Description

The City of Surprise invites professional artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for the design, fabrication, and installation of a permanent public artwork at the new Police Substation located at the northwest corner of 163rd Avenue and W. San Ysidro Road in Surprise, Arizona.

The selected artwork will be integrated into a highly visible exterior boundary wall facing 163rd Avenue and should create a welcoming civic landmark that reflects the values of service, integrity, and justice with request for incorporation of the color blue in the work or lighting. The artwork should complement the architecture of the facility while contributing to the identity of this growing area of the city. 

A community selection panel will select up to three (3) finalists to participate in a proposal phase. Finalists will receive an honorarium of $1,500 plus travel and lodging costs to develop conceptual designs, meet with stakeholders, and participate in interviews with the selection panel.

Artwork Budget: $165,000

Deadline: August 31, 2026, 11:59 pm (Arizona Time)

Project Background

The Police Substation will serve as an important civic and neighborhood resource within one of Surprise's rapidly developing corridors. The facility is designed to improve accessibility to public safety services while strengthening relationships between residents and the Police Department. 

As part of the City's ongoing commitment to integrating arts and culture into public spaces, this project provides an opportunity to create a meaningful public artwork that celebrates community, promotes a sense of belonging, and reflects the vital role public safety plays in the daily life of residents.

Locations

The artwork opportunity is located on the exterior boundary wall facing 163rd Avenue at the northwest corner of 163rd Avenue and W. San Ysidro Road. The identified section of the wall extends approximately 154 feet in length and 8 feet in height, creating a highly visible public-facing canvas along a major roadway corridor. The artwork, with a maximum height of 6 feet, will be mounted directly to the wall with no more than 3 inches of separation from the wall. The installation may be arranged across multiple sections of the wall, with placement informed by existing site features and landscaping elements.

The site is visible to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and serves as a gateway feature for the facility and surrounding neighborhood.

Project Goals

This project aligns with the Arts & Culture Division's goals of increasing access to arts and culture opportunities throughout Surprise by:

· Embedding arts and culture into civic facilities and public spaces

· Creating meaningful public art experiences that strengthen community identity

· Supporting collaboration between City departments and creative professionals

· Expanding access to arts and culture in emerging neighborhoods

· Creating public spaces that are welcoming, engaging, and reflective of community values

The selected artwork should:

· Reflect themes surrounding service, integrity, justice, connection, safety, and community pride

· Consider the civic identity and purpose of the Police Substation

· Create a visually engaging landmark

· Respond to the surrounding neighborhood and growing community

· Be durable, maintainable, and appropriate for long-term outdoor installation in the Sonoran Desert climate

Artwork Parameters

Artists may propose artwork that is integrated through attachment to the wall surface: metal artwork with architectural integration preferred. Materials must be durable, low-maintenance, and appropriate for long-term outdoor exposure. Artists are encouraged to consider lighting integration and opportunities for visual impact both during the day and at night.

Budget

The selected artists from the initial Request for Qualifications will be provided with a $1,500 artist fee plus itemized transportation costs (airfare, mileage or transportation services, lodging) to create their designs and respond to community input. The selected artist will receive a contract of approximately $165,000 for the design, fabrication, transportation, engineering, installation, and oversight of the artwork. 

The project budget shall include all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to:

· Design development

· Artist fees 

· Materials

· Engineering

· Fabrication

· Transportation

· Insurance

· Travel

· Equipment rental

· Installation

Electrical route-in costs will be provided by the city with potential for other site preparation cost coverage.

Review Process & Timeline

Up to three (3) finalists will be selected by a panel consisting of community representatives, Police Department staff/Capital Improvement Project Professional, Arts & Cultural Advisory Commission representatives, and arts professionals.

Applicants will be evaluated based on:

· Quality, creativity, and strength of work samples (25%)

· Demonstrated experience and qualifications for projects of similar scale (25%)

· Ability to engage community and stakeholders during the design process (25%)

· Alignment with project goals and site context (25%)

Anticipated Timeline

Timeline

RFQ Released - Summer 2026

Application Deadline - Summer 2026

Panel Review - Fall 2026

Finalist Proposal Phase - Fall/Winter 2026

Artist Selection - Winter 2026

Design Phase - Winter/Spring 2027

Fabrication - Spring/Summer 2027

Installation - Summer/Fall 2027

How to Apply & Application Checklist

Compile all materials on the checklist and complete the online application at the link below. If you need accommodations or additional support to complete your application, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the application deadline. 

Link to online application: cityofsurprise-arts.submittable.com/submit

• Contact information
• Artistic Practice Statement (200 words maximum)
• Tell us about your artwork and creative practice. What materials, themes, and approaches define your work?
• Experience & Qualifications Statement (250 words maximum)
• Describe your experience completing projects of similar scale and complexity. Include information about public art, fabrication, project management, and collaboration with public agencies or project teams.
• Community Engagement Statement (200 words maximum)
• How have you successfully engaged community members, incorporated stakeholder input, or reflected cultural and civic context in your work?
• Five past work samples and information
• File formats accepted: Images (.jpg or .png), Video (.mov or .mp4) – video should not exceed two minutes, only first two minutes will be viewed if time is exceeded

Contact

Danica Marlin, Art in Public Places Coordinator   Danica.Marlin@surpriseaz.gov | 480.714.3899   SurpriseArts.com