Description
THE CITY OF BOWIE SEEKS AN ARTIST TO CREATE A DURABLE, CONTEMPORARY KWANZAA
KINARA SCULPTURE FOR ANNUAL DISPLAY AT THE BOWIE SENIOR CENTER THAT HONORS CULTURAL SYMBOLISM, FEATURES ALL SEVEN NGUZO SABA PRINCIPLES, AND REFLECTS COMMUNITY PRIDE
All RFP questions or clarifications must be emailed to Robin Jones at rjones@cityofbowie.org by 11 A.M. on Friday, February 20, 2026.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 AT 11 A.M.
The Artist will receive a maximum commission of $25,000.
The selected artist/team must plan, design, fabricate, and install a weather-resistant, durable sculpture made from non-hazardous, low-maintenance materials. The work must allow for easy disassembly, compact storage, and withstand outdoor elements.
Design Specifications:
Must be modular; no single
component should exceed 3–4 feet in any dimension
Candles must be removable and have individual lighting controls
Structure should be designed for
anchoring at the site
Must include a completed Artist
Design and Maintenance Form
(Attachment A).
Award
The Artist will receive a commission of up to $25,000, including an initial payment of $3,000 following contract execution and concept approval.
The remaining balance will be paid upon installation and acceptance of the work, within 30 days of receiving an approved invoice.
The commission covers the
artist/team design fee, all materials, fabrication, installation, travel, and any other project-related expenses.
After the submission deadline, a Selection Panel of City staff and Arts Committee members will review submissions and select up to three finalists to interview and present their designs.
Final designs should incorporate key elements including:
Kwanzaa symbolism and colors (Red, Black, Green)
Wood-like textures or finishes
The seven Kwanzaa principles represented by candles
Artists should avoid abstract
designs requiring lengthy
explanation. The sculpture must clearly celebrate Kwanzaa.
The Selection Panel will evaluate proposals and finalists based on the following criteria:
Experience with public art for
municipalities or government
agencies
Artistic merit, originality, quality, and project relevance
Suitability of medium and style for the site and outdoor
conditions
Professional references and
successful past projects
Clear, culturally appropriate use of Kwanzaa symbols
PROJECT BUDGET $25,000
A proposal may be submitted by an individual artist or by a team of collaborating artists. Interested artists are required to submit the following:
Artist’s statement of no more than 350 words in length,
describing your work and interest in this project
Resume must be submitted by each participating artist
representing past artwork
completed within the last 10 years
Digital Design of the proposed Kinara
Budget including projected types and costs of materials.
The Artist’s materials should
include exterior-grade paint
and exterior-grade panels.
Installation hardware and
associated costs are to be
included in the budget
Work Samples: Submit a
selection of previous work
including documents, photos, and plans. Support materials like
reviews, articles, or web links may be included. If no link is provided, images must follow this format: One JPEG per image
Approx. 600 x 800 pixels, 72– 300 dpi
Max file size 1MB
Named as
lastnamefirstnameimagenumb er.jpg (e.g., DoeJohn01.jpg)
Include a numbered,
annotated list with title, media, dimensions, location,
description, date, budget, and project partners (if applicable)
Project budget includes artist design fee, materials, fabrication, permits, installation, travel and any other expenses. *Late proposals will not be accepted.