CALL TO ARTISTS

Funded through the City of Sacramento’s 2% for public art ordinance, the Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) Art in Public Places (APP) program has been tasked with management of a new Public Art Project for the newly constructed North Sacramento Hagginwood Public Library. The project will solicit artists to design and install public art for this library location that especially highlights the library site for pedestrians and vehicle traffic along Del Paso Blvd. The ideal envisioned project will speak toward Del Paso history and provide a noticeable and engaging artwork or series of artworks that make this location more noticeable and encourage visitors to utilize and experience this valuable neighborhood asset. 

The project will utilize a finalist format where up to five (5) artists selected by the North Sacramento Library Public Art Selection Panel will review and score artist applicants eventually selecting up to five (5) artists as finalists to present conceptual designs and proposals for the library site. Artists apply based on past artwork and a statement of interest and are provided an information packet to better understand the site and interests as determined by the City of Sacramento and in preliminary conversations with community stakeholders. After developing and presenting their proposals to the Selection Panel, the chosen finalist will have the opportunity to meet with community members and stakeholder groups in order to refine and finalize their proposal. The final proposal will be presented to community members and stakeholders allowing opportunity for comments and feedback. The artist will work with APP staff to ensure that the project presented is feasible within the available budget and may be fabricated and installed within the outlined project schedule timeline. 

Professional artists who specialize in sculpture, site specific design, murals, or environmental installations are encouraged to apply. Through an open competitive selection process, up to five (5) finalists will be selected and paid a stipend to design and present their conceptual proposal. Additional consideration will be given to artists who have prior experience with or connections to the North Sacramento area and neighborhood. 

ART BUDGET

$100,000 is the total artist budget for the project and will be inclusive of all costs including but not limited to final design, construction drawings, engineering documents, permits, artist’s fee, travel, and installation of the sculpture on site.

An APP Selection Panel will select up to five artist finalists to develop conceptual design presentations for artwork at the library location. Each finalist will be awarded $500 each for their conceptual design and budget proposal and will be required to present the conceptual design and budget to the Selection Panel. While the intention is to proceed with the selected artist’s proposed conceptual design, the city will be under no obligation to do so. The artist should give consideration to community input provided in the Information Packet Folder in development of the conceptual design and budget proposal. Upon selection,  the artist will be awarded a $100,000 Purchase of Artwork Agreement to present their design to community stakeholders for feedback, prepare a final design and budget, final drawings, engineering and permit documents (if required), permits, fabrication of the artwork, and installation of the artwork.  

APP staff will work with the selected artist in all phases of the project and provide guidance and assistance where appropriate. For installation of the sculpture, should a construction contractor be required for installation, APP staff will coordinate a bidding process with CA licensed General Contractors (unless the artist is a licensed General Contractor), and the artist will be involved in the selection process of the General Contractor for installation. In consultation with the artist, the City will enter into a contract for installation of the artwork with the chosen General Contractor and charge from the artist’s budget any costs associated with the Contractor’s work. APP will be responsible for maintenance of the permanent work and will allocate resources in order to accommodate maintenance of this artwork over time.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Sacramento Public Library is the fourth largest library system in California with 28 locations serving 1.4M urban, suburban and rural residents. The Sacramento Public Library Authority is governed by a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between the County of Sacramento and the Cities of Citrus Heights, Galt, Isleton, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento. “Sacramento Public Library supports our diverse communities' aspirations to learn, connect, and grow,” as stated on the Public Library System’s website. In line with these values, the public art at this location should reflect in some way the history of Del Paso and the North Sacramento communities while inspiring visitors to enter and explore what the library has to offer. 

DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTENT FOR SELECTED ARTIST

Part of the RFQ process will be to allow artists to design and propose what they believe may be the best art or areas for public art on or around the library complex at this location. A provided Information Packet folder provides applying artist with drawings, renderings, and plan views of the library area. For selected finalists the Information Packet may include additional resources, which will be added as they become available. 

There are opportunities for public art on two of the large library walls as well as locations along Del Paso Blvd. While the main areas of interest for public art as included in the Information Packet documents are on the exterior of the building or near Del Paso Blvd, there may be some limited opportunities for work inside the library that may compliment or reflect the artwork installed on the exterior. Artists should consider the full impact of public art at this location, how the surrounding community might feel some level of involvement or alliance with the artwork, and how the artwork will complement the public library’s mission and goals. 

Artists applying for the opportunity should show in their application portfolio evidence of past work in the medium or type of work they might propose for the library. Artists will also have the opportunity to write a Statement of Interest (250 word maximum) to briefly outline a concept or direction they intend to pursue should they be selected as a finalist. Artists may apply as a team, but teams are highly encouraged to show evidence of previous work they have created as a team rather than just showing separate individual works from each team member. Artists must ultimately consider the project they propose within the budget provided. While the Statement of Interest will be a first opportunity to consider a concept within the available budget, a selected finalist will need to present both their conceptual design and a preliminary budget showing line items for how funds would be used. 

This project has a relatively tight timeline in order to be fully installed by the time the library is operational. Artists should consider sharing a portfolio of work that best shows their ability to fabricate and install they type of artwork they propose in their Statement of Interest. Artists may, of course, pursue concepts or directions that are new and exciting for their creative growth, but when applying they should give some thought to how the Selection Panel will best understand the artist’s ability to realize their concepts, if selected. Showing past work that demonstrates this aptitude is the best way to inform the Selection Panel of an artist’s ability to create the work they are proposing.

ELIGIBILITY 

All eligible applicants must be 18 years old or older and be experienced professional artists in their discipline. Artists may apply individually or as a team.  Teams are encouraged to show examples of work previously created by the team. While teams may show work of individual artist on the team, the stronger applications show some evidence that the team has worked together in the past. While a selected artist may not assign the commission to another artist, they may hire other artists to work with them to complete their project.  There are no geographic limitations on who may apply; however, there are no additional funds for travel or lodging and given the opportunities to explore the surroundings at the library, artists located within or who show a cultural, familial, or historic connection to the Sacramento Valley region or North Sacramento specifically will be provided some preference in the selection criteria. 

HOW TO APPLY  

Artists may apply for the North Sacramento Hagginwood Library Public Art RFQ BY filling out the online application on Submittable.com and submitting it with required supporting materials. City staff will review the applications for eligibility and advance eligible applications to a diverse panel of community members, artists, art administrators, and curators who will review all complete submissions and select up to five (5) finalists to present their conceptual proposal to the Selection Panel. The Selection Panel will score and vote on each proposal to choose the winning artist. APP staff will facilitate the panel’s review. 

Within the application materials, artists will be required to submit an up to 250-word statement of interest about the conceptual design they might propose for the library site within the defined timeline and available budget. They must also include an up to 150-word Location Statement where they can share any cultural, familial, personal, or historic connections to the Sacramento Valley in general or North Sacramento neighborhoods specifically. Artists will submit up to 10 image files of their past artwork, specifically focusing on artwork that reflects the type of work they plan to propose should they be selected as a finalist.  APP staff are available to assist artists with the application process.  

PROJECT GUIDELINES

Artists must meet all guidelines as detailed below to be considered for the North Sacramento Hagginwood Library Public Art RFQ commission.   APP staff are available to discuss projects and provide support for applying artists by appointment.  APP will conduct one information session after the launch of the RFQ to assist artists with application questions and provide guidance as to the project goals, who should apply, evaluation rubric, and technical support for applying artists. The information session will be recorded and will be made available online afterwards for the public.   Artists apply through the Submittable.com online platform.  No other submission formats are accepted.  After artists are selected, APP will work with artists to prepare all necessary tax and contract documents before any work begins.  Requirements for project submission through the Submittable.com platform are: 

· Online Application submitted through Submittable

· Artist Statement (1-page maximum) 

· 10 files of artist’s original work  

· Resume (2-page maximum) 

· Statement of interest for proposed project (250 word maximum)

· Location Statement (150 word maximum)

· 3 Professional References (name, phone, address, email) 

PANEL REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS

The selection panel will review applications based on a series of criteria that will help them decide which artist will receive the commission. Panelists will evaluate artists based on the criterion shown below (60 Points Total) as evidenced by subcategory questions described in the Scoring Rubric provided to applicants in the included Information Packet. 

Panelists are only reviewing past artwork, interest statement, and qualifications from the artist’s application. No proposed designs for this project are to be submitted or reviewed during the RFQ application process. The areas of panel review of artists’ past work samples are: 

· Originality (20 points)

· Technical Skill (20 points)

· Public Art Experience (20 points)

INFORMATION PACKET AND INFORMATION SESSION

The information packet may be downloaded here and includes some basic information about the project and site at the North Sacramento Hagginwood Library as well as the Scoring Rubric that the selection panel will use to score all qualified applicants. It is expected that artists will engage in some of their own research and are not limited to these materials provided. During this RFQ process, the information packet includes the following; although, additional items may be added as they become available:

· Scoring Rubric for Applicants

· Information Packet with notes from community stakeholders

· Information Session Recording (to be added after live session 6/25/25)

An online information session will be held on Wednesday February 25th from 530-630 pm. Register HERE to receive the zoom link for the meeting.  

This will be an opportunity to ask questions about Library, the application process, the goals for the public art at the library, and hear more about the project from city staff.  The session will be recorded and will be uploaded to the Information packet folder. 

PRELIMINARY PROJECT TIMELINE 

February 2026 - Launch RFQ

February 25, 2026 - Launch Information Session via Zoom (Recorded)

March 23, 2026 - Deadline for submission to RFQ

April 2026 - Selection Panel meets to select up to 5 finalists 

May 2026 - Finalists present conceptual designs to Selection Panel and artist selected

June 2026 - Contract and supplier paperwork completed 

July 2026 - Artist meets with Community Stakeholders and presents chosen proposal

August 2026 - Artist finalizes proposal with engineering and presents to Stakeholders

September 2026 - Artist begins fabrication 

March 2027 - Installation plans finalized 

April 2027 - Installation of artwork

June 2027 - Dedication Event together with Library opening

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTACT 

Donald Gensler, APP Manager, dgensler@cityofsacramento.org, 916-955-4564

Program Overview

Sacramento Film + Media is committed to sustaining and growing film and television production in the City of Sacramento. Sacramento Film + Media Rebate Program supports this goal by subsidizing permit fees, reimbursing the costs of city personnel assigned to a film location, and reimbursing qualified expenses for production companies when these activities occur in the City of Sacramento.

Sacramento Film + Media will reimburse up to $250,000 in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26. Once available funds are depleted, funding for the rebate program will no longer be available. Rebate funds that have not been distributed in FY 2025/26 and remain available due to a lack of eligible or qualifying applicants will be rolled over to the next fiscal year. Rebates include:

1. 100% reimbursement of required services and fees by the City of Sacramento, including Sacramento Police Department (limited up to 8 officers per day, each for a maximum of 12 hours per day), Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Film + Media permit fees, permit fees from other city departments, and/or Parking Services fees;

after all City of Sacramento required services are paid out, an additional rebate of:

2. 25% reimbursement of qualified expenditures which occur within the City of Sacramento (e.g., hotel nights, rental cars, rental equipment, location fees, catering, local hires, wardrobe purchases, dry cleaning, local security, per diem payments, gasoline, etc.). The full list of qualified expenditures can be found here. Sacramento Qualified Expenditure Chart

Eligibility

• Feature film and television projects with a City of Sacramento budget over $1,000,000.
• Eligible productions include feature films; television films, pilots, series, and unscripted; and documentaries. See a list of ineligible productions below.
• At least five (5) shooting days must occur in the City of Sacramento.
• Evidence of 80% financing for the total budget is required.
• Applications for film and television projects must be submitted prior to the beginning of principal photography in the City of Sacramento to be considered eligible.
• Applicants MUST be scheduled to begin principal photography on the qualified project within 60 days of the Film + Media Office issuing a Certificate Letter of Conditional Eligibility.
• Applications submitted MORE THAN 60 DAYS prior to the start of principal photography will be considered but not be certified. 
• Production companies may only apply for one rebate per calendar year.
• An independent, third-party Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP) Report is required and shall be paid by awardee.

Funding support may be revoked at any time if it is determined that the production does not fit within the criteria of the Film + Media Program Rebate Guidelines, or the applicant provided false or misleading information to the City.

Read the full Guidelines here.

The Office of Arts and Culture utilizes the expertise of review panels to evaluate applications 

submitted for consideration to our funding programs. Review panelists play a critical role in the 

government grantmaking process by providing expert evaluation of grant applications, ensuring 

a fair and transparent assessment based on established criteria, and promoting accountability 

and responsible allocation of public funds.

PANELIST CRITERIA

Panelists must meet the following criteria: 

• Must be at least 18 years of age. 
• Have computer access and a reliable internet connection. 
• Have the ability to carry out all tasks outlined in the Panelist Duties. 
•  Have the ability to maintain the standards outlined in the Panelist Code of Conduct. 
• Selected panelists must register as a supplier though the City's Ebid Portal and may be required to obtain a Business Operations Tax Certificate. BOTC costs must be paid by panelist and may be reimbursed. OAC staff will assist with these processes.

All prospective panelists MUST read the full guidelines before applying. For full guidelines please CLICK HERE or visit our Website.

CONTACT US:

Please contact staff with any questions.  

Email: saccityarts@cityofsacramento.org

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations are available upon request. Please submit requests to OAC staff at saccityarts@cityofsacramento.org.   

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