City of Palm Desert Roundabout Sculpture RFQ

A public art project for the installation of a sculpture in the roundabout located at San Pablo Avenue and the eastern entrance to College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Cultural Arts Committee appointed by the City Council invites artists to create a signature sculptural installation for the northern roundabout on San Pablo Avenue—a key gateway that marks the transition between Palm Desert’s civic and cultural core and its surrounding residential and commercial neighborhoods. Serving as a visual anchor at the north end of the revitalized corridor, the sculpture(s) will contribute to San Pablo’s identity as a dynamic, pedestrian-friendly city center. Artists may propose a single large-scale piece or a series of coordinated sculptures. Works that incorporate lighting are encouraged to enhance nighttime visibility and impact. Water and kinetic features will not be considered.

ABOUT PALM DESERT
Located just over 100 miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Desert is a premier resort destination and thriving year-round community at the heart of California’s Coachella Valley—a region made up of nine distinct cities. To the west lies Palm Springs, celebrated for its midcentury modern architecture and storied Hollywood history. To the east is Indio, known for its agricultural roots and vibrant murals featuring contemporary Latinx art.

Palm Desert sits at the center of the Valley, offering a blend of these influences with its own distinctive, upscale character. Surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges and wide-open desert, the city is a dynamic hub of nature, education, and culture. It is home to the Coachella Valley’s three institutions of higher learning, the renowned McCallum Theatre—the region’s largest indoor performing arts venue—and El Paseo, a premier shopping and dining district known as the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert.” El Paseo also features a rotating outdoor exhibition of public art, showcasing 18 sculptures by artists, a tradition that has been ongoing since 1992.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Cultural Arts Committee invites artists to create a signature sculptural installation for the roundabout at the north end of San Pablo Avenue. The selected artwork will serve as a visual landmark and reinforce the corridor’s evolving identity as a vibrant, design-forward public space. Artists are encouraged to consider scale, visibility, and durability in their concepts, and may propose either a single large-scale piece or a series of coordinated elements. Works that incorporate lighting to enhance nighttime presence are strongly encouraged. Water and kinetic features will not be considered.

SITE DESCRIPTION
The roundabout is located at the northern end of San Pablo Avenue, directly adjacent to the east entrance of College of the Desert. It sits within a dense civic and community campus that includes Palm Desert’s Civic Center Park—home to a public art collection, sports fields, skate park, and event lawn—as well as being adjacent to the dog park, YMCA, Palm Desert Community Center and Gymnasium, and City Hall. The site is highly trafficked by students, families, city staff, and residents accessing public services and amenities. Just south of the roundabout, San Pablo Avenue continues as a revitalized, pedestrian-friendly corridor that leads to Highway 111 and El Paseo, Palm Desert’s premier shopping and business district. This location offers high visibility from multiple directions and serves as a symbolic entry point to the City’s civic and cultural center.

SELECTION PROCESS

Shortlist Selection and Ranking

1.    PASS/FAIL Review. Public Art staff will initially review each application for completeness. Incomplete applications will receive a fail rating. Complete applications will be reviewed by the Cultural Arts Committee and those that receive a pass rating from a majority of the panel will then be scored and ranked.

2.    Ranking. For each application that receives a pass rating from a majority of the Committee, each criteria will be scored and when the scores awarded for all criteria are totaled, the Committee will select up to five (5) artists to create a design proposal, maquette, and give a presentation. All artists who are selected to present their concept proposals to the Cultural Arts Committee will receive an honorarium of $1,000 inclusive of all expenses.

Pre-Proposal Conference Call

Following the final shortlist selection, City staff will host a mandatory conference call to provide finalists with additional information and instructions. This is also an opportunity to ask questions. The conference call date and time is tentative; see timeline below.

Finalist Selection

1.    Presentation – Shortlisted finalists will develop and present to the Cultural Arts Committee one (1) conceptual art design proposal. Finalists will have the option to present to the Committee either in person or virtually. All proposals must address the art design goals. Each artist will have thirty (30) minutes to present the concept to the Committee followed by questions from the Committee.

2.    Finalist Submission: A complete submission must include all of the following or may result in disqualification.

a. Conceptual Design Drawings/Renderings – Include artwork dimensions and proposed placement within the roundabout.

• Narrative: Include title, Medium, and concept

b. Proposed Timeline – Include the following milestones:

• Design Development
• Construction Documents/Engineering
• Fabrication
• Transport/Logistics
• Installation

c. Itemized Project Budget Estimate – Include anticipated costs for all phases of the project.

• Artist’s fee, design, engineering, materials, fabrication, transportation, insurance, etc.

d. Material Description – List all materials to be used and explain their durability in extreme weather.

e. Fabrication Plan – Indicate whether artist will self-fabricate the artwork or contract with a third party. Regardless of fabrication method, the artist must maintain creative and quality control throughout the process and remain the primary point of contact with the City. If contracting, please:

• Name the fabricator
• Describe their qualifications
• Explain your oversight role in the process

f. Lighting Details (if applicable) – Include wattage, lumens, and color temperature of any proposed lighting.

g. Foundation Design – Provide a general explanation of the foundation concept and confirm your ability to have a California-licensed Professional Engineer review, approve the design and structural calculations, and communicate with local utility agency.

h. Maintenance Plan – Describe any anticipated maintenance requirements and cost.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are as follows:

• Artist’s work samples provide evidence of understanding of craft and successful collaborative work on large-scale public art projects.
• Proposed artwork exhibits artistic merit, quality, and innovative design.
• Proposed artwork is appropriate to site size and materials.
• Proposed artwork meets all requirements of this Request for Qualifications.
• Safety of proposed artwork is approved by the City’s Public Works Department.

 A community engagement survey will be conducted to gather local input for City Council consideration. From the five shortlisted proposals, the Cultural Arts Committee will recommend three finalists to City Council. The Council will review public feedback and the Committee’s recommendations before selecting the final artist. The selected artist must then execute the City’s Agreement (draft available upon request).

PROJECT BUDGET
The budget for this project is $200,000. The selected artist or artist team will be responsible for the design, engineering, fabrication, transportation, and oversight of the installation. The available budget must cover all artists’ expenses including artist fees, taxes, insurance, materials, tools, travel, expense contingency, and other associated costs. Installation, uplighting costs, and permit fees will be covered by the City. All artists who are selected to present their concept proposals to the Cultural Arts Committee will receive an honorarium of $1,000 inclusive of all expenses.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications must be received via www.callforentry.org by Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Mountain Zone Time).

 Submittal Timeline (subject to change at the City’s discretion)

 ** Preferred completion and installation by April-May 2027 or Fall 2027, depending on the timeline proposed by the selected artist and approved by the City.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All applicants must provide the following materials:

1.    Artist Qualifications

a.    Current Artist Resume: pdf

• (maximum three pages) – Include relevant public art experience.

b.    Letter of Interest: pdf

• Express your interest in the project and how your past artworks and experience demonstrate that you can successfully meet art design goals of this project.

c.    Three Professional References (Name, Title, Organization, Phone, Email):

• One client who can verify the successful completion of at least one public art project (including contact information).
• Two additional creative references.
• Please reach out to individuals who can discuss your work and artistic experience in advance and secure their permission to be contacted.

2.    Work Samples

a.    Six to ten digital images of completed past work.

• File types: JPG, PNG, 300dpi/15MB max

b.    Accompanying image list. Artists are required to include basic specifications of each image:

• Title
• Medium
• Dimensions
• Year
• Budget
• Location
• Client

ARTWORK DESIGN, SAFETY, AND DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Sculpture Height
  • Single Work: Sculpture installed at the center of the roundabout must be between 13 feet and 25 feet tall.
  • Multiple Works: If proposing multiple sculptures, each piece must be between 13 feet and 15 feet tall to remain within the roundabout’s designated breakaway zone.
• Workable Area: The roundabout’s unpaved center is 40 feet in diameter, with a 32.5-foot diameter usable for artwork, as shown in Exhibit A.
• Design Approach: Artwork should be designed “in the round”, meaning it looks complete and engaging from all angles.
• Site Grading: The roundabout is graded flat. The top-of-curb elevation varies by less than 0.1 feet in any direction (north, south, east, or west), as shown in Exhibit A.
• Foundation Restrictions: Some areas of the roundabout are unavailable for foundations due to underground utilities. Coordination with local utility agency will be required. These areas are identified in Exhibit B.
• Driver Safety: Artwork must not distract drivers or create disorientation. Highly reflective materials are discouraged.
• Visibility: The sculpture must maintain clear sightlines for drivers and pedestrians. It must enhance, not compromise, site safety.
• Scale and Detail: Artwork should be bold enough to capture the attention of drivers but not so intricate that it requires close viewing or prolonged inspection.
• Materials: Artwork must be made from durable, permanent outdoor materials that are:
  • Safe for public environments
  • Low maintenance
  • Proven effective in similar public art installations
• Weather Resistance: The sculpture must withstand extreme desert conditions, including:
  • High winds
  • Intense sun
  • Summer temperatures over 110°F. Artists are encouraged to research materials and colors for proven desert durability.
• Security: Artwork must be designed to discourage theft and vandalism.
• Public Appropriateness: Artwork must be suitable for all ages.
• Breakaway Design: Sculptures must include breakaway connections (e.g., bolts) between the sculpture and its foundation to meet traffic safety standards.
• Pedestrian Activity: The roundabout is not intended for pedestrian access. Interactive features and designs that encourage people to stop or take selfies are discouraged.
• Prohibited Features: Water elements and kinetic (moving) features are not allowed.

 Photos of the roundabout are attached. Additional construction plans are available upon request.

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY
The City of Palm Desert, California, and the Palm Desert Cultural Arts Committee invites experienced artists residing in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico to apply for a major public art commission. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.