PURPOSE AND INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS
The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division is seeking proposals from qualified art consultants to implement a three-year arts and culture programming initiative from 2025-2028. The initiative includes five distinct temporary art activations, a large-scale mural, a series of temporary exhibitions, and a permanent public artwork, ATTACHMENT A.
The selected consultant will be responsible for providing strategic and logistical support to ensure the successful planning, production, and evaluation of all program elements. Specific responsibilities include:
· Logistical Planning and Production Management
· Development of a Marketing Plan
· Development of Calls to Artists and Contract Scope of Work
· Event Coordination
· Stakeholder & Community Engagement
· Program Evaluation & Reporting
The initial contract will begin in 2025, with services continuing through September 2028. Specific milestones and deliverables will be finalized in coordination with City staff upon selection.
INVENTING TRADITIONS
The inspiration for this initiative’s theme is the concept of 'Invented Traditions,' a term coined by historians Eric Hobsbawm and Terrance Ranger. This theme acknowledges the ways in which major events create new cultural customs and rituals the feel deeply rooted in history, even newly conceived.
Inventing Traditions is a dynamic curatorial exploration of how communities create, redefine, and sustain cultural rituals over time. This theme reflects on how the act of invention can forge new cultural identities, preserve marginalized voices, and challenge the boundaries between heritage and contemporary expression. It invites artists to investigate how the creative process can give rise to practices, symbols, and expressions that not only define a moment but shape the future. The throughline theme of Inventing Traditions will shape activations and exhibitions that are implemented from this three-year plan.
ELIGIBILITY
Qualified consultants must have at least 5 years of professional experience and expertise in managing multi-phase art projects. The ideal candidate will share the City’s vision and values and will possess a deep understanding of cultural event planning and production to oversee the initiative’s execution, including artist coordination, budget management, stakeholder engagement, public programming logistics, program evaluation (impact metrics, evaluation frameworks, reporting tools, etc.), and successful experience working with a governmental agency.
BUDGET
Proposals should include a competitive bid for the anticipated scope of work and an hourly billable rate for the project. The annual budget for this project is $75,000 each year for a total not-to-exceed budget over the three-year horizon of $225,000. Proposals with budgets higher than the annual figure of $75,000 are still eligible for consideration, however proposals that fall within the anticipated budget will receive priority in the review of proposals.
The applicant shall provide an explanation of any assumptions made in calculating the project costs. Proposals shall indicate what portion of the work, if any, will be subcontracted. The applicant shall provide information about the sub-consultant, including expertise, experience, and recent projects.
Note: The City of West Hollywood will waive all permit fees for activations and projects defined in the Creative Plan.
DEADLINE
Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 PM PT on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
www.weho.org/rfp
Clarifying questions and answers will be posted here on Wednesday, October 8, 2025