Call Detail
Artist Designed Shade Screens for Transit Shelters
Entry Deadline: 8/26/21
Application Closed
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 4, Maximum:Max. 6
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 4, Maximum:Max. 6
Call Type: Public Art
Eligibility: National
State: Arizona

SECTION I - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture’s Public Art Program is requesting qualifications from professional artists to design perforated steel shade screens for multiple City of Phoenix bus shelters. The enhanced shade screens will be incorporated into bus shelters to improve the experience of transit users and promote a more walkable street. The project, partly supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, is expected to be combined with improved landscaping that increases shade and reduces urban heat. These goals are part of ongoing City efforts to become a HeatReady city and create a connected oasis of beautiful, walkable streets and public spaces. The artist-designed shade screens will be expected to promote distinctive community identities and expand the Public Art Program’s award-winning series of artist-designed shade structures.

This is an excellent opportunity for professional 2D artists (painters, printmakers, muralists, graphic designers, weavers, fabric artists, etc.) to apply their talents to public works. Arizona artists are strongly encouraged to apply.

SECTION II – TRANSPARENCY POLICY
Beginning on the date this RFQ (hereinafter referred to as the “Call”) is issued and until the date a contract is awarded or the Call withdrawn, all persons or entities that respond to this Call for the services outlined below, including their employees, agents, representatives, proposed partner(s), subcontractor(s), joint venture(s), member(s), or any of their lobbyists or attorneys, (collectively, the “Respondent”) must refrain from any direct or indirect contact with any person (other than the designated procurement officer) who may play a part in the selection process, including members of the evaluation panel, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Managers, department heads, the Mayor and other members of the Phoenix City Council. As long as the solicitation is not discussed, Respondents may continue to conduct business with the City and discuss business that is unrelated to the solicitation with City staff.

Respondents may discuss their proposal or this Call with the Mayor or one or more members of the Phoenix City Council, provided such meetings are scheduled through Romeo Rabusa, Procurement Officer, conducted in person at 200 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85003, and are posted as open meetings with the City Clerk at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled meetings. The City Clerk will be responsible for posting the meetings. The posted notice shall identify the participants and the subject matter, and invite the public to participate. Romeo Rabusa’s contact info is romeo.rabusa@phoenix.gov.

This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all Respondents, assure that contracts are awarded in public, and protect the integrity of the selection process. RESPONDENTS THAT VIOLATE THIS POLICY SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED.

SECTION III – SCOPE OF WORK
The selected artist(s) will be expected to work with City departments and the community to create designs for perforated steel shade screens that promote distinctive neighborhood identities. The project requires professional artists with expertise in 2D work, experience in community engagement, and the potential to develop successful shade screen designs in durable materials.

During the planning and design phase of the project, the artist(s) will be expected to review and, as necessary, revise design concepts and plans with the City to ensure that the art meets safety and other site-specific requirements. If the design is completed successfully, the artist(s) may be contracted separately to participate in the project’s construction oversight and completion.

Estimated Budget
The amount available for designing the transit shelter shade screens will depend partly on the scope of design services for the different shelter sites, but it is not expected to exceed $10,000. This amount would be expected to cover the artist design fee and all costs associated with the design process (insurance, fax, mileage, research, community engagement, materials, etc.)

Estimated Timeline of Project

July 1, 2021............................................................ Call open for submissions

August 5, 2020, 10:00 TO 11:00 am (PDT)............ Open RFQ Workshop (Recommended but not mandatory)                               

August 26, 2021 10:59 p.m. (PDT)........................ Deadline for Submission

August 16 – 20, 2021............................................. Selection Panel – Artists Selected

August 2021........................................................... Artist Contracts and Design Phase Begins

SECTION IV – RESPONSE INFORMATION
Requirements and Deadlines for Submitting a Response to this Call:

Cost: There is no fee to apply to this call.

Deadline: August 26, 2021 10:59 p.m. (PDT) Late applications will not be considered.

Eligibility: This project is open to any professional artist with the demonstrated ability to meet the criteria (SEE SECTION V – EVALUATION & SELECTION), regardless of residency, race, ethnicity, gender, age or experience. No previous public art experience is required. Arizona artists are strongly encouraged to apply. City of Phoenix employees and Phoenix Arts and Culture Commissioners and their immediate family members, and selection panelists and the panelists’ immediate families are excluded from participating in this project. Applications from Artists’ representatives, managers, or galleries will not be accepted. 

Submissions: Submissions will be accepted via CaFE at www.callforentry.org

You can find more information at www.phoenix.gov/opportunities  

Do not send original artwork. Applicants are strongly encouraged to retain a complete copy of their application for their records.

Applicant Name: If applying as a team, please select a team lead as a point of contact for all communications. Artists applying as a member of a team are not eligible to also apply as an individual.

Blind Jury: The selection panel will review all applicants as a blind jury.  Please do not include your name or identifying information in your image captions, on your images, or in your statement of Intent. Compromising the anonymity of the process for the panelists will result in disqualification. 

Applicant Pool: Applicants to this RFQ may be considered as an applicant pool for other similar City of Phoenix public art projects.

Submission Materials:

  1. Statement of Intent (1000-character limit) - Think of this as a job application and your cover letter. Be as succinct as possible. Describe why you are interested in this opportunity and highlight any relevant experience. Do not include your name or any identifying information, such as a website link, in your statement.
  2. Resume or CV. (3-page limit per artist) Current professional resume or curriculum vitae (CV) including artist’s name, address, email, and phone number. Teams must submit one resume/CV per team member merged into one PDF, DOC, or DOCX file.
  3. Image List (1-page limit; DOC, DOCX, or PDF) - Describe the project in terms of materials, site, and scale. Include media, dimensions, year completed and estimated budget. If created as a collaboration, list all partners involved and describe your role in the process. Specify whether the piece is a studio piece, temporary, or permanently installed work.
  4. Images - Up to 6 digital images of previously created artwork in jpg format. Follow CaFE Guidelines for size. (Work samples may include but are not limited to reproductions of paintings, prints, murals, sculpture, graphic arts, fabric arts, etc.). Do not include photographs of yourself, your name, or any identifying information. Do not put text on your images. We recommend using only one photograph per image. Collaging more than one image together may reduce the panelists’ ability to see your work clearly. 

Contact information: The City contact for this Call is Romeo Rabusa, Procurement Officer (the “City Contact”). Any questions relating to this Call to Artist shall be directed, in writing, to Romeo Rabusa via email (romeo.rabusa@phoenix.gov) or phone (602-534-8334). To be considered, such questions must be received by Tuesday, August 17, 12:00 noon (PDT).

If a Respondent believes that any portion of this Call is ambiguous, inconsistent or contains an error, the Respondent shall promptly notify the City Contact of the apparent discrepancy before July 29, 2021.  If the Respondent fails to notify the City Contact of the discrepancy before that date, the Respondent’ shall be deemed to have waived any such claim of ambiguity, inconsistency or error in this Call.

Helpful Links: Several online and video resources for application guidance are available from the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture:

•   Public Art 101 Digital Classroom Lesson 1 – Applications and Selection Process (VIDEO) https://youtu.be/tZLBnbXH1mo

•   CaFE Submission Demonstration (VIDEO) –

https://youtu.be/L0i4HKP9h7g

•   Artist’s Guide (PDF) – https://www.phoenix.gov/artssite/Documents/2019.10.29Artist's%20Guide%20to%20the%20Phoenx%20Public%20Art%20Program.pdf  

SECTION V – EVALUATION AND SELECTION
A selection panel will be convened by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. Members of the panel will include arts professionals, city staff, and community members.  Non-voting advisors to the panel may include additional city staff and members of the design team. The panel will review the work of all applicants before recommending finalists. The selection panel will have the authority to invite finalists to be interviewed or to develop concepts for the projects.

Responses to this Call should be concise, well organized and provide the requested information. Responses lacking the necessary information will not be considered.

At the selection panel meeting, artist will be selected from the pool of applicants using a 20-point system. The scoring will be based upon the following distribution of possible points:

  1. Demonstrated artistic quality of previously completed artwork (Work samples may include but are not limited to paintings, prints, murals, sculpture, fabric arts, etc.)           10 points
  2. Potential to create an impactful design for this public project.(Work samples should show the potential for your aesthetic to be successfully translated into a two-dimensional, linear cut-metal design.)      5 points
  3. Experience in collaborative work and community engagement  (Collaborative work experience can be described in your Statement of Intent and does not have to be art related.) 5 points

After evaluating submissions, the City, at the request of the Evaluation Committee, may ask some or all Respondents to submit supplemental information and concepts, or to participate in interviews.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria