The City of Carlsbad’s Library & Cultural Arts Department seeks to qualify two separate artist or artist teams to enter into a design agreement, along with a fabrication contract to develop and complete a large-scale site-specific mural at two separate designated sites within the city. These murals will have a strong visual presence and will play a significant role in defining the character of each community while contributing to the aesthetic quality of a public space, bringing people together with the city as a leader in bringing innovative ideas to the community, partnering with local groups to create capacity within the creative sector and connecting across city departments and among city partners connecting our initiatives outlined in our city’s Arts & Culture Master Plan.

Each site is located in two very distinctive, but different areas of the city. There are two locations that have been identified:

1)      An exterior west wall of the city-owned historic Bauer Lumber Building is adjacent to the North County Transit District’s Carlsbad Village Coaster Station, just north of Christensen Way, Carlsbad, California. The historic lumber building houses long-term tenant, New Village Arts Theatre.

2)      An exterior west wall of the Carlsbad City Library Learning Center, located at 3368 Eureka Place, Carlsbad, California.

Each ideal mural would: 

• Capture the community’s interest and be designed to create an exciting visual experience for the visitors
• Engage and aesthetically delight individuals of all ages and backgrounds
• Provide people a sense of place that’s welcoming to this distinctive area
• Capture the spirit, energy and liveliness of Carlsbad’s community
• Encourage an environment for artistic creativity and promote Carlsbad as a local, state and national leader in arts, culture and public art
• Increase awareness of Carlsbad’s Art in Public Places strategy, along with the city’s temporary public art initiatives, as an integral component for attracting business and tourism to Carlsbad

The total budget for each mural shall not-to-exceed $50,000.

This Request for Qualifications is open to all artists who reside in California. At least two different artists or artist teams will be selected to complete each mural project. The city will not award both murals projects to the same artist or artist team.

Each selected artist or artist team will agree to develop a conceptual design and once the final design is agreed upon, then complete the large-scale mural. All work entered must be suitable for outdoor public display for at least five to seven-year duration. The durability of the work and materials used will be a consideration for final selection. Artwork must withstand an outdoor marine environment, including occasionally rainy and humid conditions, for the duration of the exhibited work.

Deadline for submissions: Tuesday, August 24, 2021 by 4 p.m. 

If you are interested in submitting a bid, you may download the Request for Qualifications specifications by going to
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/finance/contracting-purchasing/bids

and click on “Open goods & services RFPs, bids, or RFQs” link.