RFQ: Tipton Welcome Sculpture Project

Artists, designers, fabricators, and teams are invited to submit qualifications for the Tipton Welcome Sculpture Project. This is a request for qualifications; specific concepts or designs are not accepted at this time. Submissions are due by March 11, 2026, 11:59 pm EST.

Up to three finalists will be selected by the Tipton Public Arts Commission and may be invited for a short interview. In late March 2026, finalists will be invited to create a design concept, budget, and implementation timeline for a highly artistic structure that welcomes residents and sparks curiosity. Finalists will be compensated $1,500 for participation in the design phase. Finalists will submit design packets by May 13, 2026, and present their concepts to the commission via Zoom. In late May 2026, one design will be selected. The selected artist will complete fabrication and installation of the Welcome Sculpture by the end of 2026 and create an aesthetic guide for up to three future Welcome Sculptures. The selected artist will be compensated $40,000 to complete the project.

Eligible applicants must be over 18 and U.S. citizens or otherwise legally able to work in the U.S. Strong candidates will have experience creating large-scale outdoor public artworks, an exceptional and original artistic style, and excellent project management skills. Submissions should include: name(s) and contact information, professional bio and resume or CV (no longer than 3 pages), and up to 10 images of past work representing your experience and style, plus up to 3 additional images of other work from the past 10 years. Include a detailed list of work samples with title, location, medium, process, dimensions, year completed, cost/commission amount, and other pertinent information. Submit to [email protected].