RISCA Request for Qualifications: Davies Career and Tech public art commission

Davies Career and Technical High School: Public Art Call for Artists

Budget: $225,000 all-inclusive

Deadline to apply: 10-15-2026

Eligibility: This Call is open to all professional artists nationally. Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply.

William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, Phase 1 renovations. 

50 Jenckes Hill Road, Lincoln Rhode Island 

Artwork for the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School in Lincoln, RI, will be commissioned through Rhode Island’s Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to the purchase and maintenance of public art.  Through this program, the State recognizes that “public art creates a more humane environment: one of distinction, enjoyment, and pride for all citizens.”

Davies Career and Technical High School: Public Art Call for Artists

Budget: $225,000 all-inclusive

Deadline to apply: 10-15-2026

Eligibility: This Call is open to all professional artists nationally. Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply.

William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, Phase 1 Renovations.

50 Jenckes Hill Road, Lincoln Rhode Island

Artwork for the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School in Lincoln, RI, will be commissioned through Rhode Island’s Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to the purchase and maintenance of public art.  Through this program, the State recognizes that “public art creates a more humane environment: one of distinction, enjoyment, and pride for all citizens.”

About Davies

Opened in 1971, Davies is a state-operated local education agency governed by an independent, business-led Board of Trustees. Located in Lincoln, RI, it enrolls 900 students from all areas of Rhode Island, although a majority of students typically hail from Central Falls, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, and Smithfield. Students must take an entrance and placement examination and apply for admission. Students receive two complete educations – a comprehensive high school education plus specialized training in a technical area. All career and technical areas participate in state and national certification programs. Technical programs offered are Automotive Collision Repair/Refinishing; Automotive Technology; Bio-Manufacturing Technology; Cybersecurity; Education/Child Care; Electrical and Renewable Energy; Graphics and Interactive Media; Health Careers; Hospitality Careers; Advanced Manufacturing Technology; and Pre-Engineering Technology. All Davies students must meet all Rhode Island diploma system and graduation requirements.

The mission of Davies Career and Tech is to provide a challenging academic and technical education within a safe and supportive environment which ensures every industry-certified graduate is capable of pursuing higher education and becoming a productive participant in today's workforce.

About the Phase 1 School Wing Construction

The Phase 1 School Wing project is new construction that will replace a 1970s building, which a RIDE School Building Authority (SBA) facilities assessment from 2016 showed it would be more cost effective to replace rather than to renovate. The overall project includes new technical program spaces for Health Careers, Electrical & Renewable Energy, Pre-Engineering programs, and front entrance modernization.

The 43,000 square foot addition includes a connecting entrance to the gymnasium. The design includes transparent spaces throughout the building both inside and out and features stunning views of adjacent wetlands and Providence in the distance.

The front entrance is designed to visually connect with the entrance to the new wing. Both are visible from the main drive as you enter campus. Renovations will modernize the area to current security standards while simultaneously creating a more welcoming and visually appealing arrival point.

Main entrance renovations are complete, while construction of the new wing is underway with substantial completion expected by December 2027.

About the Project

The selection panel met in August of 2026 and determined that the front entrance plaza to the building presents an excellent site for artwork to be incorporated. This is the main interface for visitors and students alike and is part one’s first impression of the school upon arrival. The area is used heavily as roughly ⅓ of students are dropped off or picked up. Despite the lack of street furnishings, this main entrance is a hangout space for students before and after school, particularly when they are waiting for their rides home. The panel decided that the proposed artwork should offer a focal point for the plaza, enhancing a sense of place for the Davies community.

The following goals emerged:

• Exterior artwork is desired.
• A placemaking or statement piece is desired.
• Artwork should create a welcoming feel.
• Artwork should have a respectful, professional feel and support the image of the school as a place of high standards.
• Safety and durability of the artwork in this high-traffic setting is of high importance.

The panel offered these additional thoughts:

• Artwork could encourage gathering and community.
• Artwork could include seating and be intentionally functional.
• Increased seating in the front entry plaza is desired.
• Artwork could be in components, perhaps providing continuity to the lower entrance.
• Artwork could be kinetic, interactive, or include sound elements.
• Artwork could be abstract or open to interpretation.
• Materials could complement the new entry or reference the high-tech and future-based careers studies at Davies.
• Artwork could connect to the natural world, either thematically or literally.
• No scavenged, salvaged, recycled or repurposed materials are desired.
• No mascots or commemorative works will be considered.
• A mural is not desired.

The selected artist will be asked to provide a student engagement component as part of their project. Ideas include presenting a slideshow on their artwork process; visits to Davies classes; providing critiques of student artwork, a Q&A session with students, etc. 

Application Requirements

Intent of the Call and Scope of the Work

 Note: This Call for Artists is the first step in the RISCA/RIC public art selection process. It is not considered best practice for an agency to ask an artist to craft a proposal without financial compensation. Therefore, RISCA will conduct the application process online, with initial materials submitted in digital format through Café (see below). There is no charge to the artist to apply or to submit digital images.  At this preliminary selection stage, we request submissions from artists or art teams consisting of six (6) images representing work completed within the past 10 years; a written statement, bio or resume that describes the applicant’s qualifications for the project; and professional references. Three finalists will be selected from the pool of initial applicants. Finalists will be invited to visit the site then craft a detailed proposal including an itemized budget, scale models and/or renderings, and an in-depth project description. For this they will each be paid a $3,500 stipend for their work. This stipend is intended to cover all travel expenses including hotel, transportation, mileage, etc., for both the site visit and the subsequent presentation meeting. Finalists will not be reimbursed separately for any travel costs. 

Estimated Timeline:

September 10, 2026: Applications open.

October 15, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST: Deadline for submissions; Applications close.

November 2026: panel meeting for review and selection of semifinalists.

December 2026: Finalist site visits.

January/February 2026: Finalist presentations to selection panel; One artwork recommended.

TBD 2026: RISCA Council review and ratification.

TBD with artist: Contract signed. Fabrication begins.

TBD with artist: Student interaction component.

TBD with artist: Work installed and completed.

According to law, recommendations of the selection panel will be presented to the governing council of RISCA who will have final approval of the public art selection. Finalist’s site-specific proposals should convey artist’s ideas and plans through designs, renderings and/or scale models with a statement that describes the project's intent, proposed materials, fabrication and installation methods, and an itemized budget including 10% contingency. Finalists will also be asked to explain how their artwork will be sourced and fabricated. The finalists will be supplied with plans, photographs, and specific information about the building and the campus. A site visit to include a meeting with construction and design team staff and members of the selection panel will be scheduled. It is strongly recommended that finalists visit the site in person.  A stipend of $3,500 will be paid to finalists for their proposals. The proposals will remain the property of the artist; however, RISCA reserves the right to retain proposals for up to one year for display purposes and the right to reproduce final proposals for documentation and public information.

The Public Art Selection Panel reserves the right to determine which proposal will be funded and the extent of funding. The panel also reserves the right not to accept any proposal submitted. If the recommendations of the Public Art Selection Panel are approved by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and RIC, the selected artist/s will enter into a contract with the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and Davies for the commission. The commissioned artwork will be owned by the State of Rhode Island.

Selection Criteria

The panel will select the artist based on the following criteria:

1. Artistic vibrancy.

2.  Permanence, durability, value.

3. Responsiveness to this Call.

4. References and demonstrated ability to manage and complete the project.

5. Safety of proposed artwork in this setting.

This Call for Artists is open to all professional artists residing in the United States. The panel will not discriminate against any applicant based on age, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, women, gender nonconforming persons, LGBTQIA+ community members and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply. Artists living across Rhode Island are highly encouraged to apply.  Undergraduate students are not eligible. Excluded from participation are RISCA Council members, staff and their family members, as well as members of the public art selection committee and their families.