Request for Qualifications: Orange Memorial Park Aquatic Center Mural Project

The City of South San Francisco invites qualified artists or artist teams to submit qualifications for the design and creation of a public art mural at Orange Memorial Park Aquatic Center, located at 1 West Orange Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080. This project aims to enhance the visual and cultural identity of the area and foster community engagement.

The mural should reflect the cultural, historical, or environmental significance of Orange Memorial Park Aquatic Center and the community. Artists are encouraged to explore themes of community pride, environmental awareness, and recreational activities. Proposals may include traditional painted works, mosaic installations, or other durable, wall-integrated materials. The maximum project budget is $50,000, which must cover all project-related costs including design, materials, labor, transportation, insurance, and associated expenses. The selected artist or team will be responsible for conceptualizing and presenting a final mural design, preparing the mural surface, painting and installing the mural, applying a protective coating meeting City standards, and submitting a maintenance plan.

Eligibility is open to all professional artists and artist teams working in mediums appropriate for mural installation. Preference will be given to artists with a demonstrated connection to South San Francisco or the greater Bay Area, including current or past residency, completed projects in the region, or deep understanding of the community's cultural, historical, and environmental context. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a mural project of similar scale within budget and timeline constraints. The submission deadline is June 10, 2025 by 5:00 PM PST or first 250 applicants. Work sample requirements: minimum 3, maximum 10 images. The three highest-ranking artists or teams will be shortlisted and receive a $500 stipend to develop a site-specific mural concept. Installation is scheduled for October 20 – November 20, 2025.