June 21,2024
CALL FOR ARTISTS, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY is inviting interested artists to provide responses to this REQUEST
FOR QUALIFICATIONS for exterior artwork(s)/sculpture(s) for the Thonotosassa Park & Library located
in Hillsborough County, Florida.
INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS
PROJECT TITLE: PUBLIC ART PROJECT FOR THONOTOSASSA PARK AND LIBRARY
PROJECT GOAL: TO PROVIDE EXTERIOR SCULPTURE(S) / ARTWORK(S) FOR THONOTOSASSA PARK AND
LIBRARY
LOCATION: THONOTOSASSA PARK, 72 A. between Skewlee Road and Main Street, Thonotosassa,
Florida 33592, in Hillsborough County, Florida
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, August 21, 2024 AT 5:00 PM
DELIVER PROPOSAL BY E-MAIL TO: PublicArt@hcfl.gov
PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF PROGRAM: DEPARTMENT OF CAPITAL PROGRAMS, PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, COUNTY
CENTER, 22ND FLOOR, 601 E. KENNEDY BLVD., TAMPA, FL 33602
1.0 PROJECT INFORMATION:
1.1 Project Overview: Hillsborough County (County) is interested in receiving submissions
from artists demonstrating their ability to provide completely realized three-dimensional artwork
for exterior display at the Thonotosassa Park now being expanded to accommodate additional sports
fields and a new 18,000 S.F. Thonotosassa Library. Additional future Park expansion and
improvements (as budget allows) may include a Concession Building, Splash Pad with Restroom,
Shelters, and Recreational Center. The expanded park is in the northeast section of Hillsborough
County and will be an approximately 72 acre campus.
1.2 The project will have several stakeholders including the Parks and Recreation Department,
Library Services, and the Public Art Committee as well as other interested community organizations
and individuals. Exterior sculpture is desired with a theme relating to nature and expressed using
the design vocabulary of the Arts and Crafts Movement, particularly the works of Frank Lloyd
Wright. The library and concession building are being designed with a theme referencing Prairie
Style architecture and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.
1.3 The sculpture should be comprised of materials requiring very low maintenance. The
selected artist will be responsible for the design, fabrication, and installation of the artwork,
including structural design of the foundation and related permitting of the base/pedestal and the
art/sculpture.
1.4 The artwork will become part of the County’s permanent public art collection. Artists
are required to submit qualifications and encouraged to provide illustrations (images,
renderings), and a brief statement describing an initial concept for this project. It is
desirable that a full range of art media suitable for an outdoor environment will be
represented. It is preferable to have artwork viewable from all directions.
1.5 There are two opportunities for exterior art that have been identified for the
Thonotosassa Park and Library Public Art as shown in Exhibit A of this document, and prioritized in
order of most desired, with Priority No. 1 being the most desired location.
Priority No. 1: Primary Art Location
Priority No. 2: Secondary Art Location
Artists selected to provide site-specific proposals will be requested to provide a proposal for
artwork at the Priority No. 1 location and will have the option to provide a proposal for artwork
in both the Priority No. 1 and Priority No. 2 locations. It is up to the artist to determine if
Priority No. 2 can be included within the stated budget. All proposed designs should be in the
identified areas for exterior sculpture as shown in Exhibit A.
For Exhibit A see https://hcfl.gov/residents/parks-and-leisure/public-art/call-for-artists
See https://hcfl.gov/residents/parks-and-leisure/public-art/call-for-artists for exhibits
1.6 The primary artwork location (Priority No. 1) is expected to create a significant
landmark at the intersection of the main park drive and the turn-off leading to the library (Refer
to Exhibit A).
1.7 A secondary artwork location (Priority No. 2) is near the concession stand for the sports
fields (Refer to Exhibit A). This artwork should be very approachable and able to serve as a
“selfie site.”
1.8 Three finalists will be selected to provide site specific proposals. Each selected
finalist will be paid an honorarium of up to $750.00 (seven hundred and fifty dollars). Site
Specific Proposals must include a site-specific maquette and/or other visual depictions of the
proposed artwork.
1.9 Design Criteria for Eventual Site Specific Proposals:
1. The artwork will be in the Thonotosassa Park and Library campus and located as shown in
Exhibit A.
2. Exterior sculpture is desired with a theme relating to nature and expressed using the
design vocabulary of the Arts and Crafts Movement, particularly the works of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Proposals shall be compatible with the park and library.
3. A plinth or base is to be included in the design of the larger piece. This plinth shall be
appropriately proportioned in height for the location and the artwork.
4. The larger artwork (or artwork plus plinth) shall be fifteen to twenty (15 to 20) feet in
height.
5. Artwork at the secondary location shall be seven to ten (7 to 10) feet tall and should use
subject matter, motifs, and materials related to the larger sculpture.
6. The artwork must have appropriate lighting for night-time visibility. Power to the
locations shall be provided by the County. Lighting design and fixtures to be provided by
Artist.
7. Artwork to be original design(s).
8. Artwork(s) shall be structurally sound and meet applicable standards of the Florida
Building Code for the foundation, wind loading, etc. If selected, a final design shall be
engineered and stamped/signed by a registered Florida professional
engineer.
9. Artwork to be designed for minimal maintenance.
10. All materials used must be appropriate for exterior use in Florida’s demanding environment.
11. The artwork must be devoid of advertising, including charitable, fraternal, religious, or
political signs, symbols, logos, banners or any other such device.
12. The finish of the artwork must resist damage by graffiti.
13. The artist must provide a two-year warranty on materials and craftsmanship.
2.0 SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS:
2.1 Artists who wish to be considered for this project must submit the materials described
below electronically. Ensure that all files sent electronically have been scanned by up-to- date
virus scanning software. Files with detected viruses will be destroyed and will not be considered.
All images and documents must be accessible in the MS Windows
environment. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
The following documents are required:
2.1.1 A current professional resume of no more than two (2) pages for each submitting artist.
2.1.2 A list of exterior sculpture/artwork installations completed in the last 5 years. Please
include owner contact information.
2.1.3 A maximum of 8 digital images of already completed exterior sculpture/artwork. The images
shall be in .JPG format. Any masking or borders should be black, not white. Image files must be
properly labeled each with artist’s last name and a
number (1-8) assigned per image list. (e.g.: smith_1.jpg, smith_2.jpg). Artist’s name should NOT
appear on the image. The first five artworks presented should be those that are most related to
this call. Provide details, close-ups or multiple
viewpoints of large or complex artworks.
2.1.4 Image ID sheet explaining the content and context of each image.
2.2 The following documents are optional:
2.2.1 Scans of publications, reviews or other items that may assist the County in evaluation of
the artist’s capabilities. (No more than 3 items of this type should be included in the
submission.)
2.2.2 A written description of proposed artwork for this project including the title, type of
media, dimensions, and up to 8 images/graphics to convey the design intent of the proposed artwork.
2.3 Instructions for electronic submission:
2.3.1 Submissions may be made by e-mail to: Publicart@hcfl.gov. Large files may be zipped.
2.3.2 As an alternative to email submission, a USB flash drive may be mailed to the address
below:
Dan Myers, Public Art Staff 22nd Floor, County Center
P.O. Box 1110
Tampa, Florida 33601
2.4 Additional Information and Instructions
2.4.1 Proposals will be reviewed by a Site Advisory Committee (SAC) and the County’s Public Art
Committee (PAC).
2.4.2 The intent of the review is to short list a group of up- to- three artists to provide more
specific proposals for the artwork. The County may contract with only one artist or artist group to
fulfill the requirements of the listed project.
2.4.3 Hillsborough County does not guarantee that any commissions will result from this call.
3.0 ESTIMATED BUDGET, SCHEDULE AND SELECTION PROCESS:
3.1 Estimated Budget for the Exterior Sculpture Project: $90,000 to $97,000
3.2 Estimated Schedule:
August 16, 2024
– Call for Artist submission deadline
Fourth Quarter 2024
– Artists are selected to provide site-specific proposals
First Quarter 2025
– Review and ranking of artist’s submissions
Second to Third Quarter 2025
– Artists notified of selections and an Agreement is negotiated with top-ranked proposer.
Second to Third Quarter 2026
– Target date for installation
3.3 Selection Process:
3.3.1 For this project, a Site Advisory Committee composed of members of the public, County
staff associated with the location, the County project manager, and members of the Public Art
Committee will propose a short-list of a minimum of three artists to develop site-specific
proposals. Final selection of artists to be short-listed is made by the full Public Art Committee.
Short-listed artists will be given further information on the project. Using this information,
each artist will develop a site-specific proposal. Artists may use models, drawings, computer-
generated imagery and material samples to communicate their proposals. They must include in their
proposals a working budget. The site-specific proposals will be initially reviewed and ranked by
the Site Advisory Committee. The Site
Advisory Committee’s ranking will be considered by the Public Art Committee for final rankings.
3.3.2 An Agreement will be negotiated with the top-ranked artist. The Agreement will require the
artist to provide the complete artwork and meet all related costs such as travel, materials,
fabrication, transportation, insurance, and installation of the work within a mutually agreed time
period and for a fixed fee. Progress payments are made over the course of the contract in
accordance with a mutually agreed upon schedule. Compliance with financial arrangements between the
artist and his/her subcontractors is the responsibility of the artist.
3.3.3 If an agreement cannot be successfully negotiated in a timely manner with the top-ranked
artist(s), the County has the option to negotiate with the next artist(s) in order of ranking.
4.0 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION/CLARIFICATION:
4.1 Any artist requesting additional information, interpretation, and/or clarifications
relating to this Call shall make a written request addressed to:
Dan Myers, Public Art Staff 22nd Floor, County Center
P.O. Box 1110
Tampa, Florida 33601
e-mail: Publicart@hcfl.gov
If it is deemed necessary, an addendum to this Call or Artists may be issued through the
Hillsborough County Public Art webpage at:
Call for Artists/Hillsborough County, FL.hcfl.gov
5.0 RISK:
5.1 Persons responding to this Call do so at their sole expense and risk. The County
reserves the right to change or cancel this Call at any time.
5.2 No proposer is guaranteed the award of an Agreement or any work as a result of being
selected for this project.
5.3 Any changes made to this Call shall be made by means of a written addendum. It shall be
the responsibility of the Artist to assure that all addenda have been received prior to
submitting a proposal.
6.0 PUBLIC RECORDS ACT:
6.1 Pursuant to Florida Statutes, sealed responses to this Call to Artists are exempt from
the public inspection requirements of the Public Records Act until such time as the
announcement of a decision based on the proposals or within 30 days after proposal receipt date,
whichever is earlier.