Request For Proposals: Public Art Piece For New Park

PROJECT OVERVIEW 
Price Hill Will (PHW) invites artists or artist teams to submit qualifications and proposals for an outdoor permanent public art installation at End of the Line Park in West Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The selected artist/team will design, fabricate, and install a durable, site-responsive sculptural artwork that reflects the identity, resilience, culture, and collective vision of the surrounding community.
The artwork will serve as:
a gateway landmark,
a neighborhood gathering focal point,
and a long-term symbol of community revitalization and pride.

This project is funded in part through support from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Vibrant Places initiative.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
End of the Line Park is a new public green space currently under development at the corner of West 8th Street and Overlook Avenue in West Price Hill.
Through extensive community engagement and partnership, the site is being transformed into a welcoming public space intended for gathering, programming, recreation, and neighborhood identity-building.

PROJECT GOALS 
The selected artist/team should create a work that:
Community Goals
Reflects community identity and neighborhood pride
Honors local history, resilience, and culture
Creates opportunities for community connection
Serves as a recognizable neighborhood landmark

Artistic Goals
Demonstrates strong artistic vision and originality
Activates the space visually and experientially
Creates a memorable destination-quality installation
Integrates thoughtfully into the site context

Functional Goals
Is durable and low-maintenance
Is appropriate for outdoor public use
Is safe and accessible
Withstands long-term weather exposure and public interaction

Timeline
July 3
RFQ Released/Published
August 3
RFQ Deadline
August 14
Finalists chosen and Notified
September 18
Finalist Proposals Due
Late September (30th)
Artist Interviews/Reviews
October 1
Artist Selected
October 6th
Contract Execution
October–January
Fabrication
Late January
Project finished and Installation
January 30
Project Completion

SITE INFORMATION 
Site Location
End of the Line Park
West 8th Street & Overlook Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45205

Site Context
The site sits within a mixed-use business district consisting of:
approximately 16 locally owned businesses,
surrounding residential density,
pedestrian activity,
neighborhood programming,
and community gathering uses.

Anticipated Site Conditions
The artwork should account for:
outdoor weather exposure,
public interaction,
visibility from multiple approaches,
and integration into a park environment.
Detailed site plans, dimensions, and infrastructure information will be provided to finalists.

Total Public Art Budget 
$18,000 – Selected Artist / Artist Team Contract
The selected artist or artist team will receive a contract of up to $18,000. This amount must include artist fee, design development, materials, fabrication, engineering or technical consultation if required, transportation, installation, equipment rental, subcontractors, insurance, and contingency.
$1,500 – Artist Finalist Stipends
Three selected finalists will each receive a $500 stipend to support concept development, proposal preparation, and participation in the finalist review process.
Applicants should submit proposals that are realistic within the $18,000 artist contract amount.

SELECTION PROCESS 
Phase 1 – RFQ Submission Review
Applicants submit qualifications only.
A review panel will shortlist approximately 3 finalists.
Artists submit qualifications only.
The review panel will select up to three finalists.

Phase 2 – Finalist Proposal Development
Finalists receive:
site information,
community engagement summaries,
and stipend support.

Finalists develop:
conceptual proposals,
preliminary budgets,
and visual renderings.

Phase 3 – Artist Selection
The review committee selects one artist/team for contract negotiation and implementation.

RFQ APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 
Applicants must submit:
Required Materials (to be submitted in pdf format)
Artist statement (100-300 words)
Letter of interest (100-300 words)
Resume/CV
5–10 work samples
Image list
References (3) (name, number, email, and relationship to artist)
Community engagement approach
Preliminary conceptual response (optional at RFQ phase)

ELIGIBILITY 
This opportunity is open to:
individual artists,
artist teams,
fabricators collaborating with artists,
interdisciplinary designers,
and socially engaged public art practitioners.

Preference may be given to:
artists with experience in community-engaged public art,
regional artists
artists demonstrating cultural competency and collaborative practice.

ARTWORK CONSIDERATIONS 
The selection panel is particularly interested in artwork that is:
highly visible
durable
iconic
welcoming
and deeply rooted in place

Preferred materials may include:
steel,
stone,
concrete,
integrated lighting,
mixed media,
or other durable outdoor materials.

Interactive or experiential components are welcome if durable and maintainable.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated based on:

Artistic excellence and originality
30%
Experience with public art projects
20%
Community engagement approach
20%
Feasibility and durability
20%
Responsiveness to project goals
10%

INSURANCE & LIABILITY 
Selected artist/team will be required to provide:
general liability insurance,
workers compensation (if applicable),
and any required installation/fabrication coverage.
Additional insured requirements may apply.

Ownership, Copyright & Artist Rights
Upon completion, final acceptance, and payment, the commissioned artwork will become the property of Price Hill Will (PHW).
Artists will generally retain copyright to their original work, while granting PHW the right to photograph, document, reproduce, and use images of the artwork for educational, promotional, fundraising, archival, and other non-commercial organizational purposes. Artists will likewise retain the right to use images of the completed artwork for portfolios, exhibitions, publications, websites, and other professional promotional purposes.
Because this commission is intended as a permanent public artwork, the selected artist will be required to enter into a formal agreement addressing ownership, copyright, maintenance responsibilities, documentation rights, and the long-term stewardship of the artwork. The agreement will also include provisions regarding the rights and responsibilities of both the artist and PHW under applicable federal law, including the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA), to ensure the artwork can be appropriately maintained, conserved, relocated, or removed if future conditions require.
Artists selected as finalists or for commission will have an opportunity to review these terms as part of the contract negotiation process prior to execution of a final agreement.