City of San Luis Approved Artist List - Public Art Program

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the City of San Luis is accepting Statements of Qualification (SOQ) from qualified Artists to provide City of San Luis Approved Artist List - Public Art Program. SOQs are to be submitted through the Procurement Portal no later than 11:00 am on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Background

The City of San Luis, through its Economic Development Department and Economic Development Commission, has undertaken a comprehensive effort to strengthen the community’s identity, economic vitality, and public spaces through arts and culture initiatives. This work culminated in the development of the El Corazón de San Luis: Historic Preservation and Public Art Plan, prepared in 2025–2026 in collaboration with community stakeholders, City leadership, and planning consultants.

The Plan establishes a strategic framework for leveraging public art and placemaking as tools for economic development, cultural preservation, and community engagement. Key goals include enhancing public spaces, celebrating the City’s unique border identity and agricultural heritage, and creating a vibrant, welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike.

This effort was informed by robust community engagement, including surveys, public events such as “Arte en la Calle,” and stakeholder interviews. Feedback consistently emphasized a desire for public art that reflects local culture, family, history, and the binational character of the San Luis community, while also improving aesthetics and attracting visitors and investment.

In alignment with these findings, the City Council has supported the advancement of a formal Public Art Program and the implementation of policies and procedures to guide the selection, funding, and management of public art projects. The establishment of an Approved Artist List is a key implementation step identified to ensure a transparent, efficient, and equitable process for engaging qualified artists in future projects.

Through this RFQ, the City seeks to proactively build a pool of qualified artists who can contribute to upcoming public art opportunities funded and administered through the Economic Development Commission. This approach allows the City to respond more effectively to funding opportunities, streamline procurement for individual projects, and ensure that selected artists align with the City’s vision, standards, and community values.

The City is committed to ensuring that all public art is appropriate for public spaces, culturally sensitive, and reflective of the diverse community it serves, while supporting long-term economic development and placemaking goals.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-RFQ-00000001
• Department: Economic Development
• Department Head: Armando Esparza (Director of Economic Development and Government Affairs)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-05-15T01:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-05-19T01:00:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-05-12T23:00:00.000Z — City Hall Multipurpose Room 1090 E. Union Street, San Luis, AZ 85349

Evaluation Criteria

• Artistic Quality and Proposal Strength (25 pts) (25 pts) —

  Quality, originality, and visual impact of past work.

• Relevant Experience (20 pts) (20 pts) —

  Experience with public, commissioned, or community-based projects.

• Alignment with San Luis Identity & Vision (20 pts) (20 pts) —

  Connection to border identity, culture, community themes.

• Creativity & Conceptual Approach (15 pts) (15 pts) —

  Innovation, originality, and artistic thinking.

• Capacity & Feasibility (10 pts) (10 pts) —

  Ability to execute projects (timeline, budget, installation).

• Community Engagement & Collaboration (5 pts) (5 pts) —

  Experience working with communities or stakeholders.

• Local / Regional / Binational Connection (5 pts) (5 pts) —

  Connection to San Luis, Arizona, or the greater region.

Submission Requirements

• Certifications Signature Form (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Conflict of Interest (required) —

  The firm is fully aware that this contract is wholly or partially federally funded and further, by submission of the proposal that the individual or firm, certifies that:

  1. 1. There is no substantial interest, as defined by Arizona Revised Statute §§38-503 through §§38- 505, with any public official, employee, agency, commission or committee (including members of their immediate family) with the City of San Luis or Consultants.
     2. Any substantial interest, as defined by Arizona Revised Statute §§38-503 through §§38-505, with any public official, employee, agency, commission or committee (including members of their immediate family) with the City of San Luis or Consultants that develops at any time during this contract will be immediately disclosed to the City of San Luis and Consultants.
• Statement of Qualifications (required) —

  Please upload your complete Statement of Qualifications per RFQ No. 2026-RFQ-00000001

• Artistic Work Samples (required) —

  Please Upload Samples of past Artistic Work

• Which deadlines are required? (required)
• Provide Date/Time and Location for EACH of the deadlines you selected (required) —

  Feel free to type out your dates and times or upload a document detailing your dates and times in the attachments section. 

• What type of SOQ is needed? (required)
• Will you be needing the following sections: (required)
• Is a contract required for this project? (required)
• Estimated Budget/Cost (required) —

  Enter the amount budgeted for this project.

• Do Davis-Bacon wage rates apply? (required)
• Is a Pre-Bid meeting needed for this project? (required)
• Date/Time and Location (required) —

  Enter date, time and location of meeting/deadline.

• Funding Source (required) —

  Enter what type of funding source will be used.  Example, will it be grant funds, bonds, etc. 

• How many days are needed for the completion of the project from date of Notice to Proceed? (required)
• Department Approval Required —

  All intake requests require Department Director/Manager approval.

• I certify that this project was approved by: (required) —

  Please type the name of Department Director or Manager that approved to initiate project intake/project.

• Is this project federally funded? (required)