Public Art Collection Inventory & Condition Assessment Services RFP

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) seeks qualified consultants to conduct a comprehensive inventory, documentation, and condition assessment of the Chicago Public Art Collection. The collection includes nearly 700 works of art exhibited in 143 municipal facilities around the city, including airports, libraries, police stations, and parks. This project is part of the larger Chicago Monuments Project initiative, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, to address the City's collection of monuments and memorials and ensure responsible stewardship.

Consultants will be responsible for conducting on-site inventory of all artworks (permanent and temporary), implementing an asset registry protocol, and documenting information including title, artist, year of creation, provenance, medium, dimensions, GPS location, and high-resolution photographs from multiple angles. A detailed physical condition assessment will be performed using industry-standard rating systems, examining structural integrity, material degradation, environmental factors, and maintenance or conservation needs. Consultants must compile archival documentation, develop a comprehensive digital database for data storage and transfer, and deliver a final report with recommendations for preservation, repair, and maintenance including a prioritization strategy and inspection/maintenance schedule. Valuation and insurance value estimates for each artwork are required, with subcontracting to specialists as needed.

Applications must be submitted via CaFÉ by June 29, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT and include: a 2-3 page letter of interest, detailed project approach, timeline with milestones, budget proposal (not to exceed $500,000), resumes/CVs for key personnel, and at least three professional references from similar projects with samples of previous work. Due to the localized nature of the work, the City prioritizes teams based in Chicago and the surrounding region; firms outside this area may apply but must identify local staffing support as airfare and lodging are not eligible expenses. An information session will be held June 16, 2025 at 12 p.m. CT via Zoom. Work commences Q3 2025 with project completion targeted for Q4 2026.