Call for Temporary Art
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Temporary Art Installation
‘Sammamish Grows Together’
City of Sammamish Department of Parks, Recreation, & Facilities
Sammamish, Washington
INVITATION SUMMARY
The Sammamish Arts Commission is soliciting qualifications and proposals from artists interested in providing professional art services for a temporary art installation that will be displayed at Sammamish City Hall. The anticipated scope of work includes the design, construction, and disassembly of a temporary installation in the designated area. The Commission is open to proposals of any material that is able to withstand outdoor conditions, is temporary, and will not damage the surrounding area.
SUBMISSIONS
Please submit one PDF of no more than 10 pages. All materials must be received no later than Friday, April 3, 2026, at 5:00 pm.
Checklist for artists submissions:
- One page artists interest in the project;
- Artists current resume and brief biography;
- Artist’s web site URL – if available;
- Artist’s contact information including phone and e-mail;
- Preliminary design and explanation of how it meets the desired theme; and
- Up to five samples or digital images of artists work related to the project request.
Proposals must be submitted electronically at: Temporary Art Installation - Bid Information - Washington | BidNet Direct
This platform is free to use. Follow this guide for help registering:
https://www.sammamish.us/media/ytyeyp2g/vendor-registration-guide.pdf
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) INFORMATION
This material can be made available in an alternate format by calling 206-963-0296.
PROJECT CONTACT
Britt Bowman
Recreation and Cultural Services Coordinator
(206) 963-0296
OPPORTUNITY:
The Sammamish Arts Commission seeks a qualified artist to design, construct, and disassemble a temporary art installation for the time period of May 15 to September 30, 2026. The Commission invites all interested parties to respond to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by submitting their qualifications according to the instructions below.
LOCATION:
The location for this installation will be in front of the Sammamish Upper Commons, located at 801 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075. The highlighted area in the below image shows the boundaries of where the sculpture can be placed. This area is open to the public, and artists are welcome to visit the site. We are open to possibilities within this area, including art affixed to the light poles, attached to the fencing, in the trees, on the skatepark wall, etc.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Sammamish Commons is a signature gathering space, surrounded by civic uses including City Hall, the library, and the YMCA. Because of the drop in topography, the Commons and the uses are not easy to see from people traveling along 228th. A signature art piece to highlight the civic presence of these civic anchors is a key opportunity for art that could strengthen the identity of Sammamish and magnify the presence of the Commons. Art at the skatepark wall below could also be included. A number of approaches could be taken to art in this location, possibly starting with temporary installations. The light poles may be usable for supporting hanging, changeable art (Sammamish Strategic Arts Plan).
POINTS OF INSPIRATION:
The theme of this art installation is ‘Sammamish Grows Together’. The theme pulls from few different objectives of The City of Sammamish. This project draws inspiration from the City’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the stewardship efforts of our Parks and Recreation Volunteer Program.
‘As your City government, our role is to bring people together and not divide them. Our job is to be welcoming of all people and all ideas in recognition that we truly are stronger and smarter together. We need to recognize certain essential principles and conduct our government and hopefully our lives consistent with those principles.’ - City of Sammamish's Proclamation Reaffirming Principles and Values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Community volunteers and the Sammamish Stewards are essential to preserving, protecting and promoting the natural environment within the City of Sammamish. Our volunteers are actively involved in many areas of environmental work including building habitat for our native pollinators. The pollinator gardens serve as pockets food and habitat for various species of pollinators such as metallic green sweat bees, yellow faced bumblebees, anna’s hummingbirds, and various other species of pollinating insects. These pollinators rely on native flowering plant species such as thimbleberry, riverbank lupine, and Douglas aster for food. As an added benefit, native pollinators pollinate 75% of crops worldwide – making them essential to maintaining our food sources.
You can find of list of native plants and more information about the Bee City Initiative at:
You can see recently sighted bees at: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=47.657487&nelng=-121.9645841&q=bee&subview=map&swlat=47.5536039&swlng=-122.098471&taxon_id=630955
BUDGET:
Include the total cost of the installation in your proposal. Projects must be at a cost no greater than $10,000 to be eligible for consideration. This budget must cover all expenses for the project including design, fabrication, site delivery, installation, and removal of the artwork.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
The selection of an artist, or artists, will be based upon:
- Artistic merit of the design (Artistic excellence, creativity, and originality of the project’s concept).
- Appropriateness of the design for the location, including the scale, content, and design in relation to the site.
- Originality of the design. The design shows a connection to the themes of cultural exchange and appreciation and stewardship/native plants.
- Artist’s qualifications. (The aesthetic quality of the artist’s past work, including content, craftsmanship, uniqueness, and relevance to its environment as well as the artist’s demonstrated ability to translate art concepts into durable and safe materials that can withstand long-term exposure in an outdoor environment.)
Extra consideration will be given to residents of Sammamish or the greater Puget Sound Area.
NOTIFICATION:
Artists will be notified by e-mail of the Arts Commission and City Staff’s final decision. The City reserves the right to re-issue the RFQ if no qualified submissions are received. The review process will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
DISCRETION AND LIABILITY WAIVER:
The City reserves the right to reject all proposals or to request and obtain supplementary information as may be necessary for the City to analyze the proposals pursuant to the consultant selection criteria listed above.
The artist, by submitting a response to this RFQ, waives all right to protest or seek any legal remedies whatsoever regarding any aspect of this RFQ.
TITLE VI NON-DISCRIMINATION ASSURANCES:
The City of Sammamish, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d‐4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING:
To support the City’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (“DEIB”) efforts, additional consideration will be awarded in Request for Qualifications scoring for Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (“MWBE”). To receive an additional consideration, the business or organization must be registered as a Minority or Women’s Business Enterprise with Washington State before the RFQ due date of April 1, 2026.
