RFP
Civic Center Plaza Temporary Sculpture Installation: Request for Proposals (RFP)
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The San Francisco Arts Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramaytush Ohlone have never ceded, lost nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders and relatives of the Ramaytush Community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. As a department dedicated to promoting a diverse and equitable Arts and Culture environment in San Francisco, we are committed to supporting the traditional and contemporary evolution of the American Indian community.
RACIAL EQUITY STATEMENT
The San Francisco Arts Commission is committed to creating a city where all artists and cultural workers have the freedom, resources and platform to share their stories, art and culture and where race does not predetermine one’s success in life. We also acknowledge that we occupy traditional and unceded Ohlone land. Fueled by these beliefs, we commit to addressing the systemic inequities within our agency, the City and County of San Francisco and the broader arts and culture sector. This work requires that we focus on race as we confront inequities of the past, reveal inequities of the present and develop effective strategies to move all of us towards an equitable future.
Project Overview
The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) invites artists and artist teams residing in the United States, as well as artists represented by U.S.-based galleries, to submit proposals for the temporary display of an existing freestanding sculpture, or series of sculptures, of prominent scale in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, located in front of City Hall. Eligible works must be fully realized, previously fabricated, and currently located in the United States. The selected work will be loaned for a period of approximately six months to one year, with final installation dates determined in consultation with SFAC and the lender.
Organized in support of Shaping Legacy, a Mellon Foundation funded initiative to critically examine and reimagine San Francisco’s monuments and memorials, this project supports a creative exploration of how public art can foster a more inclusive and representative civic narrative. The selected sculpture should embody inclusive histories, invite community dialogue, and enrich the collective understanding of civic memory and belonging. It should also demonstrate a strong visual presence that responds to the scale and formality of Civic Center Plaza, while being fabricated from durable, low-maintenance materials appropriate for long-term outdoor display and safe for public interaction. Sculpture foundations requiring below-grade installation or drilling into the plaza surface will not be permitted; acceptable alternatives include mounting on a steel plate or a freestanding pedestal stabilized with weighted ballasts.
Project costs, including loan fee, packing, round-trip transportation, insurance, engineering, installation, de-installation, and maintenance for the duration of the display, will be determined based on the specific requirements of the selected artwork.
Project Description
San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza is a prominent civic space defined by its grand scale, classical architecture, and central location in the heart of the City. Bordered by major cultural and governmental landmarks, including City Hall, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the Asian Art Museum, the San Francisco Main Library, and the Superior and Supreme Courts of California, the plaza reflects San Francisco’s historical and governmental legacy. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, it offers both formality and openness, serving as a gathering place for large-scale public events as well as a daily commons for workers, commuters, and residents. Its accessibility is enhanced by nearby BART and MUNI stations and an underground parking facility, making it a vital and active part of the City’s urban fabric.
The Civic Center Temporary Sculpture Installation supports Shaping Legacy, a multi-year initiative of the San Francisco Arts Commission, supported by the Mellon Foundation, to critically examine and reimagine the city’s Civic Art collection of monuments and memorials. The project entails a comprehensive audit of existing works, community engagement especially with historically excluded voices, and artist-led activations and temporary installations that imagine new possibilities for commemoration. Shaping Legacy seeks to shift the power dynamics of public memory, foster more inclusive narratives, and ensure that monuments and memorials reflect San Francisco’s diversity and evolving identity.
The selected artwork will be installed on the decomposed granite section of the Plaza, in the area indicated in the accompanying site image. The area currently designated for the temporary sculpture installation measures approximately 35 feet by 35 feet.
There is strong precedent for the temporary display of public artworks at this site, with Civic Center Plaza having served as a central stage for public art in San Francisco. The Arts Commission has previously presented a series of large-scale temporary sculptures on the Plaza, including works by Zhang Huan, Amanda Parer, and Zak Ové.These installations demonstrate the Plaza’s unique capacity to host ambitious, high-profile artworks that invite public interaction and civic dialogue in one of the City’s most symbolic spaces.
Selection Process
Eligible applications will be reviewed by SFAC staff, who will identify and recommend a sculpture for the site in consultation with the Mayor’s Office, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, the Civic Center Community Benefit District, and additional community partners, as needed. Applications deemed eligible may also be considered for placement at other sites or for future public art opportunities.
Arts Commission Approval: The recommended sculpture(s) will be submitted first to the Visual Arts Committee (VAC), a subcommittee of the Arts Commission and then to the full Arts Commission for approval. All Artist Review Panel recommendations are subject to the Visual Arts Committee and Full Arts Commission.
All Arts Commission meetings are open to the public and are posted on the Arts Commission website at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. To check the meeting schedule for public art projects, please go to our calendar.
ARTIST SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS
The artwork will be selected in accordance with the goals of the project and criteria outlined below
- Artistic Merit: Artistic Merit may be judged by such measures as originality of concept and artistic vision; the degree to which the work engages the viewer emotionally, intellectually, spiritually; the qualify of craftsmanship or mastery of skills and techniques. Artistic merit may also be credited to artwork that reflects a significant or direct relationship between the artist and distinct racial or cultural communities.
- Alignment with Project Goals: The proposed artwork must advance the goals of Shaping Legacy by fostering inclusive narratives, encouraging community dialogue, and contributing to an expanded understanding of public memory and civic belonging.
- Site Appropriateness: Artworks will be assessed for their suitability to Civic Center Plaza in terms of scale, durability, and visual presence within a highly visible and historically significant civic setting. Works must be installation-ready and compatible with the architectural and social context of the site.
- Feasibility and Maintainability: SFAC staff will assess the practicality of installing and maintaining the recommended artwork for the duration of the loan, considering factors such as budget, timeline, and logistical requirements. The evaluation will address the structural integrity of the sculpture, its suitability for outdoor display in a high-traffic civic environment, resistance to weathering, theft, or vandalism, and the anticipated costs associated with handling, installation, maintenance, and deinstallation.
- Public Safety and Accessibility: Artwork shall be evaluated to ensure that it does not present a hazard to public safety and complies Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and with all other applicable building codes.
How To Apply
Applications are available through SlideRoom (https://sfgov.slideroom.com), an online application system for calls for entry. There is no charge to artists for using SlideRoom. Please be sure to allow adequate time to submit your application as technical difficulties can occur. Applications that are mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered will not be considered.
Applications will not be accepted after the January 12, 11:59 p.m. (PDT or PST) deadline.
Application materials include:
- Artist Information
- Name and contact information.
- Indicate whether you are applying as an individual artist, artist team, or through U.S.-based gallery representation.
- Artwork Information
- Title, date, medium, dimensions, and weight of the proposed sculpture (or series of sculptures).
- Current location of the artwork
- Brief description of the artwork (100–200 words).
- Relevance to Project Goals
- In what ways does the proposed work engage with the themes of Shaping Legacy (e.g., repair and reckoning with historical harm; representation, power, and equity in public commemoration; or the complexity of untold or underrepresented histories) and contribute to inclusive civic narratives in the context of San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza?
- Applicants may provide a brief original response (2–3 sentences, or up to 250 words) or submit existing statements, catalogue text, or press materials that convey the work’s alignment.
- Installation and Maintenance
- What are the installation requirements for the artwork (pedestal, plate mount, freestanding, etc.)?
- What ongoing maintenance or conservation needs should SFAC anticipate during the loan period?
- Loan and Insurance
- Insurance value of the work and current ownership (artist, gallery, or other).
- Confirmation of when the artwork will be available for loan, including any potential scheduling conflicts.
- Applicants will be asked to verify that the work will not be committed to another exhibition or loan during the agreed-upon display period.
- Only artworks located in the U.S. will be considered for loan, due to transport and insurance requirements.
- Images and Image Descriptions
- Submit up to 10 images of the existing sculpture (or series) being proposed for Civic Center Plaza. Images should include overall views, details, and, if available, documentation of previous installations.
- SlideRoom accepts all image file types up to 5MB. Images should be at least 72 dpi and no larger than 1280 x 1280 pixels.
- When uploading, you will be prompted to provide image descriptions. For each image, include the title, medium, dimensions, and year. You may also add a brief statement (maximum two sentences) describing the work or its context
Please note that Arts Commission staff will be available to answer questions about this call until 5 p.m. PST on the deadline date, January 12, 2026. Please contact Jackie von Treskow, Senior Public Art Program Manager, at jackie.vontreskow@sf.gov or (415) 810-1055.
SlideRoom technical support is available Monday – Saturday by email, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. CST at support@slideroom.com.
Project Timeline
Application Review and Scoring
Week of January 26, 2026
VAC Approval of Recommended Artwork
February 18, 2026
Full Commission Approval of Recommended Artist
March 2, 2026
Loan Agreement Completion
April 2026
Artwork Transportation and Installation
Summer 2026
Eligibility
Eligibility is open to professional, practicing artists who reside in the United States or have representation from a US-based gallery willing to enter into an Artwork Loan Agreement with the Arts Commission on the artist’s behalf. Entries not meeting eligibility guidelines will be withdrawn from consideration.