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

In April 2022, the Salt Lake City Public Art Program installed Out of the Blue, a sculpture affectionately known as “The Whale,” in the roundabout where Harvey Milk Boulevard (900 South), 1100 East, and Gilmer Drive meet. Created by artist Stephen Kesler, the sculpture currently features Point of Reference, a mural by local artist Michael Murdock. Since its installation, Out of the Blue has become a beloved landmark and a symbol of community, creativity, resilience, and harmony. The sculpture has become an “icon” for Salt Lake City, serving as a gathering point that attracts local and national visitors. The artwork is located along the 9-Line Corridor, a major east-west route that connects residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, and recreation sites. The sculpture is an anchor for the 9th & 9th neighborhood, known for its local businesses, restaurants, schools, and residences.

To reflect the neighborhood’s vibrant and evolving character, the Salt Lake City Public Art Program commissions a new mural for the sculpture every three to five years through a rotating mural program. By blending a permanent sculptural landmark with a rotating series of murals, the project creates a dynamic and ever-changing visual centerpiece. The paintable surfaces of the sculpture offer an opportunity for new murals to continually reinterpret the artwork, allowing it to respond to and reflect the diverse, creative community that defines 9th & 9th, ensuring that Out of the Blue continues to evolve with Salt Lake City.

PROJECT SCOPE

The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program seeks to commission a Salt Lake County based artist or artist-led team to design and install a new mural for Out of the Blue. The mural will be informed by insights gathered through the What’s Next for the Whale? Shape SLC survey, conducted from August to October 2025, which received more than 1,700 community responses about Out of the Blue and the 9th & 9th neighborhood. Artists will be required to integrate this community input in their mural design approach.

The selected Salt Lake County-based artist or team will create a mural that celebrates the neighborhood’s creativity, inclusivity, and local character while deepening the artwork’s connection to Salt Lake City’s identity. The design should honor the community’s sense of pride and vibrancy, ensuring that Out of the Blue continues to serve as a dynamic and unifying landmark for residents and visitors alike.

ARTWORK GOALS

The Salt Lake Art Design Board seeks to commission a Salt Lake County-based artist or artist-led team to create a mural that meets as many as possible or all of the goals below:

• Serves as a welcoming entrance to the 9th South Corridor and 9th & 9th neighborhood;
• Celebrates the 9th & 9th neighborhood’s vibrant, eclectic identity and Salt Lake City’s spirit as a place that embraces difference and defies expectations;
• Evokes curiosity, delight, and imagination, reflecting Salt Lake City’s unique balance of nature, creativity, and community;
• Embodies the whimsy and joy associated with Out of the Blue while connecting to Salt Lake City’s natural and urban landscape;
• Is engaging from all angles as the roundabout provides an opportunity for viewers to view the object from 360 degrees;
• Is of the highest quality—creatively and technically, and exemplifies strong, imaginative design;
• Resists general wear and vandalism, offers easy, minimal, and low-cost maintenance;
• Meets all public safety and maintenance standards and complies with the Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA), Salt Lake City requirements, and all other applicable laws, codes, and regulations, including guidance from the Salt Lake City Transportation and Engineering Departments regarding pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle visibility and safety.

ARTWORK COMMISSION BUDGET

The total budget for this commission is $12,500. This commission amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to: the artist’s fee; insurance (including Utah Workers Compensation); tools and materials; transportation, and installation; and a recommended contingency fund to address unexpected expenses (recommended to be set at 10%).

The City will cover the costs associated with lift rental (including delivery and setup) and the anti-graffiti protective coating materials. The selected artist is responsible for arranging the lift rental and for applying the anti-graffiti coating upon completion of the mural. These expenses will be paid by the City and are not included in the project budget. The total cost for the anti-graffiti coating and lift rental shall not exceed an amount mutually agreed upon by the City and the selected artist or artist-led team. The mural is expected to remain in place for a minimum of five years..

ARTIST QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS

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

• Artist’s professional experience represents a developed and successful body of public art projects of a similar scope and scale as demonstrated by visual documentation;
• Ability to meet deadlines, budget, and perform work in a timely, professional manner;
• Willingness of the artist to consult and work collaboratively with the Salt Lake Art Design Board and community stakeholders.
• Ability to understand sense of place and design in a context-sensitive manner as demonstrated by visual documentation;
• Artist demonstrates high investment in the project or demonstrates a relationship/connection to the content/community involved in the work;
• Artist has created works of lasting nature that do not require excessive maintenance or repair costs and meet public safety requirements (including transportation safety requirements), Salt Lake City requirements, and Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. ​

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 four (4) finalists to enter into the design development phase to propose artwork for review.

Artist-led team applications are welcome. Each team must be led by a person with a demonstrated history of professional activity as an artist. If applying as a team, the team leader must submit the application on behalf of the team and clearly identify themselves as such on the application. For this project, the team leader must have their primary residence or studio located in Salt Lake County; however, other team members are not required to reside in Salt Lake County. 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.

The selected artist or artist-led team must be present for installation and is required to remain on site the duration of the installation, which will be coordinated by the Public Art Program. The selected artist will be expected to install the artwork within a pre-agreed, limited timeframe established between the artist(s) and the City in order to minimize road closures and implement safety and measures for the artist(s). If necessary, the City will facilitate any necessary traffic closures for the installation of the mural.

FINALIST PROCESS & ARTWORK PROPOSAL PRESENTATION

All selected finalists will be required to attend a meeting to learn more about the project and receive information to fully develop an artwork proposal, including access to a detailed report summarizing community engagement efforts around Out of the Blue, and the broader 9th & 9th neighborhood. Artists will have the opportunity to make site visits.

The selected finalists will develop both physical and conceptual proposals and present them to the Salt Lake Art Design Board and project stakeholders. Site-specific proposals should convey ideas and plans through scaled designs, renderings and/or models, accompanied by a written statement describing the project’s installation plan, project schedule, and an itemized budget. Proposals must also describe how the artwork incorporates insights from the provided community engagement findings and reflects the 9th & 9th neighborhood. Additionally, finalists will be asked to paint their mural proposal on a blank 3D model of Out of the Blue to present to the Board and project stakeholders during their finalists’ presentations.

Finalists will receive a $200 stipend for all design development, research, meetings, and presentations.

The selected finalists must email a PDF color rendering of their proposal to the Salt Lake City Public Art Program Manager by Wednesday, April 29, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. MT. Materials will be distributed to the Art Design Board and project partners prior to the finalists’ presentation on Wednesday, May 6, 2026..

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 for commission to the Mayor for final approval. An alternate may be chosen if deemed appropriate by the Board. Only the selected artist or artist-led team will enter into an Artist Commissioned Work Agreement with the City. If selected, 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.

RESCOURCES

• Out of the Blue - Full-size sculpture of a humpback whale breaching out from the roundabout created by Stephen Kessler, designed to complement and augment the unique and welcoming identity of the 9th & 9th area.
•  What’s Next for the Whale? 2025 Community Engagement Report – Developed by Salt Lake City Arts Council and Civic Engagement team, this document presents the data and stories collected throughout the summer 2025 round of engagement.
• Out of the Blue Renderings
  • content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0247.png
  • http://saltlakepublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0248.png
  • http://saltlakepublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0250.png
  • http://saltlakepublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0253.png
  • http://saltlakepublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0255.png
  • http://saltlakepublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0256.png

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.

Contact: publicartprogram@slc.gov

Website: https://publicart.slc.gov/new-mural-for-out-of-the-blue-2026/

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 to complete the application materials, such as translation and interpretation services to other languages, please email publicartprogram@slc.govfor assistance.

Information session: Interested applicants are invited to attend an online info session, via Zoom, on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm MT:

Webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86045396867?pwd=c2lQhJcxgZhYXtQD1LvX3YSlAQtCrl.1

Password: 1234

Attendance at this meeting 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 Friday, January 2, 2025 and meet all the application requirements will be reviewed. 

To be considered for this project, applicants must submit all the required materials via the CaFÉ (www.callforentry.org) website. The applicant’s full name and contact information must appear on all submitted materials. 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. PROOF OF RESIDENCE

Proof of primary residence or studio located in Salt Lake County is required. Acceptable forms of documentation may include a lease agreement, utility bill, bank statement, or other official document showing the individual’s name and current address.

• Submit one document as a PDF.
• If applying as a team, only the team leader is required to submit proof of residence.

2. 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 addressed site and/or similar goals as stated for this project.
• Highlight any relevant experience with large-scale murals, public art projects, or collaborations with communities or local organizations.
• Discuss how your work could celebrate the creativity, inclusivity, and local character of the 9th & 9th neighborhood while enhancing Out of the Blue’s connection to Salt Lake City’s identity.
• Identify any personal, professional, or community connections you have with the 9th & 9th neighborhood or Salt Lake City.
• Summarize your artistic strengths, unique perspective, and what makes you a strong fit for this commission.
• Do not submit a proposal for a new commission at this time.

3.     RÉSUMÉ OR CV

A résumé or CV, not to exceed two pages, that outlines professional accomplishments 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. 

4.     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 and/or artist-led teams residing in or with studios located in Salt Lake County, Utah, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or mental or physical disability.