PURPOSE AND INVITATION TO SUBMIT QUALIFICATIONS
The City of West Hollywood, through its Arts Division, requests qualifications from professional artists, independent curators, and curators representing non-profit arts organizations, to install an engaging temporary public art exhibition for the City’s primary outdoor exhibition space at the Santa Monica Boulevard at Doheny Drive median. Ideal candidates to submit qualifications for this opportunity will demonstrate their ability to conceive and execute a project of this nature through the visual portfolio provided as part of the submission process. Qualifications will be evaluated based on all submission materials provided by the applicant. Proposals are not required for the application.
This opportunity is a component of the City’s Creative Plan, which includes diverse art activations that commemorate and celebrate the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Three artists will be invited to develop proposals drawing inspiration from the Creative Plan’s theme Inventing Traditions for consideration. The theme invites artists to examine how traditions emerge, evolve, or dissolve – and how global events shape identity, community, and cultural memory. This framework aligns West Hollywood with the broader Olympic spirit, itself an evolving global tradition, while honoring our city’s own cultural identity and reinforcing West Hollywood’s role as a creative center.
The exhibition may include existing sculpture and/or new artwork that requires fabrication, existing artwork(s), or a combination of both, as the budget allows.
Applicants should familiarize themselves with the City’s values, history, and mission to help align their proposals with the unique characteristics of West Hollywood’s vibrant, progressive, and welcoming community: About West Hollywood; City of West Hollywood Mission Statement & Values; Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission Review and Approval Process.
CULTURAL EQUITY STATEMENT
The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division and Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission believe that all people in the City of West Hollywood have the right to celebrate and engage in meaningful and relevant arts and cultural experiences. Each member of the community should have access to the arts which reflect and nurture individual identities, affirm personal value, and foster belonging in the community. Arts and culture are foundational to quality of life and vibrant and resilient communities. Arts and culture have the power to enhance inclusion, engagement, and diversity, and contribute to positive outcomes across civic life. The right to participate freely in the cultural life of the community is recognized as a basic human right.
We aspire to ensure cultural equity in all arts policies and practices, including equity for both artists and audiences. West Hollywood has a long history of supporting art that uplifts diverse artists and audiences.
ELIGIBILITY
This is an open call to arts professionals based in the United States. BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and West Hollywood-based applicants are especially encouraged to apply. Applications submitted by individuals or non-profit art organizations who have demonstrated abilities in curating, planning, implementing, and managing dynamic public art exhibitions will be considered. The qualified candidate will have strong organizational skills, excellent written communication skills, and experience in organizing outdoor public art installations of similar scope.
PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION BUDGET
The City will provide three semi-finalists an honorarium of $3,000/each to develop a proposal for a public art exhibition at the location. Proposals may include new work that requires fabrication, existing artwork(s), or a combination of both, as the budget allows. Proposals shall include renderings/photographs of the artworks, a project narrative, project description, evidence of insurance, and a comprehensive budget. The honorarium shall cover all costs, including travel to present at the in-person meeting.
The selected artist will be commissioned to submit a Final Art Plan, for a not-to-exceed budget of $72,000, with additional details about the artwork, installation and deinstallation plans, structural engineering drawings for Building and Safety review, insurance. And, if necessary, extraordinary maintenance costs for the proposed artwork may require a specialist to perform the work.
Any maintenance requirements above and beyond the removal of graffiti by City facilities staff should be considered a part of the artist’s budget while the exhibition is displayed on City property and factored into the submitted budget calculations to the best of one’s ability. The City will provide professional graphic design services for signage and didactic material to accompany the exhibition at no cost to the artist.
DEADLINE
Applications must be received by 5:00 PM PST on Wednesday, December 16, 2026.
LOCATION - SITE DETAILS
The location is a xeriscape traffic median on Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny and Almont Drives. The exhibition space offers an opportunity for the artwork to be viewed by approximately 50,000 people every day who enter and exit the City daily by car through its main western gateway. The location is open to the public without dedicated staff posted continuously to monitor the space. Images of previous exhibitions are included as Attachment A.
Google Maps: 3JJ6+MF West Hollywood, California
There are several existing concrete foundations of various sizes located on the median. The City is prepared to remove the existing foundations, if necessary, in preparation for the selected exhibition. This project is intended to re-envision the use of the median for a new exhibition therefore the configuration and placement of works in the exhibition is completely open.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Interested parties must submit their application online. Please read all the information listed carefully. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.
All applications must be clear, succinct, and organized. All applications will be evaluated on the completeness and quality of the content. Only those applications that provide complete information, as listed below, will be considered for evaluation.
1. Cover Letter
A cover letter should summarize key elements of the applicant’s previous experience that will inform the preparation of a final proposal should the applicant be shortlisted. Include the primary contact person’s name, address for the principal place of business, and the primary contact’s email and telephone number. (1-page maximum)
2. Applicant Resume
Applicant resume shall state information on previous related experience. This may include other temporary art exhibitions created by the applicant and notable art exhibitions in traditional gallery settings or alternative spaces. Resume limited to 4 pages per applicant or team member.
3. Visual Portfolio
Provide a visual portfolio of up to ten (10) images of completed projects. Include the specific project name and location, client name/organization and contact person together with title, organization, address, telephone number, email, artist(s) name, artwork title, dimensions, media, year of completion, budget, and a brief description of each image.
If applying as newly formed team, provide a visual portfolio of up to five (5) images of completed projects per team member. Include the specific project name and location, client name/organization and contact person together with title, organization, address, telephone number, email, artist(s) name, artwork title, dimensions, media, year of completion and a brief description of each image.
4. Sub-Contractors
If it is known that sub-contractors will be hired to perform any part of the work for this project, include their names, contact information, and a resume and/or list of past projects for each subcontractor listed. (4-page maximum, per subcontractor listed)
5. Acknowledgement of the Contract Terms and Conditions
Applicants will be required to check a box on the application form to acknowledge that they have reviewed the contract requirements. If there are questions or concerns about the contract terms and conditions the applicant should include their questions in their application.
SELECTION PROCESS
City of West Hollywood Arts Division staff will convene to review applications through this request for qualifications. All applications will be evaluated on the completeness and quality of the content. Only those applications that provide complete information will be considered for evaluation. Staff will generate a short list of applications to present to the Art on the Outside Subcommittee for final consideration. The Art on the Outside Subcommittee will recommend 3 Semi-Finalists for final approval by the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission
Semi-Finalists will receive an honorarium to develop and present a proposal for a public art exhibition at the location. Proposals may include new work that requires fabrication, existing artwork(s), or a combination of both, as the budget allows. Proposals shall include renderings/photographs of the artworks, a project narrative, and an all-inclusive line-item budget. The honorarium shall cover all costs, including travel to present at the in-person meeting.
Semi-Finalists shall present their proposal in-person to the Art on the Outside Subcommittee of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. The presentation will be for the purpose of presenting the exhibition, discussion of the scope of work, and review of factors considered in the preparation of the proposal. The proposer may also provide clarification of submitted materials. The Subcommittee will make a recommendation to the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission for approval.
The Art on the Outside Review and Evaluation Criteria will be used to evaluate applications and Semi-Finalists proposals. The criteria listed are not necessarily an all-inclusive list, and the order in which they appear is not intended to indicate their relative importance:
· Aesthetics – Applications will be evaluated on the artistic merit as demonstrated through the images provided as part of the visual portfolio, innovation/risk in concept and technical approach of previous works, and evidence of social interaction of previous works.
· Experience – Proven professional qualifications of the applicant team and experience as demonstrated through information provided in the cover letter, resume, and previous work. Experience working with municipalities and/or public agencies is desirable but not required. To the extent applicable, the applicant’s past work, and if it demonstrates the level of craftsmanship needed to realize a temporary art installation.
· Public Safety, Materials, Maintenance and Structural Integrity – Semi-Finalists proposals will be evaluated to ensure that the exhibition is structurally sound and will not present a hazard to public safety. It is desirable for the artwork(s) to be made of durable materials to withstand the elements and public interaction. It is desirable for the artwork(s) to require minimal maintenance for the duration of the exhibition.
· Proposed Budget – An itemized budget in the Semi-Finalist’s proposals must reflect a comprehensive understanding of all costs associated with an exhibition of this type.
It is the City’s intention that within six weeks following the deadline of the request for qualifications, notification will be given to each respondent as to the status of their application.
QUESTIONS
For all questions related to this Request for Qualifications please contact Marcus Mitchell, Public Art Administrator, mmitchell@weho.org, 323-848-3122.
ATTACHMENTS
Download the full RFQ to review the attachments
ATTACHMENT A: Examples – Previous exhibitions at the Location and images of public art projects that reflect what we aspire to exhibit.
ATTACHMENT B: Copy of City of West Hollywood Contract. The selected vendors are expected to adhere to all obligations and provide the required insurance documents listed in the City’s contract. Exhibit A in the contract will be modified when the contract is awarded to the selected semi-finalists.