Public Art Call/RFQ – Dallas Cotillion Park

RFQ for professional artists to design, fabricate and install site-specific outdoor public artwork at Cotillion Park in Dallas. The artwork should create a welcoming, joyful environment with color and nature themes, reflecting community ideas about belonging, wonder, peace and neighborhood pride. The total commission budget is $112,000, including design, fabrication, installation, artist fees and other project costs. Three shortlisted artists will each receive a $1,200 stipend to develop and present a concept.

Welcome, inclusion and belonging; joy and playfulness; peace and contemplation; neighborhood pride and hope; inspiration and wonder; nature; abstract approaches; interactivity and movement.

Open to professional artists with a BFA/MFA or equivalent fabrication/installation experience and a demonstrated record of successfully completing artwork of similar budget, scope and scale. Excluded: artists currently under contract with the City of Dallas; persons under 18; undergraduate students; City of Dallas employees and their spouses; members of the Public Art Committee or Arts and Culture Advisory Commission; and consultants under contract for any phase of these projects. Artists may apply in teams and share the allotted work examples.

Submit a cover letter explaining ability to complete the project and understanding of public art; a resume demonstrating relevant public-art or installation experience, maximum five pages; an artist statement, maximum 300 words; a bio, maximum 400 words; three professional references; and six JPEG work examples. Each image must include title, size, exact materials rather than merely 'mixed media,' date, price/commission value if applicable, and a brief narrative about the artwork's meaning. Combine the cover letter, artist statement and bio into clearly defined sections in the application's 'Letter of Interest' text box. CODAworx registration and sign-in are required; registration is free.

Artwork must be innovative, highly visible, visually compelling, site-specific and responsive to community input; spark curiosity across ages; meet professional quality standards; complement rather than compete with the pavilion's modern geometric design; be suitable for outdoor use with minimal maintenance and resistance to graffiti and vandalism; have an expected lifespan of at least 20 years; and have no safety hazards such as sharp or loose objects. Lighting is optional, but any proposed lighting costs must fit within the project budget. Installation location: 3600 Barnes Bridge Rd, Dallas, TX 75228.

The $112,000 project budget includes artwork design, fabrication, materials, transport, installation, artist fees, engineering drawings, foundation construction, insurance, travel and contingency; it is not solely an artist fee. Three shortlisted artists will be paid a $1,200 stipend to develop and present concept designs. That stipend must cover site visits, community meetings, site research, site-specific renderings and a virtual presentation. Shortlisted artists must show a sculpture concept, identify materials and demonstrate feasibility within the commission budget. Their draft budgets must include design development, final design, engineering, insurance, fabrication, foundation construction, installation, artist fee and contingency, and they must provide an estimated maintenance plan and costs. If selected, the artist must be comfortable including a community-engagement component, carry professional liability insurance, provide a detailed project budget and sign a contract accepting the art program's terms and conditions.

Selection considers artistic merit, professional qualifications, innovative vision, theme/scope appropriateness, public safety, durability, maintenance, community engagement and variety of style, scale, media and artists. The selection process takes several months; applicants are asked not to request status updates. Applying constitutes acceptance of the prospectus terms and recognition of City ordinances and policies. The City may reject all submissions or terminate selection without prior notice.

The commission prospectus states an October 29, 2026 application deadline. Other captured displays show October 30 at 12:59 AM in an unspecified local time zone and an EntryThingy deadline of October 15 at 12:00 AM PDT. EntryThingy also displays a $25 fee; the commission text specifies free account registration but does not independently confirm an application fee.