Scottsdale Public Art
Call for Artists/Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Temporary Mural Public Art
Application Deadline: August 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ)
Total Project Budget: $10,000.00 USD
Project Information
Scottsdale Public Art is accepting qualifications from artists for a temporary public art opportunity in Scottsdale, Arizona. The opportunity involves designing and painting an exterior mural on the City of Scottsdale water riser and the concrete SRP well site on the south side of Thomas Road, between North 81st Way and North 82nd Street. The artwork theme should relate to water or the SRP canal system. The project has a total budget of $10,000.00 USD. The selected artist/artist team will create a design and apply it with paint to beautify the water riser and concrete SRP well site. The artwork will be on display for two years and will be painted over after the display period. The artist will be available for ongoing maintenance during the display period if needed. This opportunity is open only to artists working in the state of Arizona, United States, who have experience designing and completing projects with a similar budget and scope. Applications are due by Monday, August 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ).
Selection Process
Artists are selected by an artist-selection panel through an equitable process. New artist-selection panels are created for every project. The selection panel may include art professionals, artists, community members, Scottsdale Public Art Advisory Board members, and/or project stakeholders. Scottsdale Public Art staff facilitate the selection panel process but are not voting members. Other non-voting members may include City of Scottsdale staff, consultants, and/or stakeholders of the larger project. These non-voting members are there to assist with the process and answer any questions relating to the overall project. One artist and one alternate artist will be selected for the project. Selection criteria include:
- Artistic merit, as demonstrated by submitted materials.
- Demonstrated ability to create engaging, skillfully executed, and thought-provoking artwork.
- Demonstrated potential to complete projects of a similar scope.
- Willingness and ability to collaborate with community members, stakeholders, and project teams.
Timeline
Subject to change, depending on a variety of factors:
- Monday, August 17, 2026 — deadline for response to RFQ at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ)
- August/September 2026 — panel selection
- September 2026 — contract signed
- October 2026–February 2027 — design approvals
- March 2027 – installation
- March 2029 — deinstall and project complete
Application Delivery
Applications are accepted via the Submittable.com website. Proposals are not requested at this stage in the process. All materials submitted will be used by Scottsdale Public Art throughout the duration of the artist selection process.
Submission Requirements:
- Digital Images: Up to six images of previously completed artwork with project details.
- Resume or CV: Current professional resume or curriculum vitae (CV), including artist address, email, and phone number. Teams must submit one resume/CV per team member.
- References: Two professional references for applicant(s).
- Short Statement of Intent or Artist Statement: Address how the applicant’s previous experience and current artistic direction will result in a successful public art project (250 words or less).
Description of Location
Material: Textured stucco and concrete
Approximate Pipe Dimensions: 24’ long x 1.5’ wide
Approximate Well Dimensions: 2’ high x 14’ wide x 6‘ deep
Approximate Top Height from Ground: 8’
Equipment Needed: Ladder, ground is uneven (gravel with oleander bush)
Scottsdale Public Art:
In 1985, Scottsdale adopted a 1% for art ordinance and established Scottsdale Public Art to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Scottsdale Public Art seeks to integrate high-quality artwork into public spaces that reflect and enhance Scottsdale’s cultural and artistic identity. The program promotes a dynamic and inclusive vision of art in the public realm.
Scottsdale Public Art advocates for and facilitates the integration of artists’ work and ideas into the planning, design, and construction of community spaces. Public participation is encouraged throughout the process, from artist selection to artwork dedication, fostering a strong sense of shared ownership and civic pride. Scottsdale Public Art is a department of Scottsdale Arts, a private, nonprofit management organization that administers many of the arts and cultural affairs of the city of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is home to a large residential community and serves as the primary resort destination in the Phoenix metro area. The city features a vibrant mix of specialty shopping, art galleries, recreational amenities, and numerous cultural and sporting events that contribute significantly to the region’s tourism industry. Residents from neighboring communities frequently visit Scottsdale to enjoy its retail centers, parks, libraries, and employment hubs.
For Further Information
If you have any questions about this request for qualifications or you would like to schedule a time to discuss the project, please reach out to Tanya Galin, public art manager for Scottsdale Public Art, at TanyaG@ScottsdaleArts.org. Please include artist/artist team name and contact information in all correspondence.
To view the current artwork, A Gathering Place by Shela Yu, at the City of Scottsdale water riser and the concrete SRP well site, please visit our webpage at: ScottsdaleArts.org/explore-scottsdale-arts/public-art/public-artworks/current-temporary-artwork/
Scottsdale Public Art
Call for Artists/Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Fire Station 604 Public Art Project
Application Deadline: Monday, September 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ)
Total Project Budget: $80,000.00 USD
Project Summary:
Scottsdale Public Art is accepting qualifications from artists for a permanent public art opportunity for the Fire Station 604 project in Scottsdale, Arizona. The City of Scottsdale is building a new fire station to replace the 1988 facility, which will add a larger apparatus bay, safety gear storage, crew quarters, and a decontamination area. Scottsdale Public Art seeks to contract an artist to design, fabricate, and install artistic features at the fire station, located at 9045 East Via Linda. The final selected artist will receive $80,000 for the realization of the art.
Public Art Scope and Eligibility:
The selected artist will design, engineer, fabricate, and install permanent exterior artwork at the front of the new fire station. Artists experienced in large-scale metal, sculpture, and/or mixed media are encouraged to apply. Painted murals are not appropriate for this project. The selected artist will work with the project team to narrow the location based on the artist’s experience.
When developing their design, the artist will work closely with the overall project design team and consider the history and future of Fire Station 604 and its firefighters. Community and stakeholder engagement will be required throughout this project, in coordination with Scottsdale Arts and the City of Scottsdale.
Artists living and working in Arizona, with experience designing, fabricating, and installing projects with a similar budget and scope are encouraged to apply. Scottsdale Public Art supports diversity and inclusion in all public art calls.
Any work at the site that requires a contractor or design professional, except for the artist selected, must be completed by a contractor or design professional licensed in the state of Arizona.
Selection Process:
Artists are selected by an artist selection panel through an equitable process. New artist selection panels are created for every project. The selection panel may include art professionals, artists, community members, a Scottsdale Public Art Advisory Board member, and project stakeholders. Scottsdale Public Art staff members facilitate the selection panel process but are not voting members. Other non-voting members may include City of Scottsdale staff, consultants, and/or stakeholders of the larger project. These non-voting members are present to assist with the process and address any questions related to the project as a whole.
An artist selection panel will evaluate all submissions and identify finalists. Up to three finalists will be selected and paid a $300.00 USD stipend to give a virtual presentation of their previous work and to participate in an interview. Following the interviews, one artist and one alternate will be selected for the project. The final selected artist will create a permanent art installation at the site. A proposal is not required from finalists. Selection criteria include:
- Artistic merit, as demonstrated by submitted materials
- Demonstrated ability to create engaging, skillfully executed, and thought-provoking artwork.
- Demonstrated potential to complete projects of a similar scope.
- Willingness and ability to collaborate with community members, stakeholders, and project teams.
- Interest in incorporating community voices into the design process, when applicable.
The selection panel will recommend the final selected artist for approval by the Scottsdale Public Art Advisory Board. Throughout the project, the Advisory Board approves art concepts and the project scope and budget, allowing the artist creative license within the established project plan. The contract and project plan are to be negotiated with Scottsdale Public Art. The Advisory Board reserves the right to reject any or all applications.
Timeline:
Subject to change based on project schedule:
- Monday, September 14, 2026: Deadline for response to RFQ at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ)
- September–December 2026: Artist selection, finalist interviews, final artist recommendation, Advisory Board approvals
- December 2026/January 2027: Contract development
- January–May 2027: Community engagement, design development, and design approvals
- Summer/Fall 2027: Fabrication
- Winter 2027: Site prep and installation
- Spring 2028: Project completion
Submission Requirements:
- Digital Images: Up to six images of previously completed artwork with project details (artwork title, medium, date completed, budget, location, and brief description).
- Résumé or CV: Current professional résumé or curriculum vitae (CV), including artist address, email, and phone number. Teams must submit one résumé/CV per team member.
- References: Two professional references for applicant(s).
- Short Statement of Intent or Artist Statement: Address how the applicant’s previous experience and current artistic direction will result in a successful public art project (250 words or less).
Application Delivery:
Applications are being accepted via the Submittable.com website. Proposals are not requested at this stage in the process. All materials submitted will be used by Scottsdale Public Art throughout the duration of the artist selection process.
Scottsdale Public Art:
In 1985, Scottsdale adopted a one percent for art ordinance and established Scottsdale Public Art to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Scottsdale Public Art seeks to integrate high-quality artwork into public spaces, reflecting and enhancing Scottsdale’s cultural and artistic identity. The program promotes a dynamic and inclusive vision of art in the public realm.
Scottsdale Public Art advocates for and facilitates the integration of artists’ work and ideas into the planning, design, and construction of community spaces. Public participation is encouraged throughout the process, from artist selection to artwork dedication, fostering a strong sense of shared ownership and civic pride. Scottsdale Public Art is a department of Scottsdale Arts, a private, nonprofit management organization that administers many of the arts and cultural affairs of the city of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Scottsdale, Arizona:
Scottsdale is home to a large residential community and serves as the primary resort destination in the Phoenix metro area. The city features a vibrant mix of specialty shopping, art galleries, recreational amenities, and numerous cultural and sporting events that contribute significantly to the region’s tourism industry. Residents from neighboring communities frequently visit Scottsdale to enjoy its retail centers, parks, libraries, and employment hubs. Scottsdale’s distinctive character and high-quality visual environment play a key role in supporting both its tourism economy and civic identity.
For Further Information:
All questions regarding this request for qualifications are to be directed to Tanya Galin, public art manager, Scottsdale Public Art, at TanyaG@ScottsdaleArts.org. Please include the artist's name and contact information in all correspondence.
Additional information about Scottsdale Arts: ScottsdaleArts.org/Explore-Scottsdale-Arts/Public-Art/
Exhibition call for art — Scottsdale Civic Center Public Gallery in the Civic Center Library, 3839 N Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale AZ 85251 The Wisdom - on display, April 13-2027 – June 30, 2027 This is a juried exhibition of artwork by Arizona artists aged 65 years and older. Some of the most moving, insightful art comes from artists who bring decades of lived experience to their work. The emotional vocabulary that comes from navigating life’s challenges brings wisdom, humor, and wonder. Older artists have plenty to say, mostly that they’re not done. GALLERY INFORMATION: Artworks can be any size up to 52 inches wide x 52 inches long for wall hanging. Recommended sculptural dimension limits for pedestals are 20 inches high x 15 inches deep x 15 inches wide. The gallery is 680 square feet, with 8-foot-tall walls, electric and data availability in the floor, and a cable and latch-hook hanging system. The gallery walls shall not be pierced or affected by the art installation and the hanging system must be used. D-rings must be on the back of work to accommodate the hanging system. Wall-hung artworks shall be at most 90 pounds each. Artworks are insured while on display. Exhibiting artists are eligible for an honorarium. The Civic Center Public Gallery is open during library hours, check hours here: ScottsdaleLibrary.org/locations#civic Selected artists are responsible for delivery and pick-up of artwork. We do not cover shipping. The artwork will be installed under the direction and support of the Scottsdale Public Art preparatory staff. Work must meet gallery standards, be professionally presented, and be ready to hang/install when brought for installation. Please note: Existing artwork that fits this theme may be submitted for this call. The artwork must be acceptable for all ages. Artwork is not for sale at the gallery. All purchase inquiries are directed to the artist. CALENDAR- Exhibition Dates: April 13-2027 – June 30, 2027 Entry deadline is 11:59 p.m., January 10, 2027 MST (AZ), IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE APPLICANT Entry Deadline: January 10, 2027 Notification Date by email: January 14, 2027 Delivery of Artwork by Hand: April 6, 2027, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Civic Center Public Gallery, 3839 N Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. Shipping: to Scottsdale Public Art Curatorial, 7380 E 2nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (we do not pay for shipping) by January 10, 2027 Pick-up date: July 1, 2027 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Civic Center Public Gallery