Tempe Arts + Culture

The City of Tempe invites artists or artist teams to submit qualifications for a public art commission on the Indian Bend Wash Pedestrian and Bicycle pathway. The project seeks to integrate art into the pedestrian experience, enhancing the pathway with meaningful, durable and inspiring artwork that reflects the character of the community. The project stretches ¾ of a mile along the Indian Bend Wash between E. Curry Road and E. McKellips, parallel to N. Miller Road and McClintock Drive. The current path connects the Rio Salado Multi-Use Path and the Tempe Town Lake to the City of Scottsdale. The project will include a new 10-foot wide concrete path, landscaping, lighting, and art integrated into the surface of the pathway.

The selected artist will have the opportunity to work directly with the design team to ensure that artwork is integrated throughout the pathway. Opportunities for artwork include wayfinding pavement enhancements (mosaic, inserts, sandblast pattern, integrated stamping artwork integrated into sidewalk, among other treatments). The selected artist will be required to attend multiple coordination meetings with the design team to discuss and review concept sketches, review costs and/or additional technical requirements, and identify any technical elements to be integrated into the project.  The selected artist will be responsible for visual concepts and design drawings that can be integrated into the overall construction package by the design team. Artist deliverables will include dimensioned drawings, renderings illustrating art concepts, material specifications, cost estimates for art works, and final sketches that can be translated into AutoCAD by the design team.  

More information about the Indian Bend Wash Multi-Use Path Improvement Project can be viewed here:
 

 
Project Goals 

• Create an artwork that enriches the user experience along the path. 
• Reflect the cultural, historical, or environmental identity of the site. 
• Ensure the work is durable, low maintenance, and suitable for outdoor conditions in the Sonoran Desert  
   

Scope of Work
      The selected artist will be responsible for: 

• Concept design development in collaboration with the project team. 
• Oversight of the installation by the general contractor (depending on the design specifications approved as part of the design phase). 
• Coordination with project manager, landscape architect, and contractors to ensure safety, durability, and ADA compliance.  

Eligibility

This Call to Artists is open to professional artists or artist teams residing and eligible to work in the United States.  Artists must demonstrate experience in design, fabrication and installation, and have knowledge of durable materials appropriate to the Sonoran Desert climate. Artist must be at least 18 years of age and able to obtain at least $2M of general liability including damage insurance covering the artwork during transportation, installation.

 Artists who are interested in having their artwork considered for inclusion are invited to submit to this opportunity. Open to artists residing in Arizona with a preference given to artists residing in Tempe, and/or artists who identify as O’Odham, Piipash, or Pasqua Yaqui.

Accepted artist will be required by Arizona State Law HB 2008 to sign a statement verifying that they are lawfully present in the United States. City of Tempe employees, steering committee members, and their immediate family members are excluded from participating in this project.

Budget

Up to $200,000 for design, related construction costs, fabrication, and installation oversight

The current budget covering all costs associated with design, attendance in project meetings, and construction oversight of the public art elements is up to $200,000.The project budget must include all costs related to the artist’s design, fabrication, installation, art related construction costs and project management fees; including the artwork’s final design; transportation; coordination with the design team; subcontractor and consultant fees including any engineers or fabricators; permit and license fees; General Liability and other insurance required by the City; and all other costs associated with the art project.   

Deadline
Tuesday, December 2nd, (5:00 PM) Mountain Standard Time  

Pre-Submittal Session

Staff will present the project goals and share information about the artist expectations, submission process, and selection process. We strongly encourage anyone interested in this opportunity to attend this session to learn more about the project and ask questions. If you are unable to attend a pre-submittal session contact Sharah Nieto, sharah_nieto@tempe.gov 480-350-2833.   

• Wednesday, November 5th, 11 a.m. via Zoom  
• Register in advance for this meeting: 
• https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ssUwHSRbS7Smdte3fcVwgA 
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom ID and password to join the meeting. 

How to Apply

 The entire submission must be completed on Submittable at www.tempepublicart.submittable.com. All requirements listed below must be met or the application will be removed from consideration. Specific proposals are not requested at this stage in the process and will not be accepted.  NOTE: All written documents (resume, letter, image list) should be saved into a PDF format and uploaded to the Submittable site.  
 

• Digital Images: 6 images of previously completed work. Specific proposals will not be accepted. All images should be jpeg format. 
• Image List: (Maximum 2 pages) A separate document listing information about the 6 digital images. For each image submitted list the title, date, size, location, and budget with a thumbnail of the image.  
• Resume: (Maximum 2 pages) Outline your recent experience and accomplishments as an artist including any public art experience. If applying as a team, each member may submit a one page resume.  
• Online application: Complete the Submittable online application in full. Each applicant will need to answer the following questions (250 words or less): 

1. Describe what excites you about this specific opportunity.   
2. What steps do you propose to take to ensure that your artwork is specific to this site? 

     3. Please share any specific skills or experiences you possess that will be valuable to this commission. 

     4. Describe any past experiences working in a collaborative capacity that would be an asset to this project. Be sure to clarify your role within each noted experience.

Artist Selection Process  

Applications will be pre-screened by City staff to ensure that the submissions meet the minimum qualifications as described in the eligibility section. An artist selection committee will review artists’ submissions and select 2-4 finalists. The finalists will be provided with a stipend to create a proposal and be invited to interview with the selection panel. The steering committee is comprised of members from the Tempe Transportation, community stakeholders, arts professional and associated city staff. The selected Artist will work with Tempe Transportation and Sustainability as well as Tempe Public Art throughout the project.  
 

Estimated Project Schedule 

RFQ Release    October 2025 

Pre-submittal session   November 5th, 2025 

Submission Deadline   December 2nd, 2025 

Finalists notified    January 2026 

Finalist proposals and interviews February 2026 

Contract issued    March 2026 

Installation    2027 

Project Completion   2028 

Additional Information 

Tempe Transportation and Sustainability is responsible for the design of signage and pavement markings as well as barricading and traffic control projects, maintaining streets, alleys, sidewalks, storm drains, traffic signals and streetlights and providing bus, bike, pedestrian and light rail facilities. www.tempe.gov/ transportation 

Tempe Public Art aspires to cultivate a unique community identity that advances Tempe as a vibrant and progressive destination. Tempe's diverse collection of permanent and temporary public art complements the natural and built environment through innovative place-making, installations and infrastructure enhancements. Tempe Public Art promotes artistic expression, bringing people together to strengthen Tempe's sense of community and place. www.tempe.gov/PublicArt 

Native Land Acknowledgement Statement: We wish to acknowledge that Tempe is the homeland of the Native people who have inhabited this landscape since time immemorial. These ancestral lands of the O’odham (known as the Pima), Piipaash (known as the Maricopa), and their ancestors extend far beyond our city. This land continues to be spiritually connected to the O’odham of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Gila River Indian Community. We accept the responsibility of stewarding those places and solemnly pledge to consider this commitment in every action.   

We are here to help, contact: Sharah Nieto, Public Art Coordinator sharah_nieto@tempe.gov 480-350-2833 

This Call to Artist does not commit the city to enter into any agreement, to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the proposal to this request or in subsequent negotiations, or to produce a contract for the project. The city reserves the right to reject any or all applications, reissue the Call to Artist, revise the project terms or procure any service by other means. While all reasonable care will be taken, the city is not responsible for loss of or damage to materials included with applications. 

To submit your final report you must login or create a Submittable account

Within 60 days of completing the project, a Final Report must be submitted to the City of Tempe. The report will require you to share the outcomes of your project as well images and/or video documentation of your programming. Applicants who fail to complete final reports on time will not be eligible for future arts grants funding from the City of Tempe.

Pursuant to the Grant’s terms and conditions, the City of Tempe has the rights to use any materials submitted in the Final Report for data collection and promotional purposes. 

Wavemaker Final Report Budget Form

Vibrant City Final Report Budget Form 

More information can be found at www.tempe.gov/ArtsGrants