Call Description

To view this call in PDF form, please click here.

Project Schedule

* Attendance to Virtual Info Session is encouraged but it is not an application requirement. 

** Dates provided are estimates based upon current knowledge of preliminary project schedules and are only intended to assist artists in determining their own availability to participate. The above dates in no way represent final approved schedules and are subject to change through future iterations of design and construction phases.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge that the land upon which the Salt Lake City Public Art Program operates – the land where we gather, create, and appreciate art – is the traditional and unceded territory of the Shoshone, Goshute, Paiute, and Ute Peoples. The history of this land predates the establishment of Salt Lake City, and we honor the Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded this land for generations. Let us actively work towards dismantling systems of inequality and injustice, as we strive to create a more inclusive and equitable future together.

PROJECT BACKGROUND & SITE DESCRIPTION
The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program, in collaboration with the Salt Lake City Public Lands Department and the Salt Lake City Transportation Division, seeks to commission an artist or artist-led team to create an original, site-specific public artwork for Fairmont Park and the McClelland Shared Street in the Sugar House neighborhood.

This commission is unique in its intent to unify two distinct yet connected sites: Fairmont Park and the recently improved McClelland Shared Street corridor. Together, these locations embody the intersection of recreation, mobility, and community life in Sugar House. The selected artist or team will play a pivotal role in shaping a cohesive sense of place, defining how residents and visitors experience this area for generations to come. The artwork will be integral in shaping how people move through the heart of Sugar House and arrive at Fairmont Park.

Fairmont Park is a 27-acre community anchor that is set to receive significant improvements, including safety enhancements, upgrades to the basketball courts, and a more welcoming northern entrance. Its expansive lawns, pond, sport courts, and walking paths make it a vital space for recreation and gathering. Planned improvements will further position Fairmont Park as a vibrant hub for play, wellness, and connection for the Sugar House neighborhood and Salt Lake City as a whole.

McClelland Shared Street forms part of the McClelland Trail and serves as a pedestrian and bicycle friendly link through the heart of the Sugar House business district. Completed in 2023, the Phase 2a improvements transformed McClelland Street from 2100 South to Sugarmont Drive into a low-speed, people-centered corridor with landscaping, outdoor dining, safe crossings, and gathering spaces. Funded through the City’s Constituent Capital Improvement Program (CCIP), this project underscores the City’s commitment to working with residents and communities to create streets that are safe, accessible, and welcoming to all.

By bridging these two spaces, the commissioned artist will create an artwork that serves as a landmark for the Sugar House neighborhood—a point of connection between park & street, leisure & commerce, and daily life & shared community identity.

PROJECT SCOPE

The selected artist or artist-led team will be responsible for creating an original, site-specific public artwork that connects Fairmont Park and McClelland Shared Street as a cohesive and engaging experience for the Sugar House neighborhood. The artwork should:

• Respond to the unique characteristics of each site while creating a visual and conceptual link between them.
• Integrate with existing and planned park and street features, including pathways, courts, plazas, and green spaces, in collaboration with project design teams.
• Enhance placemaking, foster community engagement, and provide meaningful points of interaction for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.
• Reflect the identity and future vision of Sugar House as a vibrant, accessible, and connected neighborhood.
• Consider practical aspects of installation, durability, accessibility, and long-term engagement, while allowing for creative expression and innovation.

The artwork is expected to extend across multiple sections of McClelland Shared Street, creating a dynamic and connected experience along the corridor, with the potential for a signature element or focal point within Fairmont Park that anchors the overall concept.

Artists will collaborate closely with Arts Council, Public Lands, & Transportation staff, the contracted landscape architecture consultant, and community stakeholders throughout the design and implementation phases to ensure that the artwork aligns with broader project improvements, community priorities, and the City’s investment in both sites.

Fairmont Park and McClelland Shared Trail Site Images

ARTWORK GOALS
Artists are invited to create a site-specific artwork that celebrates the connection between Fairmont Park and McClelland Shared Street, activating both spaces in meaningful ways. The artwork should enhance the visitor experience and reflect the character and future vision of the Sugar House neighborhood.

While proposals may explore a variety of approaches, priority is given to concepts that: encourage interaction and play, integrate with the landscape and park/street features, and provide multiple points of engagement across the sites. Sustainability, durability, and accessibility should guide all aspects of the design.

The Salt Lake Art Design Board seeks to commission a site-specific artwork that meets some or all of the following goals:

• Enhances placemaking and strengthens the identity and cohesion of the Sugar House neighborhood, creating a clear connection between Fairmont Park and McClelland Shared Street.
• Creates welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experiences for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Encourages engagement, interaction, and exploration, including opportunities for play, discovery, or contemplation.
• Integrates thoughtfully with the landscape and existing or planned park and street features, such as pathways, courts, plazas, or other public infrastructure.
• Supports a distributed approach, with artwork extending along multiple sections of McClelland Shared Street and incorporating a focal point within Fairmont Park.
• Reflects and celebrates the natural environment and sustainable practices, complementing the park’s greenery, trails, and open spaces.
• Considers long-term durability, maintenance, and safety, complying with ADA requirements, City regulations, and all applicable laws and standards.
• Provides a cohesive vision that unifies both Fairmont Park and McClelland Shared Street, balancing the distinct character of each site while creating a connected experience.

Note: Artists are encouraged to explore strategies such as landscape-integrated artworks, interactive or play-oriented elements, or artworks embedded in existing park and street features. These suggestions reflect community preferences while allowing flexibility for the artist’s creative vision.

ARTWORK COMMISSION BUDGET
The total budget for this commission is $230,000, sourced from Salt Lake City’s CIP Transportation and CIP/Percent-for-Art funds. Of this total, $90,000 comes from the Transportation Division’s CIP and must be allocated to the McClelland Shared Street portion of the project. Artists should demonstrate how their proposed artwork reflects this investment while also unifying and enhancing both project areas.

This commission amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to: the artist’s design and project management fees; consultation fees (such as structural engineering); preparation and submittal of final artwork proposal; design collaboration throughout the length of the project; additional community outreach and engagement (including any fees or honoraria incurred by working with local artists or community members); insurance (including Utah Workers Compensation); tools and materials; artwork fabrication, transportation, and installation; all site preparations and/or infrastructure modifications required for integration of the artwork; travel to and from Salt Lake City; per diem expenses; and a recommended contingency fund to address unexpected expenses (recommended to be set at 10%).

ARTIST QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS
The selection of an artist or artist-led team is subject to, but not limited by, the following qualifications:

• Professional experience represents a developed and successful body of site-specific public art projects of a similar scope and scale as demonstrated by visual documentation;
• Ability to meet deadlines and budget and to perform work in a timely, professional manner;
• Willingness of the artist to consult and work collaboratively with the Art Design Board, community stakeholders, and City partners to successfully integrate the work into the site;
• Ability to understand sense of place and design in a context-sensitive manner as demonstrated by visual documentation;
• Demonstrated ability to conceptually and practically respond to site-specific conditions and project requirements, including integrating designated project investments and collaborating with multiple stakeholders to create a cohesive artwork across both sites.
• Artist’s work demonstrates a strong conceptual or material sensitivity, inviting curiosity, reflection, or delight through visual clarity and presence.
• Artist process reflects thoughtful engagement with ideas, places, or communities—communicating perspective or meaning that feels relevant and deeply considered.
• Artist has created works of permanent nature that do not require excessive maintenance or repair costs.

The Salt Lake Art Design Board, in consultation with project stakeholders, will review all properly submitted applications and will select a short-list of up to three (3) finalists to enter into the design development phase to propose artwork for review.

Artist-led team applications are welcomed. Each team must be led by a person with a demonstrated history of professional activity as an artist. Teams may not substitute team members after submission unless the Public Art Program consents to any proposed substitution. An artist may not apply as a member of more than one team and may not apply as an individual artist if already applying as a team – one person/one application.

FINALIST PROCESS & ARTWORK PROPOSAL PRESENTATION
Finalists will be required to participate in at least two (2) meetings.

• Pre-Proposal Orientation (mid-January 2026): An opportunity to learn more about the project, meet with and ask questions to Arts Council, Transportation & Public Lands staff, the contracted landscape architecture consultant, and other project & community stakeholders. Finalists will receive site-specific information and supplemental documents to aid in proposal development.
• Artwork Proposal Presentation (Wednesday, April 1, 2026): Finalists will present their proposals to the Salt Lake Art Design Board and project stakeholders.

Finalists must develop a site-specific proposal that includes:

• Scaled designs, renderings, maps, diagrams, and/or models.
• A written statement describing the artwork’s concepts and intent.
• Proposed materials, fabrication, and installation methods.
• A project schedule and an itemized budget.
• A description of how the artwork incorporates both project areas as defined in this RFQ, including a clear demonstration of how the $90,000 Transportation CIP investment is represented in the McClelland Shared Street portion of the project.

Each finalist will receive a $2,300 stipend for all design & artwork proposal development, research, meetings, presentations, and, if applicable, additional community engagement. The stipend is inclusive of travel, lodging, shipping, and related expenses. If awarded the commission, the finalist’s stipend will be deducted from the total commission budget.

Finalists must email a PDF color rendering of their proposal to the Salt Lake City Public Art Program Manager by Wednesday, March 25, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. MT. Materials will be distributed in advance to the Art Design Board and project partners.

ARTIST AGREEMENTS & PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS
All finalists will enter into an agreement with the Salt Lake City Arts Council for proposal development. After final artwork proposal presentations, the Salt Lake Art Design Board will recommend an artist or artist-led team, and one alternate, for the commission to the Mayor for final approval. Only the selected artist or artist-led team will enter into an Artist Commissioned Work Agreement with the City. The alternate will enter into a commission agreement only in the case that the City and the selected artist are unable, for any reason and in City’s sole discretion, to enter into the commission agreement.

Throughout the length of the project, the selected artist or artist-led team must carry general liability and automobile insurance and must either provide proof of Workers’ Compensation Coverage or apply for a Workers’ Compensation Coverage Waiver.

Salt Lake City will retain the right to remove or relocate the artwork as may be deemed necessary in the future. The selected artist/team will retain copyright to their work but will grant Salt Lake City right to reproduction. In the performance of this project under agreement with Salt Lake City, artist/team shall comply with all applicable Salt Lake City requirements, laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations.

View a sample Artist Commissioned Work Agreement here

RESOURCES

• Fairmont Park: Improvement Project Page – Updated by Salt Lake City Public Lands, this page provides general updates and information related to the park’s development, design, funding, and construction.
• Fairmont Park: First Round Engagement Report – Led by Salt Lake City Public Lands with input from the Public Art Program, this report summarizes community priorities for Fairmont Park and future improvements. Input was collected in March 2025.
• McClelland Shared Street Project Page – Archived content hosted by Salt Lake City Transportation, detailing the McClelland Shared Street project, its history, improvements, and its role within the larger McClelland Shared Trail network.
• Salt Lake City Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan – Developed by Salt Lake City Transportation and adopted by City Council, this plan provides a framework, recommendations, and policies for the development of pedestrian and bicycle facilities. An executive summary is available.
• Sugar House Master Plan – Developed by Salt Lake City Planning and adopted in 2005, this plan, along with the Sugar House Business District Design Guidelines Handbook, outlines urban design and development guidance for the Sugar House neighborhood.
• Sugar House Community Council – Recognized community organization and stakeholder in this public art project, providing local insight and input.
• Sugar House Business District (Chamber of Commerce) – Works closely with the Sugar House Community Council to support local businesses and community engagement in the area.

RFQ INFORMATION SESSION, QUESTIONS, AND APPLICATION SUPPORT
All questions regarding this Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) may only be directed to Salt Lake City Public Art Program staff at the email address listed below. Artists may be disqualified if any unsolicited contact related to this RFQ is made with a member of the Art Design Board or project stakeholders other than the Public Art Program staff during the selection process.

We do our best to respond to inquiries quickly, however we may not be able to respond in a timely manner during the final days prior to deadlines stated above. Please give yourself ample time to consider your participation in this project and reach out to our staff, at any stage in the process, with any questions or concerns.

Email: publicartprogram@slc.gov

Website: https://publicart.slc.gov/for-artists/calls-for-artists/

If you do not have access to a computer or WiFi to apply, the Salt Lake City Public Library branches offer free computer and WiFi access. If you require further resources or accommodations, such as translation and interpretation services into languages other than English, please email publicartprogram@slc.gov for assistance. Please note: translation and interpretation services require additional time to coordinate, so we encourage artists to reach out as early as possible to ensure support can be provided.

Information session: Interested applicants are invited to attend an online info session, via Zoom, on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm MT:

Webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83371376996?pwd=3jELCAmJ0VIHdneDBi9qls3ZUGU1Qf.1

Password: 1234

Attendance at this information session is not required to apply. A recording of the info session will be published on our website afterwards.

Application Requirements

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Artist qualifications that arrive on or before 11:59 pm MT on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 and meet all the application requirements will be reviewed. 

The applicant’s full name and contact information must appear on all submitted materials. Artist-led team applications are also welcomed. If applying as a team, indicate the name and contact information of the team’s representative. Each team must be led by a person with a demonstrated history of professional activity as an artist. Teams may not substitute team members after submission unless the Public Art Program consents to any proposed substitution. An artist may not apply as a member of more than one team and may not apply as an individual artist if already applying as a team – one person/one application.

To be considered for this project, applicants must submit all the required materials via the CaFÉ (www.callforentry.org) website. There is no application fee. No other method of submission will be accepted. Assistance using CaFÉ is available online, by email, or by calling 303-629-1166 during business hours.

Any materials not specifically requested as part of this application or exceeding the maximum page length or format requirements will not be considered or reviewed by the Art Design Board and may result in disqualification. Notifications of disqualifications will not be made.

1.      LETTER OF INTEREST

A letter not to exceed one page (500 words) outlining your interest, perspective, strength, and experience for this project. Letter must include address, email, phone number, and website of artist.

• Describe how your previous work has addressed or considered site-specificity and similar artwork goals as stated for this project;
• If applicable, please provide specific examples of your previous experience for projects of similar site, scope, themes, and/or scale;
• Do not submit a proposal for a new commission at this time.

2.     RÉSUMÉ OR CV

A résumé or CV, not to exceed two pages, that outlines professional accomplishment and includes two professional references (name, affiliated organization, email address, and phone number) for both individual applicants and teams.

• If applying as a team, submit a two-page résumé for each team member combined into one PDF.
• References will only be contacted during the interviewing process for the artists/teams selected as finalists.

3.     IMAGES OF PAST WORK

These images are the primary way the quality of your work is judged. Five to ten (5-10) visuals (up to two videos) of past artwork that demonstrate your qualifications for this project.

• Provide the following information for each: title, year produced, dimensions, budget, medium, location, and a brief description.
• Images of designs for previously proposed projects that were not developed to completion may be submitted but should be clearly marked as such. Previous proposals cannot account for more than 3 of the requested 10 images.
• If applying as a team and the team has not collaborated previously, images of work from all team members as appropriate should be included (please note that teams are limited to 10 visuals total).

Complete all fields in the CaFÉ portfolio section and upload through the "CHOOSE WORK SAMPLES" section. Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ specifications may be found at https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY: This Call for Artists is open to all professional artists or artist-led teams currently residing in Utah regardless of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or mental or physical disability.