Call Description

About Sebastopol
Sebastopol, located in Sonoma County, California, was incorporated in 1902. Sebastopol is a ‘general law’ Council-Manager City with five Council members elected at large. There are four Boards and Commissions, including the Public Arts Committee (PAC). Sebastopol has a unique and highly valued small-town character. An incorporated City of 7,600 residents located in the San Francisco/North Bay region, Sebastopol is the hub of west Sonoma County, which is known as a creative center within the County. While the incorporated area is small, Sebastopol serves a much larger unincorporated area stretching to the Pacific Ocean and the Russian River. Persons with a Sebastopol mailing address number over 25,000. The City’s market area comprises a population of approximately 40,000-50,000 people, who, to varying degrees, use Sebastopol as their hub for goods, services, and recreational and cultural activities. The town thus has far more economic activity, as well as recreational and cultural services, than would be apparent based simply on the incorporated area’s population. The City has an extraordinary geographic location, being surrounded by farmland, vineyards, orchards, and wetlands, located minutes from the Sonoma Coast and the Russian River area, just 60 miles north of San Francisco. Sebastopol is at the crossroads of two State Highways, Highways 116 and 12, and is eight miles from Sonoma County’s largest city, Santa Rosa.

Project Description
Selected sculpture(s) will be installed in the Sebastopol Community Sculpture Garden for a duration of two years from installation (June 2026 to May 2028).
There will be No Jurying Fee. The City of Sebastopol provides the infrastructure for the work, including sculpture pads, site signage, site delineation, site improvements, and installation assistance.
The PAC will determine the selection and placement of the selected sculpture(s). Artists and PAC will host an initial Show Opening Event; artists will be responsible for attending and helping publicize the show.
Artists will be responsible for installation, maintenance, and removal of artwork; installation and removal will be in coordination with the Sebastopol Public Works Department. If a sculpture is sold, proceeds will be divided as follows: 25% to the City for project support and infrastructure, 75% to the artist. Sold sculpture(s) will be available to buyers at the conclusion of a minimum of one year duration from the CSG Opening Event. Artists will be responsible for the removal and transportation of the sculpture at the conclusion of the show.

Durability, Maintenance, and Safety:

 All applicants, please read this section carefully. The durability, maintenance requirements, and safety of the sculpture submitted for this project are essential elements in the selection process. Selected sculpture(s) will be exposed to the area’s physical elements and public traffic. All applicants are expected to consider the issues of long-term durability, cleanability, resilience, and low or no maintenance. The project is located outside on the lawn of a popular public park adjacent to downtown Sebastopol. It will be exposed to weather, physical and environmental stresses, as well as potential vandalism. The project should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials and be of sound construction and ensuring stability. Keep in mind that larger pieces may be more resistant to vandalism. Selected sculptors are strongly encouraged to apply an anti-graffiti coating to their finished artwork. The environmental effects of this project, during and after installation, should also be considered. The City will ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance, durability, and public safety considerations.

Selection Process
The City Council will confirm selections.
Selected artists will be required to sign a Liability Waiver before installation

Project Timeline
Call Released: January 15, 2026
Submissions Due: March 23, 2026
Sculptures Selected for Display: May 28, 2026
Installation of Sculptures Selected for Display: June 2026
Community Sculpture Garden Opening Event: TBD
Selected sculptors may be asked to attend a PAC meeting to discuss their proposed
sculpture.

Application Requirements

Project Requirements
Be durable, safe, and low-maintenance, appropriate for long-term installation outdoors in a location open to public traffic. Sculpture, and base if included, designed to be bolted securely by the sculptor to a concrete platform provided by the City. Sculpture size to be appropriate to the setting and durability. No logos, specific historic figures, mascots, or any expressions of hate are to be used. Sculpture is already fabricated or confirmed to be ready for installation no later than the week of May 29, 2026.

Project Objectives
Recognition, appreciation, and encouragement of the creativity of the communities aforementioned.
Opportunity for the display of sculpture not commissioned by the City, but juried and selected by the
PAC for the sculpture garden.
To provide a specific context and location for residents and visitors to enjoy the efforts of area sculptors, and for those artists to have a specific location to display non-commissioned artwork.
Foster a sense of beauty, multi-layered meaning, or have other compelling attributes.
Be appropriate for a public space.
Help create attractive public places.
Enhance the pedestrian environment.
Foster cultural understanding.

Site
Area 2 in Ives Park Renovation Master Plan map: “#2: Install sculpture garden along entry walk from South High Street.” The area is approximately 250 feet long by 20 to 35 feet wide. See Attached Site Plan Map.* Sculpture Pads are 4 feet by 4 feet. There are currently 5 pads available.

Eligibility

This competition is open to sculptors living in Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, and Marin Counties. The PAC may choose to designate some of the sculpture sites for work from specific individual artists or arts organizations.

Submission Requirements
Your submission can be sent electronically and should include the following, provided in the order listed. If your submission is by hardcopy (paper), it should include 8 hard copies of the following, provided in the order listed:
1. A Letter of Interest. Not more than one typed page. Describe your interest in this project.
2. Art description/depiction. Please describe in text your concept for this project (250-word maximum)
and provide a sketch or more specific visual image.
3. Indicate how your sculpture, and base if included, will be attached, secured, and stabilized on the
pedestal.
4. The artist’s name and title of sculpture should appear on all materials submitted.
5. Confirmation that your sculpture will be ready for installation in the CSG in June 2026.

Financial information
Artists are responsible for all expenses involved in their sculpture, including:
1. Proposal submission, communications, fabrication, transportation, installation, insurance,
maintenance, and final removal from the site. Artists may also participate in some publicity for the
opening event.
2. Sebastopol City and PAC will provide:
a. One pedestal for each sculpture selected for the duration of the project’s display period.
b. Maintenance of the physical grounds of the CSG.
c. General notification and publicity regarding the opening event.

Please note
Respondents to this call do so at their sole expense.
All submittals will become property of the City.
Do not submit materials you would want returned.
Incomplete or unresponsive submittals may be rejected.
Prospective sculptors shall not contact the Public Arts Committee or City Council members about this call without specific authorization from City staff. Doing so may be grounds for disqualification.
The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to cancel or alter the selection process at its sole discretion.

Questions
The Public Arts Committee is managing this project. Any questions about
the CFP may be directed via email to: vhenkel@cityofsebastopol.gov

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility
This competition is open to sculptors living in Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, and Marin Counties.

The PAC may choose to designate some of the sculpture sites for work from specific individual artists or arts organizations.