Snow College Washburn Addition - Utah Public Art

Request for qualifications from artists or artist teams interested in creating site-specific artwork(s) for the new Snow College Richfield Campus Washburn Building.

The Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums Public Art Program requests qualifications from artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site-specific artwork(s) for the upcoming Snow College Richfield Campus Washburn Building. The Request for Qualifications with building renderings can be found HERE.

HISTORY OF SNOW COLLEGE

Established in 1888 as Sanpete Stake Academy, Snow College has always held an important place in rural Utah, with the original school being founded entirely through community donations. Snow College has since grown to offer numerous certifications, associate degrees, and select baccalaureate programs to its nearly 6,000 students annually. Perhaps most known for its academic excellence in fields like engineering, health professions, and the arts, Snow College remains the academic, athletic, and cultural heart of Central Utah.

Students attending Snow College enjoy access to a number of study abroad programs, internships, and affordable tuition and housing. Located in close proximity to many natural outdoor recreation areas, Snow College prioritizes a healthy student culture as an important facet of the educational experience. 

SNOW COLLEGE RICHFIELD, WASHBURN BUILDING

The Washburn Building, constructed in 1977, holds a significant place in Snow College Richfield’s campus history and legacy. This project aims to revitalize the Washburn Building’s south entrance, making it the primary entrance to our expanding campus community. This project envisions an entrance that harmonizes with the architectural styles of the existing buildings while maintaining a timeless aesthetic that transcends fleeting trends.

The Washburn Addition design will emphasize the robust and vibrant nature of campus student engagement, and serve as a landmark for students and the broader community alike. Additionally, the landscaping in the front and to the west will be thoughtfully designed to encourage gatherings of all sizes, from intimate meetings to large community events. By creating this welcoming environment, Snow College students and Richfield residents will enjoy an increased sense of community and connectivity on campus.

COMMITTEE STATEMENT

The Art Selection Committee intends to commission site-specific artwork through a regional search for qualified artists. The focus will be on exterior works that create a centralized landmark for visitors and residents alike, creating a defining focal point for the entrance to the Snow College Richfield Campus. 

Through this addition, the Washburn Building will become the new primary entrance to the campus. The Committee has identified a preferred installation location in the exterior landscaping and courtyard, which will create direct site lines for the artwork both from Main Street and the freeway (see renderings on pages 6-8 of the RFQ Document). 

The Art Selection Committee has a strong interest in artworks that utilize lighting to bring illumination to its installation area. The inclusion of lighting would allow this work to become a beacon and a place of visual warmth for gathering. Campus and regional context should be taken into consideration for the thematic elements of the artwork, including the physical environment of the campus. Materials that feel appropriate to the region are preferred, responding to the history, culture, and geology of the region.

The artwork’s subject matter and content must be appropriate for public exhibition and not contain advertising, religious references, sexual or violent content, or convey political partisanship.

BUDGET

A total budget of $100,000 is available for this project. This project budget is for all related expenses of this public art commission, including (but not limited to) artist fees, fabrication, support structures, insurance, shipping, travel, lighting, installation, documentation, etc.

ELIGIBILITY

Professional artists and artist teams residing in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, or Wyoming are eligible for this commission. Artists residing in Utah will receive additional weight in the review process. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other). Art Selection Committee members and staff of Utah Arts & Museums and CRSA Architecture are not eligible to apply for this commission. All art selection committee members will declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from the vote when reviewing artist applications.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested artists may submit applications online. Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for the Snow College Richfield Campus Washburn Building Public Art Request for Qualifications. The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to two movie files of previous work, a CV or résumé, and a Statement of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project. Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for delayed applications or damaged electronic files. Faxed or emailed applications cannot be accepted.

To request an accommodation for a disability, please complete an accommodation form at least two weeks in advance of the March 23 deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility. 

DEADLINE

Complete application packages must be RECEIVED by 
March 23, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. MT.

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

The selection committee will review all properly submitted qualifications, from which a short list of semi-finalists will be selected. Semi-finalists will be asked to present a full proposal to the committee on May 26, 2026 to include concept, budget, and timeline. All semi-finalists will be awarded an honorarium to help defray the costs of the development of the proposal. The honorarium will be applied toward the commission amount for the artist(s) awarded the commission(s.) Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for applications delayed or lost. The Snow College Richfield Campus Washburn Building Art Selection Committee reserves the right to withhold the award of a commission or re-release the call for entries.

Questions or assistance requests must be made at minimum 48 hours before the submittal deadline.

Schedule:
March 23, 2026, 11:59pm MDT | Deadline for receipt of preliminary materials
April 2, 2026 | Committee Review and Finalist artist notification
May 26, 2026 | Finalists interviews and presentations
Spring 2027 | Artwork completed
Summer 2027| Project substantial completion

ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE

Rob Robinson | Project Manager, Division of Facilities Construction & Management

Kathryn Anderson | Principal Architect, CRSA

Stacee McIff | Snow College President

Dr. Tim Tingey | Snow College Vice President of Finance and Administration

Brandon Hawkins | Snow College Director of Student Success Richfield Campus

Heidi Stringham | Snow College Director of Operations Richfield Campus

Brad Taggart Snow | College Richfield Visual Arts Professor

Please do not contact committee members directly. If you have any questions about this or other projects, information is available at: artsandmuseums.utah.gov/publicart/ Or contact: Hannah Nielsen at henielsen@utah.gov 

Interested artists may submit applications online. Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for the Snow College Richfield Campus Washburn Building Public Art Request for Qualifications. The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to two movie files of previous work, a CV or résumé, and a Statement of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project. Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for delayed applications or damaged electronic files. Faxed or emailed applications cannot be accepted.

To request an accommodation for a disability, please complete an accommodation form at least two weeks in advance of the March 23 deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility. 

Professional artists and artist teams residing in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, or Wyoming are eligible for this commission. Artists residing in Utah will receive additional weight in the review process. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other). Art Selection Committee members and staff of Utah Arts & Museums and CRSA Architecture are not eligible to apply for this commission. All art selection committee members will declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from the vote when reviewing artist applications.