County of Santa Clara: Reid-Hillview Airport

County of Santa Clara: Public Art Initiative at Reid-Hillview Airport

CALL FOR LOCAL ARTIST SUBMISSIONS

This opportunity is open to Artists who reside or are based in Santa Clara County

County of Santa Clara: Public Art Initiative at Reid-Hillview Airport

CALL FOR LOCAL ARTIST SUBMISSIONS

This opportunity is open to Artists who reside or are based in Santa Clara County

A.    BACKGROUND

The County of Santa Clara owns and operates Reid-Hillview Airport in East San José.

For historical information, see here:  History of RHV | County Airports | County of Santa Clara

In 1948, the County Planning Commission published a report entitled Master Plan of Airports - County of Santa Clara, California recommending the development of a County Airports System and included Reid’s Hillview Airport as an integral part of the Airport System. The County of Santa Clara purchased Reid’s Hillview Airport in 1961 and officially changed its name to Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV). In 1967, the FAA constructed the Air Traffic Control Tower at RHV, the first fully transistorized air traffic control tower in the United States.

In 2021, based upon the findings of a peer-reviewed study that showed airborne lead associated with flight operations at RHV contributed to blood lead levels in children in the vicinity of the airport (see here for info:  Sale of Leaded Aviation Fuel Ends at Reid-Hillview and San Martin Airports,) the Board of Supervisors unanimously declared its intent to no longer supply leaded aviation fuel at County airports. County Airports took over ownership of the fuel tanks at RHV and discontinued the sale of leaded avgas in 2022.  Recent projects include replacement of all the airfield signage, airfield surface markings, Guard Lights at the taxiway intersections, and new perimeter fencing.

The County’s Public Art Program (see here for info: Public Art Program | Public Art Program | County of Santa Clara) in collaboration with Supervisor Betty Duong, a member of the County Board of Supervisors representing this area of the county, seeks to commission public artwork that uplifts the stories of East San José and creates meaningful connections with local communities while enhancing East San José residents’ daily experience of the 180-acre airport.  The proposed murals would foster community engagement and thereby instill a sense of ownership and connection to the facility and expand upon recent work to remove barbed wire fencing along the perimeter to make the facility more appealing and better integrated into the community.

B.    INTRODUCTION

Up to 5 artists will be commissioned to create new artworks to be reproduced onto vinyl mesh banners for display at the perimeter of Reid-Hillview Airport.

C.    PROJECT SUMMARY

The County Public Art Program, in coordination with Supervisor Betty Duong, a member of the County Board of Supervisors representing this area of the county, and contracted art curators will curate an installation of original artworks that will be reproduced for display at Reid-Hillview Airport in San José.  

The installation of this collection will be located on the perimeter fencing primarily along East Capitol Expressway, Ocala Ave, and possibly Tully Road. The artwork will be printed and installed by a professional company managed by the County Public Art Program.

The artwork will be visible from multiple vantage points, including vehicles traveling on Capitol Expressway, passengers on the new light rail line running parallel to the site, and pedestrians along Swift and Ocala Avenues. The aspiration is that the final artwork designs will engage and inspire a broad audience, reflect the cultural vibrancy and histories of East San José, and create a welcoming, visually enriching environment along the airport perimeter.

Selection of artworks will be guided by the Board of Supervisors’ goals

·       Support the local arts community and do so in a way that reflects our community and our local environment.

·       Foster pride in Santa Clara County and provide a sense of place.

·       Select works that will enhance the airport environment while remaining appropriate for visitors and surrounding communities.

Process

·       Local artists living and/or working in Santa Clara County (“Artists”) are invited to submit up to 8 examples of past work that best demonstrate their style and experience in public art. 

·       A selection panel comprised of two community members, a representative of the Office of Supervisorial District Two, local arts professional/artists, the County Public Art Administrator, and the County’s Contracted Curator will review artists’ qualifications, statement of interest, and past work examples with the goal of selecting up to 5 artists for a commission.

·       After contracting, artists will participate in community engagement and outreach activities to inform and inspire the artists’ final designs.  In a previously held community meeting, artwork themes discussed included: San José multicultural identities and histories; East San José’s history, activism including important activists such as César Chávez, and resilience; farming and agricultural heritage; East San José’s cultural vibrancy; nature and beauty; innovation and progress in Santa Clara County; community togetherness and celebration; high-tech innovation.

Categories of Artists

Artists whose work may be appropriate for this opportunity include, but are not limited to, painters, muralists, graphic artists, illustrators, and photographers who can present their work visually and two-dimensionally.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria will include the aesthetic excellence of past projects, appropriateness of prior concepts, and how they relate to this project, and experience and/or interest in creating public artworks in collaboration with stakeholders.

Other Information

For commissioned artworks, the artist will retain all copyrights in all documents, studies, drawings, and related materials developed in the course of creating the artwork. However, the artist will be required to expressly agree to waive all rights to the artwork the artist may have pursuant to Title 17 of the U.S. Code Section 106A, (commonly known as the "Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990" or “VARA”) and the California Art Preservation Act, California Civil Code Sections 987 and 989 (CAPA).

Artists who are commissioned to create an artwork will need to sign VARA/CAPA waivers as part of the execution of the commission agreement. In addition, the County shall have the right to reproduce artwork for any non-commercial, County-related purposes; to move, relocate, or remove the artwork from the intended location; to store or dispose of the artwork as the County deems appropriate; and to loan the artwork as the County deems appropriate.

D.    AWARDED COMPENSATION

Artists will be commissioned for a total amount of $15,000.  Once selected, artists will enter into an Agreement with the County. 

Commissioned artists will be required to:

1.     Participate in community engagement and outreach activities to inform and inspire the artwork.

2.     Develop concept designs, incorporate revisions as requested by the County Public Art Administrator, and/or County’s Contracted Curator, and deliver a final print-ready artwork suitable for reproduction on vinyl mesh banners.

3.     Provide all supporting files, documentation, and production-ready materials, including color references and dimensions, as specified by the County.

Payment will be made in accordance with the scope of work and submitted deliverables, as approved by the County at each milestone.

E.    SCHEDULE

·       January 14, 2026 – Invitation sent.  

·       January 28, 2026 – Deadline for submitting objections to the form and structure, content, and distribution of this Call.  

·       February 25, 2026 – Submission Deadline: Applications (defined below) are due, and will be submitted through  CAFÉ (www.callforentry.org) 

·       February 25 – March 18, 2026 – Applications reviewed by curatorial panel. Notifications of artwork selection will be released shortly thereafter.  

·       March – April 2026 - Artist purchase orders created through County.   

·       April – July 2026 – Community Visioning Meeting with the Artists; and artwork design development.

·       August – September 2026 – Installation complete.

F.     ARTIST ELIGIBLITY

Artists living or working within Santa Clara County, CA, are eligible. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have all the necessary documentation and permits to work in the United States at the time of submittal of qualifications.

G.   AGREEMENT TERMS

Payment will be made in accordance with the scope of work and submitted deliverables, as approved by the County at each project milestone. Commissioned Artists will be required to submit a Tax ID to receive payment. The County’s standard terms and conditions are accessible on the County’s website.

If you cannot access the Terms via the Internet, please request a copy be mailed to you prior to the submittal deadline so you may review it in advance of your submission.

H.   SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Submissions (described below) must be received prior to 11:59p.m. (PST) Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

I.      APPLICATION PROCESS
All materials will be submitted online, via CaFÉ ™ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no Application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online system. 

To view the Application, go to www.callforentry.org, register a username and password, navigate to “Apply to Calls”, and search the list for “County of Santa Clara: Reid-Hillview Airport.”

Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303- 629-1166 or 1-888-562-7232, or via e-mail at cafe@westaf.org.

J.      REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
The application submission must include the information and materials described below all of which are required to constitute a complete application (“Application”). 

1. Work Sample Images: Application shall include visual representations of past artworks. Artists are invited to submit up to eight (8) images of previously artworks.
2. Qualifications: Application shall include.

                                                    i.     the name of the artist,

                                                  ii.     Curriculum Vitae

                                                iii.     References

                                                iv.     Descriptions of past work

1. Statement of Interest: A written statement of no more than 500 words that articulates the artist’s interest in this Call.
2. Proposer’s Declaration:  Proposer must complete the DECLARATION SUBMITTAL FORM containing Non-Collusion Declaration, Declaration of Local Business, and Declaration of Compliance with Equal Opportunity/Nondiscrimination, Wage Theft Prevention, and Declaration of Compliance with the Levine Act.

Incomplete Applications will not be reviewed.

K.   EVALUATING APPLICATIONS

1.     Responsiveness of Applications: An application that is not current, accurate and/or completed in accordance with the requirements of this Call will be deemed non-responsive and will be eliminated by the County from further consideration.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the County reserves the right to waive irregularities in an application.

2.     Supplemental Information: The County reserves the right to require any or all Artists to provide supplemental information or clarify the submitted materials.

3.     Consideration of Information Outside the Application: The County has the right to conduct a further and independent investigation of the information provided in an application.  This includes contacting and speaking with references.  The evaluation panel may use any relevant information gathered by such investigation – and any other information that comes to the attention of the County – to evaluate a given proposal.

L.     COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THIS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

1.     Point of Contact: Artists must submit any questions and/or objections to this Call to the Contact Person (County’s contracted art curator): Cynthia Cao, Arts Program Coordinator, Cynthia.Cao@sanjoseca.gov

2.     Questions and/or Objections: Questions must be submitted via email to Cynthia.Cao@sanjoseca.gov.  Contacting any County representative(s) other than the Contact Person about this Call is prohibited and is grounds for disqualification.

3.     Content of Question or Objection: Questions must be as specific as possible and must identify the section number and title at issue in the Call.

4.     Deadline for Submitting a Question and/or Objection: Proposer must submit any questions no later than the Deadline for Submitting Questions as noted in the schedule referenced in Section E above.

5.     County’s Issuance of Addenda, Notices and Answers to Questions: The County will post all addenda and notices regarding this Call for Submission. The County may provide a written response to any question(s) in the form of a single answer or by issuing an addendum.  

M.  PROTESTS

The County’s Protest Process is located on the Procurement Department’s website and is linked here.

N.    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

1.     County Rights:

The County reserves the right to do any of the following at any time:

a.      Reject any or all submissions;

b.     Waive or correct any defect, irregularity or error in this Call;

c.      Request that Artists supplement or modify all or certain aspects of their proposals or other documents or materials submitted;

d.     Terminate the Call, and, at its option, issue a new Call;

e.      Procure any product or services specified in this Call by any other means;

f.      Modify the selection process, the specifications or requirements for materials or services, or the contents or format requirements for proposals;

g.     Extend a deadline specified in this Call, including deadlines for accepting proposals;

h.     Negotiate with any or none of the Artists;

i.       Modify in the final agreement any terms and/or conditions described in this Call;

j.       Terminate failed negotiations with an Artists without liability, and negotiate with other Artists;

k.     Disqualify any Artist on the basis of a real or apparent conflict of interest or evidence of collusion evaluated by the County;

l.       Eliminate, reject or disqualify a proposal of any Artist who is not a responsible Artist or fails to submit a responsive offer as determined solely by the County; and/or

m.   Accept all or a portion of an Artist’s proposal.

2.     Incurring Costs:  Artists will bear all costs associated with its efforts in responding to this Call. This Call does not commit the County to award, nor does it commit the County to pay any cost incurred in the submission of the proposal, or in making necessary studies or designs for the preparation thereof, nor procure or contract for services or supplies. Further, no reimbursable cost may be incurred in anticipation of a contract award.

3.     Claims Against the County of Santa Clara:  Neither Artists’ organization nor any of their representatives shall have any claims whatsoever against the County or any of its respective officials, agents, or employees arising out of this Call or these procedures.

4.     No Public Proposal Opening: There will be no public opening for this Call.

5.     Gifts Prohibited: Board Policy 5.2.5.2(H) provides that County employees that are involved in the making of a contract are prohibited from accepting gifts from the contractor under that contract, unless it falls under an exception approved by County Counsel.  

6.     California Public Records Act (CPRA):  All proposals become the property of the County, which is a public agency subject to the disclosure requirements of the California Public Records Act (“CPRA”). If Proposer asserts information contained in documents submitted to County is exempt from disclosure under the CPRA, proposer must clearly mark such information “CONFIDENTIAL,” and identify the specific lines containing the information. In the event of a request for such information, the County will make reasonable efforts to provide notice to proposer prior to disclosure. If Proposer wishes to prevent disclosure, it is required to obtain a protective order, injunctive relief or other appropriate remedy from a court of law in Santa Clara County before the County’s deadline for responding to the CPRA request. If proposer fails to obtain such remedy within County’s deadline for responding to the CPRA request, County may disclose the requested information without penalty or liability.

Proposer further agrees that it shall defend, indemnify and hold the County harmless against any claim, action, litigation, damage or injury (including but not limited to all judgments, costs, fees, and attorney’s fees) that may result from partial or complete denial of access to, or non-disclosure or redaction of, documents arising from any representation, or any action (or inaction), by the proposer.

7.     Sustainable Purchasing Policy:  The Board of Supervisors has adopted Board Policy 5.15 – Sustainable Purchasing Policy. The goal is to encourage the procurement of products and services that embody the County’s commitment to sustainability. Sustainable purchasing is purchasing that considers social, human health, environmental, and economic impacts, while supporting a diverse, equitable, and vibrant community and economy.

In support of this policy, the selected Proposer will be required to work with the County to apply this policy where it is feasible to do so.  In addition, Proposer should address any environmental considerations with their proposal response. Board Policy 5.15 can be found on the County’s website.

I.      APPLICATION PROCESS
All materials will be submitted online, via CaFÉ ™ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no Application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online system. 

To view the Application, go to www.callforentry.org, register a username and password, navigate to “Apply to Calls”, and search the list for “County of Santa Clara: Reid-Hillview Airport.”

Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303- 629-1166 or 1-888-562-7232, or via e-mail at cafe@westaf.org.

J.      REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
The application submission must include the information and materials described below all of which are required to constitute a complete application (“Application”). 

1. Work Sample Images: Application shall include visual representations of past artworks. Artists are invited to submit up to eight (8) images of previously artworks.
2. Qualifications: Application shall include.

                                                    i.     the name of the artist,

                                                  ii.     Curriculum Vitae

                                                iii.     References

                                                iv.     Descriptions of past work

1. Statement of Interest: A written statement of no more than 500 words that articulates the artist’s interest in this Call.
2. Proposer’s Declaration:  Proposer must complete the DECLARATION SUBMITTAL FORM containing Non-Collusion Declaration, Declaration of Local Business, and Declaration of Compliance with Equal Opportunity/Nondiscrimination, Wage Theft Prevention, and Declaration of Compliance with the Levine Act.

Incomplete Applications will not be reviewed.

K.     EVALUATING APPLICATIONS

1.     Responsiveness of Applications: An application that is not current, accurate and/or completed in accordance with the requirements of this Call will be deemed non-responsive and will be eliminated by the County from further consideration.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the County reserves the right to waive irregularities in an application.

2.     Supplemental Information: The County reserves the right to require any or all Artists to provide supplemental information or clarify the submitted materials.

3.     Consideration of Information Outside the Application: The County has the right to conduct a further and independent investigation of the information provided in an application.  This includes contacting and speaking with references.  The evaluation panel may use any relevant information gathered by such investigation – and any other information that comes to the attention of the County – to evaluate a given proposal.

F.     ARTIST ELIGIBLITY

Artists living or working within Santa Clara County, CA, are eligible. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have all the necessary documentation and permits to work in the United States at the time of submittal of qualifications.