Call Description

The City of Pleasant Ridge is seeking proposals from artists or artist teams to design, create, and install public art on a park-facing exterior wall of a steel public works building. Murals or any other form of exterior wall art will be considered. The total area for the wall art is about 1,500 sq. ft. (100 ft. x 15 ft.) 

The Pleasant Ridge DPW building is in Gainsboro Park, the City’s primary park located in a neighborhood setting. The location for the artwork faces the main pathway through the park. The artwork will primarily be viewed by people walking and biking on the pathway. The purpose of the project is to enhance the visual appeal of the DPW building within Gainsboro Park, and to promote civic pride and cultural appreciation.

The project is sponsored by the Pleasant Ridge Arts Council. This initiative is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to beautification, cultural expression, and community engagement through public art. The artwork must be appropriate for public display and will become property of the City of Pleasant Ridge upon completion.

The site is located at the City DPW complex at 92 Amherst, Pleasant Ridge MI 48069. Wall dimensions are approximately 15 x 100 feet.

The chosen artist will:

• Work with the Pleasant Ridge Art Council to finalize artwork design
• Prepare wall surface, if necessary
• Create and install the mural or wall-based artwork within a mutually agreed-upon timeline
• Provide a maintenance plan or recommendations for longevity

Application Requirements

Proposal Requirements

Each proposal must include:

• Cover Letter: Brief introduction and interest in the project
• Artist Statement: Describe your approach to public art and community engagement
• Concept Proposal: Describe your proposal, including sketches/renderings (if available), description of materials, process, and how the design reflects Pleasant Ridge
• Resume/CV: For lead artist and any team members
• Portfolio: Up to 10 images of past relevant work with description
• Budget Breakdown: Estimated costs by category
• Timeline: Proposed schedule for design, approval, and installation

Questions will be accepted via email to citymanager@cityofpleasantridge.org until August 27, 2025. Answers will be shared with all interested applicants by September 3, 2025.

The application deadline is noon on September 12, 2025.

Selection Criteria

The Pleasant Ridge Arts Council will consider the following:

• Artistic quality and originality
• Relevance to the city’s culture and values
• Feasibility and execution plan
• Experience with public art
• Community engagement approach
• Overall cost-effectiveness

Eligibility Criteria

Any qualified artist is eligible to apply