City of Phoenix Well Site Projects Artist Pool

The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture's Public Art Program is requesting qualifications from professional artists to collaborate with landscape architects and other design professionals to design aesthetic improvements for multiple City of Phoenix Water Services Department well sites. Located in different residential neighborhoods throughout the city, the well sites are essential components of Phoenix's drinking water delivery system. Some locations are lightly fenced vacant lots with inactive pumps and other equipment, while others have substantial fencing and walls protecting working equipment. The sites include street frontage and offer the opportunity to increase tree and shade coverage, reducing the urban heat impact of exposed vacant lots and hard surfaces.

Artists in all media are invited to work with the community to enhance the locations with landscaping, pathways, fencing, walls, gates, sculpture, shade, interpretive information and other improvements. Artists will be expected to collaborate on a design team with landscape architects and possibly other design professionals, including architects, engineers, planners, and city staff from Water Services, Neighborhood Services and the Office of Arts and Culture. A selection panel will convene to select artists for six well site opportunities: two inactive sites and four active sites. At abandoned well sites, artists will collaborate closely with a landscape architect to redesign the entire site. At active well sites, public art may be integrated into walls, gates, and fences protecting city property. All design teams will be encouraged to develop holistic landscape concepts to add trees and create shade.

The design fee for each site is not expected to exceed $35,000, covering the artist design fee and all costs associated with the design process including insurance, research, community engagement, and materials. Fabrication and construction oversight costs will be determined as each project moves toward construction. Applicants must submit a one-page letter of interest (1000 words max), resume (3 pages max, 10 point font minimum), contact information for three professional references, and up to ten digital images or media files documenting previously completed artwork. Digital images must be JPEG or JPG format, 1200 pixels or greater on longest side, under 5 MB file size. An image list for each submission must include title, dimensions, date of completion, estimated budget, and brief description. Submissions are accepted via CaFE at www.callforentry.org only. Arizona artists are strongly encouraged to apply. This RFQ is open to professional artists with a variety of experience levels, and applicants may be considered for multiple City of Phoenix public art projects.