Call Description

Salt Lake County (“County”) plans to contract with an artist or artist team to create one or more unique interior artworks that will be installed on the site of the new Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center (“Arts Center”). The complete Request for Qualifications can be found HERE. Click the "Download" button in the Supporting Documentation section. 

Project Needs to Address:

• Aesthetic Compatibility: The artwork must complement the building’s architectural design, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the site and creating a cohesive environment.
• Safety and Durability: The artwork must adhere to all safety standards and be built to withstand environmental conditions. It should be designed for long-term durability with minimal maintenance requirements, ensuring stability in a public space.
• Quality and Craftsmanship: The artwork should reflect the highest artistic standards, showcasing excellence in design and craftsmanship, while pushing creative boundaries.
• Scale Appropriateness: The artwork should be thoughtfully scaled to fit the site, maintaining a harmonious balance with the venue’s size and architectural features, ensuring a well-integrated visual presence.

Project is Encouraged to Address:

• Highlight Movement and Fluidity: The artwork should convey a sense of motion or fluidity, evoking a feeling of dynamic change and artistic energy.

Reflect the Venue’s Drape Theme: The artwork should visually or thematically connect with the building’s drape motif, blending art and architecture seamlessly.

• Catalyst for Creative Energy: The artwork should serve as a visual catalyst, sparking creativity and engagement with the community while reflecting the venue’s purpose as a space that nurtures and celebrates the arts.

• Connection with Nature and Community: The artwork should create a meaningful connection to the surrounding landscape, offering an immersive experience that bridges nature, community, and the arts. It should draw inspiration from the environment and the culture of the area, establishing a dialogue between the built and natural worlds.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be multiple public art projects for this venue, including one or more exterior piece(s) and one or more interior works. The exterior project will be open to artists legally authorized to work in the United States and is being released as RFQ ART120988.

This interior project (RFQ ART120987) will be open to artists legally authorized to work in the United States. There will also be a second interior project (RFQ #TBD) which will be open exclusively to artists who reside in the State of Utah. Artists or artist-led teams are eligible to apply for all three public art projects, provided they meet the specific qualifications for each. Different selection committees will review and select artists for each project. It is the intent of the County to enter into separate contracts for each separate project (Exterior open to US Artists; Interior open to US Artists; and Interior open to State of Utah Artists) with an artist or artist team for this site to assure the project requirements are met, to assure the best value for the project, to assure the project budget is not exceeded, to expedite the project to completion and to encourage a unified approach by all members of the project team.

BACKGROUND
Salt Lake County is developing a new regional arts center in Daybreak, a rapidly growing and vibrantly master-planned community in South Jordan, Utah. This community is designed to offer a unique blend of modern living, recreation, and culture, with walkable spaces and a variety of amenities that encourage community engagement. Daybreak is home to significant developments, including the newly constructed Ballpark at America First Square, a state-of-the-art facility for professional and community sporting events, as well as a movie mega-plex, a premier venue for entertainment and cinema. This vibrant mix of recreational, cultural, and commercial spaces is poised to make Daybreak a central hub for residents and visitors alike. The Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Arts Center will be strategically located within this
dynamic development, further enriching the area’s growing cultural landscape.

The Arts Center itself is supported by a transformative $25 million donation from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, reflecting the Miller Family’s deep commitment to enriching the community through the arts. It is also part of Salt Lake County’s dedication to expanding access to cultural experiences across the valley. The Arts Center will be named the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center. Once operational, it will be managed by Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, a County agency dedicated to supporting the County’s arts and cultural community.
The Arts Center is expected to include an 800-seat theater, a visual art gallery, and classroom spaces for creative exploration and education. Groundbreaking for the Arts Center is scheduled for January 2026 and is anticipated to open in early 2028. This center fulfills a key recommendation from Salt Lake County's 2008 and 2020 Cultural Master Plans, which identified the need for publicly owned regional cultural centers in the southwest valley. The Arts Center will provide critical space for performances, rehearsals, exhibitions, and community events, benefiting both established arts organizations and emerging artists.

The design of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center, led by Method Studio, is envisioned as a dynamic, sculptural building that embodies the energy and expression of the arts. The architectural form features folded planes and creases, creating an interplay of light and shadow that will transform the building into a glowing lantern at
night. This design symbolizes the theatrical curtain, representing the threshold between reality and imagination, while embodying the magic of performance and the arts. As part of Salt Lake County’s commitment to sustainability, the facility will meet USGBC LEED Gold certification standards, which will be confirmed upon completion of construction. Additionally, Salt Lake County’s Art in Public Places program will incorporate site-specific artwork, such as murals and sculptures, to further enhance the Arts Center. This program supports local artists and strengthens community identity by integrating art into County spaces across the valley. The program’s collections will feature a wide range of media, including paintings, photography, mixed media, and sculptures.

The mission of Salt Lake County Arts & Culture division is to support the County’s vibrant arts community through a variety of programs, including the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) grant program. Through its spaces, places, services, and programs, the division fosters community engagement and provides opportunities for shared cultural experiences. The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center will be a cornerstone of this mission, offering a dedicated space where the transformative power of the arts can flourish for generations to come.
For a visual representation, please refer to the site map in the full RFQ,  which includes the development activation surrounding the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center.

Application Requirements

The Selection Committee, composed of community members, representatives from Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, architects, and arts professionals, will review all submissions and make the final recommendation to the Salt Lake County Mayor.

The process is structured in two phases, designed to ensure a thorough and fair
evaluation of each artist's qualifications and creative vision.

Phase One: Initial Qualification Submission
Artists are invited to submit a Letter of Interest and qualifications, which should include:

• A brief written statement describing their approach to the project.
• Up to 10 images of relevant past work demonstrating experience with similar projects.
• A detailed biography, including relevant artistic and professional experience.

If submitting as a team, each artist should prepare an individual application, which will be submitted as a complete package. The Selection Committee will review the materials and select up to five semi-finalists to move forward in the process.

Phase Two: Full Proposal Submission
Semi-finalists will be required to participate in at least two meetings. Before submitting their full proposals, semi-finalists must attend a mandatory virtual meeting on August 5th, 2025, at 4:00 PM MT via WebEx. This will be an opportunity for artists to meet the
architects, project managers, and other key stakeholders, and ask detailed questions about the project. This meeting will provide critical information and clarify any project details, ensuring that artists have a full understanding of the site and the project’s vision. Semi-finalists will be invited to present their site-specific full proposal for the project.
This proposal must be submitted via email on or before 1:00 PM on September 17th, 2025, to BWhitehead@saltlakecounty.gov. Late proposals will not be accepted.

The full proposal must include:
• A detailed project concept and vision.
• A proposed budget for the project.
• A timeline outlining the completion of the artwork.

In addition, each semi-finalist will be required to present their proposal in person to the Selection Committee on September 30th, 2025. The meeting will take place in Salt Lake City, and each semi-finalist will have up to one hour to present their proposal. Semi-finalists will receive a $2,500 honorarium to prepare and present their proposals. This honorarium is inclusive of any expenses incurred for the creation of their proposal, including travel expenses, hotel, shipping, etc.

Submit your proposals to SLCo-Purchasing@slco.org 

First Phase
APPLICATION – Exhibit A
TWO-PAGE LETTER OF INTEREST -- that explains why the artist is
interested in the project, how the artist’s work is appropriate for the project, and relevant past experience. If submitting as a team, the letter should include a description of how the team works together and clearly explain any collaborative work experiences. Clearly indicate how you might approach the site.
TWO-PAGE ARTIST’S RESUME -- for team applications please include
resumes for all team members (again not to exceed 2 pages per resume).
UP TO TEN DIGITAL IMAGES OF RELEVENT PAST WORK. Digital images must be emailed with your proposal submission. If the digital image files are too large to email, please provide a Dropbox link (or
similar file sharing program) with the images. Each image must be saved
in JPEG format and cannot be larger than 1MB. Images must be in the
order listed on the slide identification sheet in Exhibit A. Artists are encouraged to submit images of past work that best illustrates their qualifications for this opportunity. A slide identification sheet must accompany documentation or use the application form provided (see Exhibit A).

Second Phase
Semi-Finalists will be invited to submit up to three design concepts during this phase. Each concept must include the following materials to support a comprehensive review by the Selection Committee:

1. Written Proposal Narrative
Provide a detailed written description of each proposed concept. The narrative should include:
o A brief statement outlining the key themes and inspiration behind your design.
o An explanation of how your concept integrates with the site and complements the surrounding environment.
o A clear plan for adhering to the project’s timeline and any specific considerations regarding fabrication, installation, and project milestones.

The narrative must be submitted in a format of 8 ½” x 11”, with a minimum of 500 words. Please ensure your proposal is thorough and well-articulated, offering the Selection Committee a clear understanding of the concept and its relevance to the project.

2. Budget and Timeline
Detailed Budget: A comprehensive budget that outlines all projected costs related to the design, fabrication, transportation, installation, and any other expenses related to the execution of the public art project.

Project Timeline: A clear and detailed timeline for the completion of the artwork, including milestones for each phase of the project (fabrication, transportation, installation, etc.), ensuring alignment with the overall project schedule.

3. Visual Illustration
Provide a visual representation of the proposed design. The illustration should clearly demonstrate how the artwork will look in its intended location and how it interacts with the space. This visual representation should allow the Selection Committee to easily grasp the scale, materials, and integration of the proposed artwork within the site.

Once submitted, the finalists will be required to travel to Salt Lake City to present their concepts in person. Please ensure all materials are submitted in a clear and organized manner. Failure to meet submission requirements may result in disqualification from further consideration. This is a critical stage in the selection process, and we encourage
finalists to present their most thoughtful, innovative, and well-prepared proposals.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
First Phase - Full application information can be found at www.callforentry.org. The entire submission must be submitted via callforentry.org. Submissions must be submitted electronically and received by July 11th, 2025, at 1:00 PM MT. No proposals will be accepted after the closing date and time.

Second Phase – Semi-finalists must email second-phase proposals to
BWhitehead@saltlakecounty.gov. They must be received before 1:00 PM MT on September 17th, 2025. No proposals will be accepted after the closing date and time.

QUESTIONS:
All questions regarding this RFQ are to be directed only to Bibi Whitehead at BWhitehead@saltlakecounty.gov by June 27th, 2025, before 1:00 pm MT. All questions and responses will be posted at callforentry.org for all applicants and potential applicants to review. Applicants may be disqualified if any unsolicited contact related to this RFQ is made with a member of the Artist Selection Committee during the selection process. All communication will occur electronically via email or through callforentry.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Letter of interest and qualifications are requested from artists working in the United States who wish to participate in an open competition for an interior public art project at the new Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center in South Jordan, Utah.  To participate, applicants must have a valid U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other).