East Tampa Roundabout Sculpture at 34th Street and Lake Avenue

The East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area is one of the City of Tampa's oldest and most culturally significant regions, with roots dating back to the early 20th century. The area grew as a center of Black-owned businesses, faith communities, civic organizations, and cultural expression during the mid-century era. Historically home to a predominantly African American population, East Tampa has remained culturally vibrant and resilient, retaining a strong identity rooted in shared history and longstanding neighborhood traditions. The new roundabout at 34th Street and Lake Avenue is part of ongoing revitalization efforts and serves as an opportunity to celebrate East Tampa's heritage through public art.

This call seeks a distinctive, site-specific sculpture that honors the deep historical roots, cultural legacy, and enduring strength of East Tampa while symbolizing its continued growth and optimism for the future. The artwork should reflect the community's cultural history and heritage, provide strong visual presence recognizable by motorists and pedestrians, and incorporate durable materials suited to withstand Florida's extreme climate. Artists will be responsible for submitting signed and sealed engineering drawings by a licensed Florida engineer for permit review. The work must meet safety and visibility standards for a traffic roundabout setting.

The total budget is up to $200,000, inclusive of artist design fees, engineering, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, insurance, and all other project-related costs. The CRA will cover foundation and lighting costs. A selection committee composed of community representatives, art professionals, and City staff will review qualifications and select finalists, who will receive a stipend to develop detailed design proposals. Finalists must demonstrate understanding of East Tampa's historical and cultural context through independent research. Selection criteria include artistic excellence and originality, demonstrated experience in comparable projects, ability to execute within budget and timeline, and understanding of community context and cultural relevance. This call is open to professional artists or artist teams residing in the United States, with experience in large-scale public art for outdoor environments. Local and regional artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Submit 5-10 images of work samples.