Deadline November 22, 2026 Closes in 20 days Easy Application

Artist Call for Entry

RFQ City of Gainesville Fire Rescue - Station 3

Presented by City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

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RFQ City of Gainesville Fire Rescue - Station 3

About this call

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The City of Gainesville Cultural Affairs Division invites professional artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a public art project at Fire Station #3, located at 1025 NE 13th Street, Gainesville, Florida.

The project seeks an original, artistically designed art for a wall that enhances the visual character of the fire station and reflects Gainesville’s creative spirit. Artists are encouraged to explore bold, imaginative, playful, and innovative approaches that create a sense of place and bring public art into everyday spaces.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

The designated wall measures approximately 26 feet, 8 inches wide by 6 feet, 8 inches high (178 square feet). Artwork may be attached to the existing wall and may occupy all or part of the available area. Electrical outlets for lighting will be provided by the City during construction.

The artwork must function as a privacy wall while maintaining appropriate visibility, security, and emergency access. Materials and designs must be durable, weather-resistant, suitable for Central Florida’s climate, and require minimal maintenance. Artwork must not interfere with fire station operations or access.

PROJECT BUDGET

The total project budget is $83,000, allocated as follows:

$80,000 for the selected artwork, including design, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, insurance, and all associated costs.
$3,000 for finalist honoraria. Three finalists will each receive $1,000 to develop and present a design concept.

SELECTION PROCESS

A selection panel will review submissions and evaluate applicants based on the quality and relevance of previous work, experience with public art and civic projects, demonstrated ability to complete projects of comparable scale, and qualifications relevant to the project requirements.

Three finalists will be invited to develop and present design concepts. Each finalist will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Following review of the concepts, the City will select one artist or artist team to complete the project, subject to applicable City approval and contracting requirements.  This RFQ is for qualifications only.  Applicants should not submit a design proposal at this stage.


Award Info

This public art opportunity seeks to integrate artistic expression with the functional design of Fire Station #3, enhancing the visual character of the facility while reflecting the history, values, and spirit of the Gainesville community. The original artwork may be attached to the station’s privacy wall and must meet all applicable safety, structural, and durability requirements. Project Budget: The total project budget is $80,000, all-inclusive. This amount includes artist design fees, fabrication, permitting, project footing and base (if applicable), transportation, installation, and all other associated costs. Finalist Honoraria: Up to three (3) finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium to develop and present a proposal, either in person or virtually.

Eligibility Criteria

Application Requirements:

All information must be provided in order to be considered:

A letter of interest, a word page limit of 500 words.

A current résumé that includes:  Artist’s name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

Professional credentials, relevant experience, and honors or awards

Name, address, and contact information for locations where prior work is currently on public display

Digital Images of Prior Work
Five (5) to ten (10) digital images of completed outdoor sculpture or outdoor public art. Images should represent the same project and include both close-up and distant views to clearly demonstrate materials, craftsmanship, height, scale, and context of the work.

Social Media Platforms: Instagram, Facebook.
References

Contact information for three (3) professional references who are prior clients. Each reference should include the individual’s name, organization, phone number, email address, relationship to the artist, and links to the organization platforms.


Application Requirements

Application Requirements:

All information must be provided in order to be considered:

A letter of interest, a word page limit of 500 words.

A current résumé that includes:  Artist’s name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

Professional credentials, relevant experience, and honors or awards

Name, address, and contact information for locations where prior work is currently on public display

Digital Images of Prior Work
Five (5) to ten (10) digital images of completed outdoor sculpture or outdoor public art. Images should represent the same project and include both close-up and distant views to clearly demonstrate materials, craftsmanship, height, scale, and context of the work.

Social Media Platforms: Instagram, Facebook.
References

Contact information for three (3) professional references who are prior clients. Each reference should include the individual’s name, organization, phone number, email address, relationship to the artist, and links to the organization platforms.


Presented by

City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

Submit to Call