University Town Center Sculpture

Norman Arts Council, on behalf of The City of Norman, is seeking an artist (or team of artists) to create a significant work of art in the form of either an interactive piece or kinetic artwork for the University Town Center, a new development in Norman, Oklahoma.

Norman Arts Council, on behalf of The City of Norman, is seeking an artist (or team of artists) to create a significant work of art in the form of either an interactive piece or kinetic artwork for the University Town Center, a new development in Norman, Oklahoma.

Norman is a growing, progressive city located 20 miles south of downtown Oklahoma City and is the third-largest city in Oklahoma. The land that encompasses Norman was historically the home of many Native Tribes. The Caddo, Osage, Quapaw, and Wichita Tribal Nations are all native to the land that is now Oklahoma. By the early 1800s, the Pawnee, Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapaho had also migrated into the region or visited to use resources. Some Delaware, Shawnee, Kickapoo, Chickasaw, and Choctaw regularly came to hunt Oklahoma’s abundant bison, beaver, deer, and bear. In the early 1800s, the US assumed control of the area and this became “Indian Territory.” During the Indian Removal Act, many tribes from the eastern US, were forcibly moved to what is now Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.

The City of Norman was founded in 1889 and the University of Oklahoma followed shortly thereafter in 1890. During WWII, the land that runs along Flood Avenue was a US Naval Base. The University now owns the land, and it is an airport. Approximately 41 freight trains pass through Norman daily. The tracks are also used by Amtrak which runs through Norman with a stop twice daily.

The Artwork

The Artwork should either have interactive or kinetic components. The artwork should be a regional draw to visitors and residents alike.

The piece(s) will be situated along a sidewalk between two buildings. There are two sections with a crosswalk and major street with vehicle traffic. There is a crosswalk for pedestrians that will need to be observed and well-marked for safety.

A detailed map of the area is included for visual aid.

The artwork should function in daylight as well as night.

Attention should be given to the areas used for art ensuring safety for pedestrians.

The pieces should be sturdy enough for interaction with the public and the components should be able to withstand constant use.

Weather in Oklahoma is unpredictable – extreme heat and sunlight should be a consideration as should damaging winds (above 40 mph during storms) and hail. Temperatures can also dip below freezing.

Budget 

The total artist's fee for the project is $350,000. This amount must cover all associated costs including design, materials, fabrication, lighting, travel, insurance coverage, shipping, and installation.

Artist Eligibility

Open to professional artists with experience working on public art projects of this scale and working in creating site-specific works.

Artists identifying with an ethnic, cultural, sexual, gender, economic, or ability minority are encouraged to apply.

Timeline:

           RFQ Deadline: April 30 2026 @ 11:59pm MST 

           The following dates are approximate and subject to change

           Notify Artists: Week of June 1st, 2026

           Finalists’ Site Visit: Mid-Aug 2026

           Finalists’ Presentation of Proposals: Late Sept 2026            

Contract with Selected Artist: November 2026

Installation and Dedication of Artwork: Early Spring 2027 – Winter 2027

Committee and Selection Criteria

Selection for this project will be made by a panel including stakeholders, design professionals, City representatives, a member of the Norman Public Art committee, a member of the Norman Arts Council Board, and members of the arts community.

Three finalists will be selected based on the materials submitted.

After a formal presentation by the finalists, the selection panel will choose the best project for the site based on the merit of the artist’s work, experience, and appropriateness of the proposed concept. The Panel will also focus on artists who can demonstrate sensitivity to the site and surroundings. Artists must be able to commit and effectively work within the project timeline and collaborate with the administration of City of Norman Public Works Department and Norman Arts Council.

Selection Process

1. The Selection Panel will review all applicants who respond to this RFQ.
2. Three finalists will be invited to move on in the process.
3. Finalists will come to Norman for a mandatory site visit to meet with the Project Team and others. Finalists will be paid a $1,500.00 allowance to cover transportation, hotel, and per diem expenses for the site visit.
4. After the site visit, finalists will be asked to create a site-specific design proposal that will include:
   1. a scale model, maquette, or computer-generated design
   2. an itemized budget
   3. a project timeline
   4. project narrative
   5. maintenance plan
5. Finalists will each be awarded an honorarium of $1,000.00 for their proposal.
6. Finalists will present their proposals in-person to the Selection Panel and will receive a $1,500.00 allowance for transportation, hotel, and per diem expenses for the proposal presentations or on Zoom if unable to make the trip.
7. The Selection Panel will make the final decision on the artist awarded the project pending approval of the Norman Arts Council and Norman City Council.

Commissioning of artists is implemented without preference to racial or ethnic origins, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or age, and all are encouraged to apply.

The Norman Arts Council and the City of Norman reserve the right to modify this solicitation and to request additional information or proposals from any or all participating artists. The Norman Arts Council and the City of Norman also reserve the right to accept or reject, at any time prior to the commissioning of a work, any or all proposals when the acceptance, rejection, waiver or advertisement would be in the best interest of the project. In addition, they may solicit proposals from artists not responding to this call and reserve the right to select an artist outside of the pool of artists responding to this call.

If you have any questions, email Leslie Nottingham, Norman Arts Council Executive Director, at leslie@normanarts.org

All applications must be submitted via CaFÉ

Submissions for this project must contain the following materials:

• A one-page maximum typed letter of interest outlining your qualifications for and interest in the project, as well as the general idea for your approach.  Please consider the following questions when developing your letter of interest:
  • Why do you want to work on this project?
  • How would you approach this project?
  • What materials do you work with that would be appropriate for outdoor use?
  • Have you worked on similar projects? If not, what relevant experiences do you have?
  • How does this project relate to your current work?
• Resume/CV
• Artist Bio/Statement
• Three references with whom you have worked on a public art project, including current telephone number and email address.
• 3-8 high-resolution images of previous work you feel would support your ability to carry out this project. Include all pertinent information on your Cafe slides: title, medium, size, date of completion, location, and project details (i.e. Budget commissioning agency, etc., if public art).

Open to professional artists with experience working on public art projects of this scale and working in creating site-specific works.

Artists identifying with an ethnic, cultural, sexual, gender, economic, or ability minority are encouraged to apply.