Sculpture Commission - Clearwater Beach Fire Station

The Clearwater Public Art & Design Program seeks an artist or artist team to develop a sculpture for the newly constructed Fire Station 46 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The fire station is located at 534 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater, FL 33767, just steps from Clearwater Beach. The sculpture will sit in front of the fire station next to a busy sidewalk and commuter street, receiving thousands of visitors from around the world annually.

The sculpture should include a lighted element, either beneath the base to illuminate from within or uplighting so passersby can enjoy it day and night. Suggested themes include fire elements, water elements, and/or fire station patches that firefighters exchange with other city and state fire departments. The base should not exceed 5' x 5' or 7' in diameter, with a maximum height of 25' including the base. Structures must be designed to withstand daily Florida heat exceeding 90 degrees, high humidity, weekly summer thunderstorms, and occasional tropical storms.

The selected artist or team will receive a $75,000 comprehensive contract covering artwork design, fabrication, materials, installation, insurance, travel, public presentations, meetings with City staff, identification plaque, and related expenses. Three finalists will be selected to provide proposals and each will receive a $500 stipend. Artists will be evaluated on artistic excellence, professional experience, and compatibility with the architectural design and values of the City of Clearwater and Clearwater Fire Department. Submissions must include a professional resume with examples of past work and references, and a letter of interest. Submit 2-10 images of finished works or conceptual drawings in a single PDF or Word document. This opportunity is open to professional artists residing in the U.S. Artwork installation is scheduled for 2024.