and submit the 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 the 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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