Richard Elias-Mission Library Public Art Commission - Pima County, AZ

In collaboration with Pima County, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is seeking a qualified Public Artist or Artist Team for commission through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. This is a request for qualifications only; do not submit proposals for artwork at this time.

The Richard Elias-Mission Library serves as a vital community hub in Tucson, located at the southeast corner of Kennedy Park near Mission Road and Ajo Way. For many Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui community members, the library is one of the first public buildings encountered when traveling into the city from nearby tribal lands. The surrounding area is also home to generations of Mexican and Mexican American families. The commissioned artwork should consider the lived experiences, family stories, and cultural values of the surrounding community with sincerity and care, particularly engaging with narratives of Tohono O'odham, Pascua Yaqui, Mexican, and Mexican American backgrounds while honoring the broader diversity of the neighborhood. The library is currently undergoing major renovation with completion scheduled for mid-December 2025, preserving the iconic freestanding masonry arch and original reading room.

The artwork will be exposed to weather and must be made of durable material. Three reading patio locations have been identified as possible sites. The artwork is intended as a freestanding piece that could be located in one or more of the secured exterior patios or securely attached to a CMU load-bearing wall. The all-inclusive budget of $91,692 must cover design, materials, production, transportation, installation, permits, taxes, insurance, soil analysis, engineering, and mounting. The selected Artist/Artist Team will work collaboratively with Pima County, SAACA, and a seven-person Public Art Panel during the design phase (December 2025 to July 2026), with production and installation following from July 2026 to July 2027. Work sample requirements: minimum 6 images, maximum 10 images; minimum 0 videos, maximum 5 videos; total samples minimum 6, maximum 15.