Public Art on the Blue Green Connector Trail

The Blue Green Connector seeks qualifications from artists, makers, artisans, or design professionals to create permanent art in a variety of formats for an outdoor trailside environment. Artworks will be installed along the Blue Green Connector, an ADA-accessible 3.5-mile trail system and environmental restoration project in Lancaster, PA. The project is expected to be completed in stages between 2025-2028. Artists may be selected for a single or multiple commissions over several years.

The Blue Green Connector aims to create a vibrant greenway sanctuary in Lancaster County, restoring part of the Little Conestoga Creek watershed and surrounding lands. The trail will install 3.5 miles of multi-modal, ADA accessible trails, restore 25 acres with native plantings, and create a trailside environmental learning lab. Artwork topical themes include healthy ecosystems, biodiversity, building habitat for wildlife, clean waterways, sustainability, rewilding and restoration, and human to nature connection. Potential artwork formats include interactive art for play, sculpture to highlight biodiversity, artistic seating, and stamped concrete designs at bridge crossings and trailheads.

Artwork dimensions may range from 3' to 20' and serve as visual centerpieces in open areas. Both single and multipiece artworks are desired. Budget ranges from $3,000 to $50,000 per piece based on scope, including all costs: artist's fee, travel, materials, fabrication, delivery, and installation. Artwork must be durable and safe with limited annual maintenance, with durability expected to exceed 15 years.

Applicants must submit a one-page letter of interest, resume, 5-20 digital images of relevant work in PDF, and an annotated list describing each image. Optional materials include three professional references and up to three support materials such as reviews or news articles. The person leading submission should reside within 100 miles of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Priority will be given to Lancaster County residents, though regional applicants from PA, DE, MD, and NJ are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be 18 years or older. After the RFQ deadline, finalists will be selected and invited to develop proposals with a stipend. Finalists will schedule interviews and submit detailed proposals describing artwork concept, materials, fabrication plan, size, maintenance guidelines, and budget.