Iconic Sculptural Landmark for Clearwater's Waterfront

The City of Clearwater Public Art & Design Program is seeking professional artists or artist teams to create an iconic public artwork for Clearwater's newly renovated Coachman Park, a 3-acre waterfront park in our city which hosts numerous events every year and is also home the our award winning amphitheater The Baycare Sound.. The selected artwork will serve as a recognizable landmark and destination feature that encourages interaction, photography, and social media engagement while celebrating the unique identity of Clearwater.

Project Description

The City is looking for a bold, visually engaging artwork that acts as a marker for Clearwater and creates a memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.

While we understand this is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), we encourage artists to submit a brief letter describing their vision for Coachman Park and, if possible, a rough concept sketch. This is not intended to be a finalized design, but rather an opportunity for the selection panel to better understand how you envision your artwork enhancing the park.

Our goal is to commission a signature piece that is both iconic and meaningful to Clearwater—a work of art that serves as a placemaking destination, is instantly recognizable as part of Coachman Park, and inspires residents and visitors alike to stop, engage with the artwork, and capture memorable photos. 

Concepts may incorporate themes related to Clearwater's coastal environment, culture, waterfront, marine life, sunsets, music, recreation, tourism, or community identity. While these themes are encouraged, we also welcome fresh and unexpected interpretations. The selection panel frequently receives proposals featuring dolphins and other traditional sea life, so artists are encouraged to think beyond these common motifs and explore creative concepts that offer a unique and memorable representation of Clearwater while still reflecting the character and spirit of the community.

Potential approaches may include sculpture, illuminated elements, architectural features, integrated seating, or other creative landmark-style installations. Durable materials suitable for Florida’s waterfront climate are strongly encouraged, including but not limited to stainless steel, coated metals, acrylic, tile, stone, concrete, or other weather-resistant materials capable of withstanding heat, humidity, storms, and salt-air conditions from the bay.

Site 
The sculpture will be placed in Coachman Park, which is a 3-acre waterfront park in our city which hosts numerous events every year and is also home to the our award winning amphitheater The Baycare Sound. We are not sure of the exact location of the art piece yet, as that may depend on the design we like the most. We currently have no size restrictions. Please keep in mind daily Florida heat can exceed 90 degrees in the summer, sometimes with 100% humidity. Our area also has weekly thunderstorms in the summer as well as occasional tropical storms and hurricanes. Structures should be designed and built to withstand the elements (including up to a Cat 2 hurricane)

City Background

Clearwater is a vibrant coastal community of approximately 115,500 residents located on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Situated approximately 30 minutes from both Tampa and St. Petersburg, Clearwater offers immediate access to the Gulf and Tampa Bay, along with a wide variety of museums, galleries, theaters, concert venues, and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Budget

The total project budget is estimated between $200,000 – $250,000.

The selected artist or artist team will be awarded a comprehensive contract. Artist’s responsibilities to include:

• Artwork design and engineering
• A pedestal or footer for certain sculptures
• Fabrication and materials
• Transportation and installation
• Insurance and permitting - Artists will be required to have a COI with 1 million, 2 million limits and list the city as an additionally insured.
• Travel expenses
• Public presentations and meetings with City staff
• Any additional incidental or project-related expenses

Selection Process

A selection panel consisting of representatives from the Clearwater Public Art & Design Board, Clearwater Arts Alliance, City staff, local arts professionals, and community representatives will review artist qualifications and past work.

The initial review process will utilize a blind jury format whenever possible, with artists evaluated primarily on artistic excellence, prior body of work, and demonstrated ability to execute projects of similar scale and complexity.

A shortlist of finalists will be selected to develop conceptual proposals. Finalists will receive a $600 stipend to develop and submit two (2) design concepts for consideration. Final artist selection will occur after review of these proposals and presentations.

The City of Clearwater reserves the right to reject any or all applications or proposals and to modify or terminate the selection process at any time without prior notice.

Timeline

• Submittals due: September 30, 2026
• Selected finalists notified by: November 1, 2026 (may be sooner)
• Final proposals due by: Friday, December 30, 2026 (may be sooner)
• Artwork installation: Fall 2027
  • Timeline subject to change
     

Selection Criteria

Artists will be evaluated based on:

• Artistic excellence and originality
• Experience with large-scale public art projects
• Demonstrated ability to complete projects within budget and schedule
• Compatibility with the surrounding environment and architectural context
• Durability and appropriateness of proposed materials
• Ability to create an engaging and iconic destination artwork for Clearwater

Submittal Requirements

• A minimum of five (5) and maximum of ten (10) images of completed artworks or relevant past projects

Please submit the following items contained in a single PDF or Microsoft Word document:

• Professional resume to include examples of past work and references and Letter of Interest
• A brief written description and/or preliminary sketch outlining the artist’s initial concept idea

Wherever possible, submitted images should depict completed installations that demonstrate the artist’s ability to successfully execute and install permanent public artwork projects.

This opportunity is open to professional artists and artist teams based in the United States. Experience with large-scale public art projects of similar scope and budget is strongly preferred.