Call Description

Project Overview

The City of Revere seeks to install a lighting exhibit in the Shirley Ave neighborhood. Specifically, at Flaherty Square at the intersection of Kimball Ave, Beach Street, and North Shore Road. The goal is to install a temporary piece that emphasizes a main access point into the diverse and vibrant Shirley Ave commercial corridor and activates a soon to be renovated outdoor space.

The Shirley Ave neighborhood of Revere is a multicultural commercial district experiencing unprecedented growth through the construction of new housing, especially near the Blue Line MBTA station which services it. The commercial corridor- which hosts more than 30 small, mostly immigrant owned businesses – is not very visible to nearby visitors or passersby. Due to the lack of wayfinding at the gateway of this important neighborhood, regional and even Revere-based visitors could easily walk or drive right past the neighborhood either while exiting the T, traveling along the beach, or driving up the highway that borders it without any indication that less than a half block away stands a unique local downtown.    

This call for art is a direct response to the 2023-2024 Shirley Ave Public Realm Improvement Participatory Budgeting process in which the community voiced support for creative public art lighting as well a “gateway” element that could help to define and increase awareness of the commercial district. Acceptable project types include but are not limited to lit sculptures, overhead lighting features, neon lights, projections, luminous paint, laser art, and more.

The City issues a call for art through a two-part application process. In the first phase, Concept Proposals, the city requests applications include an overview of lead artists and/or artist teams as well as a concept design and description to be evaluated by the selection committee. Up to three artists/artist teams will be invited to submit in a second phase, Project Proposals, with a concept description, project budget, and illustrative rendering(s) that will be evaluated by the selection committee. Following artist or artist team selection, the design will be formalized within a design process that includes review with any affected property owners. Whomever is selected will also be required to have at least two design discussions with the community before refining and presenting a final concept to the city.

From there, the artist(s) will be required to manage the project installation (from material purchasing to construction and installation) in coordination with the City’s Department of Public Works and all designated City contacts. Please see the Application Requirements for the Timeline  sections below for more information about the implementation process and artist responsibilities.

Project Site

Flaherty Square greenspace

(at the intersection of Kimball Ave, Beach Street, and North Shore Road)      

The project site includes the public right-of-way and the safe and reasonable use of the public open space undergoing renovation in 2025-early 2026. The project area is designated in the graphic included below and concept plans for the site renovation are included within Attachment A.

Application Requirements

Phase 01: Concept Proposal Application Requirements

Applicants must submit Concept Proposals with the following materials to the City of Revere Purchasing Department by October 10, 2025, 11:59 pm. 

Applicants must submit these materials through this application link: https://forms.gle/CjaCLf6o97jW1FGA8

All questions leading up to submission should be directed to BOTH the Artist Liaison contact included at the top of this Call for Temporary Public Art (Elle Baker EBaker@Revere.org) and the purchasing department (purchasing@revere.org).      

●        Artist/Team of Artists overview. Please speak to the artist(s) experience (see selection criteria) in this section. Please note project management and leadership skills held by team members in their individual bios or descriptions of past work. 

This application space is the place to note the Artist(s) teams with a connection to the Shirley Avenue neighborhood, including a shared cultural heritage or past work in the area or work in similar communities, will be prioritized. Examples of materials to include:

o   Artist(s) bios and qualifications (e.g. C.V.)

o   Description of past experience or relevant projects

o   Work samples (including photos)

●        Concept description and illustration:

Examples of materials to include in this section:

o   Visual rendering(s) and design communications (diagrams, project precedents, collages, annotated site photos, concept plans, illustrations, etc.)

o   Written description of the proposed project. Please speak to the project’s relevance to the site and scale (medium, material etc.), and how it aligns with project goals in this section (see selection criteria).

Based on review, according to above selection criteria, up to/three finalists will be selected to submit project proposals in Phase 02. All other applicants will be notified if they are not moving forward at this stage.

Phase 02: Project Proposal Application Requirements

Finalists must submit Final Project Proposals with the following materials to the City of Revere Purchasing Department by January 9, 2026, 11:59 pm.

Finalists must submit these materials through an application link to be distributed to finalists.

All finalists or finalist teams will be compensated for their participation in Phase 02 of the Call for Temporary Art application process with one $1,000 stipend per project proposal. Note: material submitted in application Phase 01 may be updated for Phase 02.

All questions leading up to submission should be directed to BOTH the Artist Liaison contact included at the top of this Call for Temporary Public Art (Elle Baker EBaker@Revere.org)   and the purchasing department (purchasing@revere.org).           

In addition to the Concept Proposal materials, Finalists will be asked to submit the following proposal requirements:

●        Project budget: the itemized budget of up to $12,000 should include design, material, equipment, and labor costs and be inclusive of all associated project expenses.

●        Implementation overview:

o   Outline or design documents describing installation specifications. Note: the artist or artist team must also identify the expertise needed for installation.

o   Outline of maintenance requirements

o   Describe project timeline

o   Provide an overview to proposed community engagement

o   Speak to Feasibility, Durability and community engagement criteria listed above.

Timeline:

August 10, 2025: Call for Temporary Public Art opens

August 27, 2025 at 5:30 pm:  IN-PERSON information session at the Offices of Women Encouraging Empowerment at 50 Walnut Ave, Revere, MA 02151

September 27, 2025 at 7 pm: VIRTUAL information session hosted on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82966357340?pwd=nhA7nNnLhz1MJZ0O43CAq8BPPnc68X.1

October 10, 2025, 11:59 pm: Phase 01: Concept Proposals due.    

October 16-November 14, 2025: Jury Review Period 

Phase 01: Concept Proposal Review

Based on review, according to above selection criteria, up to/three finalists will be selected to submit project proposals in Phase 02. All other applicants will be notified if they are not moving forward at this stage.

January 9, 2026, 11:59 pm: Phase 02 Project Proposals due.  For Finalists ONLY. 

Up to three selected finalists from Phase 01 will be invited to submit Project Proposals in Phase 02.

January 12-February 11, 2025: Phase 02: Project Proposal Review

During the Phase 02 the selection committee will interview all finalists. Based on review, according to above selection criteria, one artist or team of artists will be selected to implement their project.

Note: The selection committee for this phase of review will be the same as the committee for the first phase of review.    

March 2025: Grant agreement signed between the City of Revere and selected artist or artist team

After artist/artist team is selected, the design will be formalized within a design process that includes review with any affected property owners. Whomever is selected will also be required to have at least two design discussions with the community before refining and presenting a final concept to the City.

April -May 2026: Community engagement period, facilitated by selected artist(s)

August 1, 2026: Project Opens (Installation complete; project may open sooner)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

Concepts welcome from artists and teams of artists.      

Selection Process

Phase 01: Concept proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of 5- or 7 individuals, including neighborhood residents, abutting property owner(s), business owner(s), city personnel, a representative from local non-profit Revere Art Community, and a member of the Public Arts Commission. The selection committee will be looking for alignment with the selection criteria and priorities outline below. At the end of Phase 01, all applicants will be notified. Up to 3 finalists will selected at the end of Phase 01 to move into Phase 02.

Phase 02: All finalists will be asked to submit a project proposal for review in Phase 02. Project Proposals will be reviewed by the selection committee and one artist/artist team will be identified to receive funding to implement their proposed project.

Selection Criteria

Please note the application sections and deliverables shown next to the criteria which help call out which parts of the application may be used to demonstrate adherence to the below criteria:

Phase 01 Selection Criteria

Phase 02 Selection Criteria includes consideration of the Phase 01 criteria as well as the below points, exclusive to Phase 02 consideration