Sunport Boulevard Public Art

The Bernalillo County Arts Board solicits a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists or artists' teams for a site-specific public art project located along the expansion of Sunport Boulevard in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The established budget for the project is $60,000. Artists working in a variety of media including sculpture, murals, and mosaics are invited to apply. The artwork may be installed in one or multiple locations along the expansion, which is roughly 0.5 miles in length from Interstate 25 to Broadway Boulevard. The design of the project should have a strong visual impact for both motorists and pedestrians traveling on Sunport Boulevard.

The artist or artist's team selected for the project will work closely with the communities in the area to develop an artwork that serves to represent the history and cultures of the region. The winning artist or team will be responsible for all aspects of design, construction and installation. The artwork will be culturally relevant and represent the history, heritage, and landscapes of the communities along Sunport Boulevard. Durability and low maintenance of all materials is required. The artist must ensure that the artwork is protected against graffiti and ultraviolet rays.

The call is open to New Mexico-based artists or artist teams. The RFQ is open for 30 days, at which point three finalists will be selected. The three finalists will receive a stipend to develop a final design to present to the Selection Committee and the community in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A finalist will be selected by the Arts Board based on the presentations and designs submitted by the top three artists. Project implementation is scheduled to start in November 2022 with completion by August 2023. Applicants must demonstrate cultural competency, an understanding of Bernalillo County and its history and population, and experience with community engagement. Submit 3-10 images of previous work and 1-3 digital images of an initial conceptual design. Optional video submission of previous work is permitted (maximum 1 video).