Pima County, AZ - Suzanne Shields Pedestrian Bridge - Public Art Opportunity RFQ

In partnership with Pima County, Art State Arizona is seeking a Public Artist or Artist Team to create a site-specific public artwork for the Suzanne Shields Pedestrian Bridge, a new pedestrian crossing connecting the east and west banks of the Santa Cruz River at Riverpark Drive and N. Commerce Drive in Tucson’s District 3. Implemented by the Pima County Regional Flood Control District and funded through Pima County’s 1% for Public Art program, the project offers an all-inclusive artwork budget of $142,692.00.

The selected artist will create an integrated artwork that reflects themes of water, flood control, desert ecology, and community history, transforming essential infrastructure into a meaningful civic landmark. Artists are encouraged to explore dynamic or educational approaches that connect art, engineering, and the region’s long relationship with water. Artwork should be informed by site-based research and engagement with the surrounding landscape and community.

CALL TO ARTISTS

In collaboration with Pima County, Art State Arizona is seeking a qualified Public Artist or Artist Team for commission, through a Request for Qualifications application process (RFQ). This is a request for qualifications only. Do not submit proposals for artwork at this time.

1% FOR PUBLIC ART

Pima County’s 1% for Public Art program, established in 1990, is dedicated to enhancing public spaces with meaningful artworks that reflect the county’s unique character and cultural heritage. By setting aside 1% of funds from eligible capital projects, this program brings art to parks, libraries, roadways, bridges, and other community spaces, creating daily opportunities for residents and visitors to experience creativity in their surroundings. Facilitated by Art State Arizona, the artist selection process brings together local artists and community representatives to ensure each piece resonates with the diverse voices of our region. Today, with over 140 permanent installations, Pima County’s public art collection enriches public life, celebrating shared stories and inspiring connections across our communities.

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ARTWORK LOCATION & THEME

Pima County Regional Flood Control District invites artists to submit qualifications to create a site-specific public artwork to be integrated into the Suzanne Shields Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the Santa Cruz River at Riverpark Drive and North Commerce Drive. The artwork should respond to the river’s long-standing influence on settlement, ecology, movement, and community life in the region.

The commissioned artwork should be grounded in the layered environmental, historical, and cultural context of the Santa Cruz River and informed by site-specific research. Though often dry at the surface, the river remains a defining presence—reemerging during seasonal rains and reflecting the desert’s cyclical relationship with water, change, and resilience.

Artists are encouraged to consider interpretive, poetic, or educational strategies that connect art, infrastructure, and place, and to explore how movement, passage, and seasonal transformation shape the experience of crossing the bridge. Designs may incorporate environmental or seasonal responses—such as light, shadow, pattern, or material behavior. While interactive or rainfall-responsive elements are optional, the panel is interested in exploring these concepts.

The pedestrian and bicycle experience of crossing the bridge may offer opportunities for subtle narrative or interpretive elements that deepen awareness of the river’s history and evolving relationship with surrounding communities. Any proposed interventions involving the bridge deck or walking surface will be subject to further technical review and approval.

This project seeks to transform the bridge into a meaningful civic landmark, where public art and infrastructure come together to reflect the Santa Cruz River’s past, present, and future.

BACKGROUND

The Suzanne Shields Pedestrian Bridge spans the Santa Cruz River at Riverpark Drive and North Commerce Drive, serving as an important connection between the east and west banks and a point of passage within a landscape shaped by water, movement, and adaptation. As both infrastructure and civic space, the bridge occupies a site where environment, engineering, and daily life intersect.

The Santa Cruz River corridor holds deep environmental and cultural significance. Long before modern infrastructure, the river shaped patterns of settlement, agriculture, and exchange, sustaining communities across generations. 

Flood control infrastructure along the river reflects decades of collective stewardship and response to these natural cycles. The bridge stands as a contemporary marker within this ongoing story, connecting people not only across the river, but across time.

Dedicated in summer 2025, the bridge is named for Suzanne Shields, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District’s first hydrologist, who began her service in 1979 and later served as Director from 2005 to 2022.

ARTWORK TECHNICAL PLACEMENT GUIDELINES

Artwork may be incorporated into select areas of the pedestrian bridge, provided all designs respect structural, safety, and maintenance requirements. Artists are encouraged to consider creative approaches that enhance the bridge’s form and pedestrian experience while working within defined parameters.

Bridge Trusses

Artwork may be attached to the interior or exterior faces of the bridge truss structure. The total artwork load shall not exceed 80 pounds per linear foot, applied evenly across both sides of the bridge. No artwork may extend above the top truss chord (railing) or below the bottom truss chord (railing), and all elements must maintain required pedestrian clearances and safety features.

Bridge Deck / Pedestrian Experience

Designs may consider subtle, integrated artistic elements within the pedestrian experience—such as inlaid designs, engraved text, or interpretive markers—that support storytelling or site interpretation. Any deck-based elements are subject to engineering review and must meet all safety, durability, and accessibility requirements.

Annotated site maps and photographs are provided to identify bridge elements and allowable artwork zones.

ARTWORK BUDGET

The all-inclusive budget of $142,692.00 for artwork must cover all costs related to: design, materials, production, transportation and installation of the artwork; permits, taxes, and insurance that may be required by the City of Tucson or Pima County; soil analysis, engineering, and mounting for the artwork. 

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TIMELINE

Construction of Pedestrian Bridge was completed in July 2025. The Bridge spans just over 300 feet, is 20 feet wide and 9 feet tall.  

TIME FRAME

Public art project timelines follow the schedule of the larger improvement. Dates are subject to change.

PUBLIC INTERFACE AND EXPECTATIONS

The selected Artist/Artist Team will be contracted directly with Pima County to produce the artwork. Once under contract, the Artist/Artist Team will work collaboratively with Pima County, Art State Arizona and a seven-person Public Art Panel (the Panel) to develop a conceptual design for the artwork. 

During the Artwork Design Phase, the Artist/Artist Team will work closely with the Panel on a conceptual design before approval of a  final design by the County Risk Manager, and then enter into the production phase. The Artist/Artist Team may be expected to attend one or more public meetings to present conceptual artwork designs to the broader community (to the extent practicable as determined by the County) during the design process. The Artist/Artist Team will adhere to the criteria outlined in Pima County Administrative Procedure, 3-16 section VI and detailed in the Artist Contract EXHIBIT ‘A’ SCOPE OF WORK, EXHIBIT ‘B’ PAYMENT, and EXHIBIT ‘C’ PUBLIC ART BUDGET/SCHEDULE FORM. (See supplementary Resources links provided at the top of the Guidelines to view Pima County Administrative Procedures and Artist Contract Template.)

ARTWORK DESIGN PROCESS

Once the Artist/Artist Team is under contract with Pima County, the Panel will reconvene and meet with the artist on a monthly basis to provide input on the artwork conceptual designs.  

When the Artist/Artist Team’s conceptual artwork design is approved by the panel the design will be submitted to the County for review. Upon acceptance by the county, the Artist/Artist Team may present the conceptual design to the broader public in up to two public meetings (to the extent practicable as determined by the County). The Panel will reconvene to consider any comments from those meetings. The artist will then pursue engineering of designs and the County Risk Managers approval. Upon Risk Managements approval, the conceptual design is officially considered the “Final Design”.

The Artwork Design Phase does not have a limit on the number of monthly panel meetings. Barring any delays on artwork design development on the part of the Artist/Artist Team or delays with the construction project that impact the artwork design, approximately 6-8 panel meetings for the Artwork Design Phase are anticipated for a project of this scope.

ARTWORK FABRICATION

Artwork fabrication/production timeline will be dependent upon the design. The Artist/Artist team and the County will agree on an appropriate schedule and delivery date as described in EXHIBIT ‘C’ PUBLIC ART BUDGET/SCHEDULE FORM of the Artist Contract prior to approval to production. The Artist/ Artist Team will be expected to adhere to the agreed upon timeline. Depending on the nature of the artwork and barring any delays with the fabrication on the part of the Artist/Artist team or delays with the construction project, production is estimated at 10 months for a project of this scope. 

ARTIST SELECTION 

A seven-person Public Art Project Panel will be assembled for the project with representation from the Project Manager of the construction site, the Project Design team, the District in which the project occurs, stakeholder groups/community members residing in the vicinity of the construction project, and arts professionals. The panel will review all qualified applicants, select 3 finalists for interviews and presentations, and select the Artist/Artist Team for the project. A new Panel is convened for each unique Public Art project. All panel meetings will be convened virtually.

The Artist/Artist Team will be selected through an open and competitive process. Selection of artists and artworks will be based upon criteria of artistic quality, demonstrated ability to meet the criteria set forth in the posted guidelines, as well as the goals expressed by the Panel. The Panel will select up to three finalists from the pool of applicants (Art Panel Meeting 1). Exact dates for virtual interviews and presentations will be scheduled once the finalists are determined (Art Panel Meeting 2). (Pima County Administrative Procedure, 3-16, Section V, Selection of Artists and Artworks). 

APPLICANT EVALUATION

All submitted applications undergo a Technical Review by the Public Art Coordinator. At this stage, applications are reviewed for completeness, eligibility based on the published Call to Artist, and compliance with the published guidelines.

The Public Art Panel will score each qualified applicant using criteria including, but not limited to:

• The professional qualifications of the artist(s) as evidenced by the supporting materials.
• Proven ability to undertake projects of the described scope.
• Artistic merit and superior caliber craftsmanship as evidenced by the images.
• Suitability of applicant to project intent and site.

SUPPLEMENTARY LINKS (Hyperlinked)

Pima County Public Art Manual

Questions/Follow Up

Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to Matt Rolland, Art State Arizona Deputy Director, at 520-274-2758, email: matt@artstateaz.org.

Please read the following information carefully as incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted. Supplemental information beyond what is requested will not be reviewed by the Public Art Panel. Failure to provide any of the published requirements could result in disqualification from the competition. Duplicate submissions will not be accepted. All materials must be submitted via CaFÉ (callforentry.org) according to the specifications outlined below:

• An artist statement/letter of interest written specifically to address the following: Describe your artwork/approach/style/perspective/background. What excites you about this opportunity. How may you approach this public art project?
• Artist(s) resume or CV, relevant information for any other key team members - Applicants may submit a resume no longer than 2 pages in length. Artists teams may submit an additional 1-page resume per artist team member. The resume is an overview of your work and accomplishments in list form. Prioritize your accomplishments, commissions, and professional experience as it relates to this opportunity, with the most recent, relevant and strongest categories at the beginning. Do not include portrait photographs in the resume.
• Between Six and Ten images and up to five videos of artwork PREVIOUSLY created (portfolio) that showcases your artwork/style/perspective. Complete image citations will be required; including artwork title, medium, height, width and depth, price or value, year completed, and description. Please review and adhere to the Image and Media Preparation page on CaFÉ when formatting your images or videos. Tutorials can be downloaded using the links near the bottom of the page. By default, CaFÉ will organize the images in your submission alphabetically. If you wish to present the images to the committee in a different order you must prioritize the images before submitting an application.

The Public Art opportunity is open to professional Artists and Artist Teams including but not limited to individuals or teams who are engaged full-time or part-time in the production of eligible works of art, teachers of art, and emerging professional artists (Pima County Administrative Procedure, 3-16, Section II)

This REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS is open to all artists/artist teams in the U.S. and worldwide. Artists submitting qualifications should demonstrate a level of experience and professionalism that is commensurate with the project scope and budget. 

Artists using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of their design must identify the use of AI in the information accompanying each image. The artwork must be an original creation by the artist(s). 

Note: Artist Teams are required to select a team lead as a point of contact for all communications. If selected for the project, team members will need to form an LLC or may designate the team lead as signatory in order to contract with the County. If selecting the team lead as signatory, the County will contract with them directly as the “Vendor/Contractor”. Subcontracting and performance of team members is the exclusive responsibility of the Vendor/Contractor. Artists applying as a member of a team are not eligible to also apply as an individual.