North 32nd Street Improvements Public Art Project

The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture is requesting qualifications from artists to design an integrated public art streetscape concept along 32nd Street from Shea Boulevard to Bell Road in North Phoenix. The selected artist will work with the community and city to create streetscape enhancements that bolster the visual identity of the area and improve shade and pedestrian experience. This opportunity is for artists specializing in three-dimensional design and collaborative design teams.

Located in north central Phoenix, 32nd Street has been the focus of community revitalization efforts to improve connections between existing residential neighborhoods, the business corridor, and surrounding mountains. The corridor is dominated by views of the City of Phoenix Mountain Preserve and offers easy access to downtown while providing amenities such as dark skies at night, access to mountain trails, and a quieter neighborhood feel. Project enhancements are being incorporated into the overall North 32nd Street Corridor Improvements by the City of Phoenix Streets Department, which include right-sizing the roadway, widening sidewalks for pedestrian safety, reconfiguring dedicated bike lanes, and increasing landscape elements. The selected artist or team will work with various city departments to integrate their concepts into the overall project goals.

The design budget is up to $50,000, covering all artist costs including design fees, insurance, construction drawings, engineering, and community engagement. The overall expected cost of the art integrations to the project is approximately $500,000. Fabrication and installation costs will be estimated after design is complete and negotiated in a second contract. There is no application fee. This project is open to any professional artist regardless of residency, race, ethnicity, gender, age, or experience. No previous public art experience is required. Arizona artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Submissions are accepted via CaFE at www.callforentry.org. Applicants must submit 2-6 images. The estimated timeline includes an informational meeting on August 27th, 2021, selection panel recommendations in early October 2021, finalist interviews in late October 2021, and city approval and contract award in December 2021, with the design phase beginning in Winter/Spring 2022.