Call Description

City of Orlando Fire Department – Fire Station 18

The City of Orlando invites professional artists to submit preliminary conceptual proposals for a permanent public art installation at Fire Station 18, currently under construction in Orlando, Florida. The commissioned artwork should honor the service, courage, and professionalism of Orlando’s firefighters while reflecting the station’s unique connection to aviation, emergency response, and forward momentum.

The artwork should function as a visual landmark for the station—instilling pride among firefighters, welcoming the surrounding community, and symbolizing readiness, protection, and innovation.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Fire Station 18 is a newly constructed City of Orlando Fire Department facility with a planned completion date of February 2027. The City seeks a three-dimensional sculptural artwork to be installed on-site. The sculpture pedestal may be adjusted in size and shape depending on the selected artwork and artist requirements. 
**Artists must be able to complete sculpture within a 4-5-month period.

Installation Address:
City of Orlando Fire Station 18
9155 Luminary Blvd
Orlando, FL 32827

Project Details:

• Art Feature Budget: $50,000-$53,377
  (Budget to include all artist fees, design, engineering, fabrication, transportation, installation, permits, insurance, and related expenses.)
• Design Intent: Sculpture only
• Pedestal: Concrete pad based on selected artwork

Installation Timeline: To be coordinated with the construction schedule; anticipated completion by February 2027

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The artwork should complement the architectural character of the fire station while remaining accessible and meaningful to the public.

The artwork should convey a sense of strength, preparedness, and service, while acknowledging the critical role of firefighters in protecting both the community and surrounding infrastructure.

Application Requirements

Artists must submit the following materials by May 22, 2026:

1. Current résumé or CV
2. One-paragraph professional biography
3. Artist statement addressing the conceptual vision for the proposed artwork
4. Preliminary projected budget
5. Proposed payment schedule, broken down by weeks, Artists must be able to complete sculpture within a 4-5-month period.
6. A minimum of three (3) images of completed outdoor artworks (to scale, where applicable)
7. Detailed description of the proposed artwork, including materials, approximate dimensions, weight, installation requirements, and estimated value
8. Required maintenance narrative outlining anticipated long-term care considerations

Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open to professional artists residing and working within the United States with demonstrated experience designing, fabricating, and installing large-scale outdoor public art projects. International submissions will not be considered.

Artists must have a proven record of completing projects on budget and on schedule. The selected artist must be able to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations related to contracting, insurance, and installation within the United States.

The artwork must be constructed of materials appropriate for a subtropical outdoor environment and designed to endure Orlando’s climate conditions, including intense sun, high humidity, heavy rain, and hurricane-force winds. Materials prone to fading or deterioration should be avoided. All artwork must meet applicable local building and safety codes.