Public Art Consultant to Create City of Scottsdale 10-year Public Art Plan 

Request for Proposals:  

Deadline: July 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ) time. 
Project Budget: $100,000 

Click here to download the RFP

How to Apply: 
Send all proposal requirements to Kati Ballares, Director of Scottsdale Public Art at [email protected] 

Deadline: July 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ) time. 
 
Intent: 

Scottsdale Public Art, a department of Scottsdale Arts, is seeking proposals from consultants or consultant teams with expertise in public art vision planning to develop a 10-year Public Art Plan. The selected consultant will collaborate with Scottsdale Arts staff, the City of Scottsdale, and key stakeholders to gather input and create a 10 year plan that aligns with the City’s growth and cultural initiatives. 

Background: 

The City of Scottsdale has a long-standing legacy of integrating public art within civic spaces and private developments to enhance the City’s identity as a leader in arts and culture. Scottsdale Arts is a non-profit organization contracted by the City of Scottsdale to provide management and advisory services regarding the City’s arts and cultural programming. 

Scottsdale Arts is comprised of seven programming departments; Scottsdale Public Art, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, Canal Convergence, Civic Center LIVE, and Scottsdale Arts @Cattletrack; and four supporting departments: Marketing and Communications, Facilities, Development, and Administration. Together we create, present, and support the vast majority of arts cultural events that contribute to the city’s economic, social, and aesthetic vitality. 

Scottsdale Arts’ mission is to enhance lives through the power of the Arts. The vision of Scottsdale Arts is that we create transformative arts experiences, making Scottsdale a premier arts destination. 

In accordance with two public art ordinances: Art in Public Places and the Cultural Improvements Program (also known as Art in Private Development), Scottsdale Public Art is responsible for commissioning, managing, installing, and maintaining both permanent and temporary public artworks. Scottsdale Public Art curates quarterly exhibitions and oversees the portable works collection for the City of Scottsdale. Additionally, our team supports annual free public art events, such as Canal Convergence and Cycle the Arts. 

Purpose: 

The COS 10-year Public Art Plan will guide the integration of public art within the built environment, establishing principles and strategies to support sustainable growth and artistic engagement in Scottsdale. The plan will prioritize future public art investments and programming in alignment with the City’s cultural and development initiatives. The plan will align with the mission, vision, and values of Scottsdale Arts, as well as support the goals of the City of Scottsdale. 

Proposals should demonstrate experience in public art planning, community stakeholder outreach, and municipal coordination. The selected consultant will conduct research, meet with Scottsdale Arts and City staff, and coordinate engagement with artists, community stakeholders, and the development community. Additionally, the consultant will present findings to the Scottsdale Public Art Advisory Board and the Scottsdale Arts Board of Trustees. 

Scope of Services: 

The consultant will develop a Public Art Vision Plan that provides recommendations of policies and strategies to guide the implementation of public art ordinances over the next 10 years. The plan should include the following elements: 

Vision & Mission Alignment 
Define a public art vision and mission that aligns with both Scottsdale Arts and the City of Scottsdale’s strategic plans to enhance lives through transformative arts experiences and solidify Scottsdale’s reputation as a premier arts destination. 
 
Current Art Analysis 
Analyze existing public art placements and community engagement, using GIS mapping to identify areas with limited public art and propose prioritization of future locations. 

Public Engagement & Education 
Provide exciting strategies to educate and engage the public on the role and impact of public art in Scottsdale’s community and urban design. 
 
Maintenance & Conservation 
Review current policies and make recommendations regarding maintenance, conservation, and deaccession of public artworks within the collection. 
 
Strategic Priorities 
Establish criteria for the selection and placement of public art (temporary and permanent), considering city attributes, public space opportunities, community priorities, and regional, national, and international trends in the field. 

Project Opportunities 
Identify and recommend art integration opportunities within planned City projects over the next 10 years. 
 
Policy Evaluation & Recommendations 
Assess existing City policies andprocedures related to public art and recommend updates to support long-term priorities and staffing needs. 

Art in Private Development 
Clarify procedures for the oversight andfacilitation of public art within private development projects to ensure alignment with community development policies. 

Project Schedule:   

The 12-month project timeline is anticipated to begin in July 2025 and conclude by July 2026. The schedule is as follows: 

Budget: 
The total budget for the COS 10-year Public Art Plan development is $100,000. This amount includes consultant fees, research, community engagement activities, and the production of final deliverables. 

Proposal Submission: 

Consultants should submit a proposal including: 

• A statement of qualifications and relevant experience. 
• A proposed methodology and approach to developing the COS 10-year Public Art Plan. 
• A timeline and work plan aligned with the project schedule. 
• A budget breakdown detailing the allocation of project funds. 
• Examples of previous public art planning projects. 
• References from previous clients. 

How to Apply: 
Send all proposal requirements to Kati Ballares, Director of Scottsdale Public Art at [email protected] 
 
Deadline: 
July 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MST (AZ) time. 
 
Scottsdale Public Art looks forward to partnering with a consultant who can develop a comprehensive, forward-thinking 10-year Public Art Plan that strengthens Scottsdale’s identity as a cultural leader and ensures the sustainable growth of its public art program over the next decade.