Exterior Public Artwork Installations, interpretive panels and sidewalk stamps – Request for Proposals (RFP)
RFP Overview
Respond to Racism (RtR), in collaboration with the Lake Oswego Public Library (LOPL) and the Arts Council of Lake Oswego (ACLO), invites artists/artist teams living in Oregon to submit proposals for a site-specific public artwork installation at the exterior of the Lake Oswego Public Library to be unveiled by summer 2026. One artist/artist team will be selected to create public art installations that communicate historically relevant and accurate information regarding the history of racism in Lake Oswego and the City’s aspiration to be free of racism, as well as embody themes of hope and healing, along the same block. The budget available for the commission is $31,000 combined for the interpretive panel(s) and sidewalk stamps. Strong consideration is given to proposals that are led by artists who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color. The RFP opens on July 15, 2025. Proposals are due by 11:59 pm PST on Friday, August 15, 2025 Sunday, August 31, 2025 (DEADLINE EXTENDED!)
Link to RFP with full details: HERE!
Link to Apply: https://forms.gle/hZbRC6RjAq8vJcY18 | Aug 4th Info Session: Recording Here
RFP Landing Page on RtR Website: https://respondtoracism.org/request-for-proposal-public-art-installation/
Project Overview and Vision
Respond to Racism, a community-led non-profit created to disrupt racism in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is leading a public art installation project to debut in summer 2026 with the exterior of the Lake Oswego Public Library as the hosting site. Lake Oswego Public Library was selected as the hosting site due to shared values with RtR and similar demonstrated commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, education, and community engagement for people of all races, ages, and backgrounds. The Arts Council of Lake Oswego is a collaborative project partner as the nonprofit organization which administers the public art program on behalf of the City of Lake Oswego. Additionally, the selected site is a high-traffic destination for people in cars, on foot, and via other modes of transportation.
RtR invites visual artists, or artist teams, to submit proposals for the creation of original artwork that embodies themes of hope and healing amid Lake Oswego’s history of racism, and the City’s aspiration to be free of racism. Artists at all stages of their career may submit proposals.
This RFP is the first of three phases of public art installations that will be led by RtR. We request proposals for two areas of this project:
- Interpretive panel(s) that communicate historically relevant and accurate information regarding the history of racism in Lake Oswego, the City’s aspiration to be free of racism, and center residents of color (past and/or present) – Site 1
- Sidewalk stamps (ex. etchings, engravings, embedded artwork, etc) with words along 4th Street between D and E Avenues – Site 2
Project Goals
The objective of the public art installations are as follows:
- Artworks should facilitate a sense of introspection, knowledge, and hope.
- Artworks should be engaging, informative, and inspiring to the public—especially youth and families.
- The installations should be ADA-accessible and enhance the atmosphere by exhibiting a variety of sensory elements.
- Artworks should be grounded in knowledge about the local history, balancing information about the past, present, and future of Lake Oswego.
- Artworks are encouraged to be designed in such a way that allows for easy relocation or reproduction.
- Artworks should harmonize with the mission of RtR, the Library’s values and architectural design, and the City of Lake Oswego’s Public Art Guidelines.
- Strong consideration is given to proposals that are led by artists who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.
Important Dates
July 15, 2025 — RFP launch
August 4, 2025 — Informational session via Zoom at 3:00 pm PST (Recording Here)
August 31, 2025 — Proposals due
October 22, 2025 — Notifications sent
August-November 2025 — Panel review, artist selection, funds distributed
November 2025-January 2026 — Design Phase
February-July 2026 — Fabrication and Installation
August 2026 — Artwork complete, public unveiling
How to Apply
All application materials must be submitted through the RtR Google Form. Submissions are due by 11:59 pm PST on Friday, August 31, 2025. Link to Apply: https://forms.gle/hZbRC6RjAq8vJcY18
A complete submission must include the information and application materials described below:
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- Artist bio. 750 characters or less.
- Statement of interest.
- There are two options in submitting your statement of interest:
- Written Statement: 3000 characters or less.
- Oral Statement: Upload a video/voice recording no longer than 2 minutes
- In your statement of interest, please address the following questions:
- Project Title, Vision, and Execution:
Describe your interest in this project, your concepts, and the inspiration behind your proposed artworks. Additionally, outline your capacity and experience to complete the scope of work, detailing how you plan to execute the project—considering both short- and long-term installation and maintenance. If applying as a team, please specify each member’s role and how you will work together. - Community Engagement and Social Impact:
How do you see public art contributing to social change, particularly in the context of this project? Explain why community engagement is important to your artistic process, and share past examples of how you have successfully incorporated community visions, values, and voices into your work. - Local Connection and Sustainability:
Describe your relationship to Lake Oswego’s communities and histories, and how it influences your approach to this project.
- Project Title, Vision, and Execution:
- There are two options in submitting your statement of interest:
- Drawings/sketches/renderings of proposed artworks. May include details such as title, materials/media for each portion, scale and dimensions, color, weight, additional equipment or needs (projection, lights, electricity, etc.), ADA compliance, and multiple angles or perspectives of the artworks. It is understood these drawings are preliminary sketches and may evolve based on site-specific requirements and technical feasibility.
- Budget. Artists may use their own budget, but templates/resources can be found here:
- Up to 5 past work samples. These work samples are the primary way the artistic expression of your work will be judged, and each work sample should feature one artwork or one series. You may include up to two images per sample, no larger than 5 MB each, or a video. Videos must be linked via Vimeo or YouTube (ensure links are Public or Unlisted). The can be submitted via Google Form file uploads or a PDF portfolio with links. Optional: provide title, artist name(s), media, dimensions, year completed, budget, location, and/or conceptual information for each work sample.
- Optional supplementary documents:
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- Artist resume/CV. Upload a PDF of no more than two pages that outlines your creative activities and artistic accomplishments. If applying as a team, submit one PDF that includes a bio/resume for all team members no more than 5 pages.
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- Artist website and/or social media.
- Timeline to complete the artworks.
Questions
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us throughout the process. We are here to support and assist you! For inquiries about the overall opportunity or the proposal process, or would like to set up a time for a phone/video call, please email project manager, Emilly Prado, at emillygprado@gmail.com (note two Ls). For site-specific technical questions, please email Donna Harlan, Lake Oswego Public Library Administrative Assistant, at dharlan@lakeoswego.city
An informational session will be hosted by Respond to Racism, the Lake Oswego Public Library, the Arts Council of Lake Oswego, and the project manager on August 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM PST. This will include a question and answer session and we encourage applicants to attend or review the presentation. Registration is required. A recording will be posted to this page within 24 hours of the event. All registered attendees will also automatically receive a link to the recording. 8/4 Informational Session Recording: RtR x LO Library Public Art Installation RFP Info Session
More Info
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X0E8_TFaDYV94PX3rGLZwdeIxnz8VZpOY9I3z52rjms/edit?usp=sharing
Salary
$31,000 grant award
Location
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Opportunity Region
Local
Commitment
Non-Applicable
Contact Email
emillygprado@gmail.com