UPDATE 11-30-2023

The deadline for this opportunity has been extended to January 22, 2024 at 11:59pm PST.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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. 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.

ISSUE DATE: OCTOBER 23, 2023
APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 11, 2023, 11:59 PM PST

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The San Francisco Arts Commission invites artists and artist teams residing in the United States to submit qualifications for three art opportunities for the Potrero Yard Modernization Public Art Project. Applicants to this RFQ will be considered for the following artwork opportunities:

• Architecturally integrated glass artwork on the bus ramp on 17th Street measuring approximately 11,000ft2, facing Franklin Square.
• Architecturally integrated glass artwork on a multi-story stairwell measuring approximately 3,800ft2, located on Mariposa Street at York Street.
• Large-scale tile artwork on a building façade measuring approximately 3,000ft2, located on 17th Street at Bryant Street.

PROJECT BUDGET

Tile Artwork
Artist Contract: $740,000
Inclusive of all artist’s fees, as well as associated expenses for artwork design, fabrication, insurance, transportation, and installation.

Glass Artwork #1 (Bus Ramp)
Artist Contract (Design Only): $70,000
Inclusive of all artist’s fees, as well as associated expenses for artwork design and consultation during fabrication and installation.
Fabrication and Transportation: $1,060,000
Managed by SFAC under separate contract.

Glass Artwork #2 (Stairwell)
Artist Contract (Design Only): $40,000
Inclusive of all artist’s fees, as well as associated expenses for artwork design and consultation during fabrication and installation.
Fabrication and Transportation: $370,000
Managed by SFAC under separate contract.
An estimated architectural credit of $121 per square foot will be applied to the glass artwork fabrication budget in areas where the artwork replaces the existing architectural glass, with installation to be covered by the Capital Improvement Project budget.

A separate allocation of $200,000 has been set aside for costs associated with site work/preparation, to be administered by SFAC.

The Potrero Yard Modernization Project will replace an obsolete, century-old bus yard with a modern, three-story, efficient bus maintenance and storage facility, equipped to serve the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency’s (MTA) growing fleet as it transitions to electric buses. MTA’s Potrero Yard is located at Bryant and Mariposa streets on the border of San Francisco’s Potrero Hill and Mission neighborhoods, adjacent to the American Indian and Calle 24 Latino Cultural Districts.

The project’s lead developer is the Potrero Neighborhood Collective (PNC). In addition to providing over 500 units of affordable housing for those with low or moderate incomes and multiple opportunities for commercial retail and concessions, the PNC design includes a modern, three-story bus storage and maintenance transit facility that will address critical transportation issues and improve:

• Efficiency: Repair buses faster, improving Muni’s reliability
• Sustainability: Provide the green infrastructure needed for an all-electric fleet
• Future Growth: Accommodate fleet as it grows – room for 54% more buses at the yard
• Work Conditions: Improve environments, amenities and safety conditions for 800+ SFMTA staff

For more information and updates on the Potrero Yard Modernization Project, please visit SFMTA’s project page.

PUBLIC ART PROJECT GOALS

Illuminate and celebrate the people, history, and diverse cultures of San Francisco's Potrero Hill and Mission neighborhoods and adjacent Calle 24 and American Indian Cultural Districts. Highlight SFMTA’s mission to promote environmental stewardship and provide reliable, safe, and affordable transportation for all.

Selection Process
Artist Qualification Panel: The applications will be reviewed by an Artist Qualification Panel consisting of one SFAC staff member, two representatives of SFMTA (shared vote), and one arts professional who will review and score the applications to identify the short list of qualified artists to be considered for the three project opportunities.

Artist Review Panel: The list of qualified artists will be presented to the Potrero Yard Modernization Project Artist Review Panel consisting of one representative of SFMTA, one representative of PNC, one Arts Commissioner, two community representatives, and three arts professionals. The panel will identify three finalists for each glass artwork opportunity who will be invited to develop conceptual site-specific proposals after attending an orientation session with the project team and key stakeholders. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $3,000 plus travel reimbursement for development of a proposal.

The Potrero Yard Modernization Project Artist Review Panel will reconvene to consider the finalists’ proposals in an interview format and will select one artist for each glass artwork opportunity for recommendation to the Arts Commission.

Upon Arts Commission approval of the recommended artists for the two glass artwork opportunities, the Potrero Yard Modernization Project Artist Review Panel will reconvene to identify three finalists for the tile artwork opportunity who will be invited to develop conceptual site-specific proposals after attending an orientation session with the project team and key stakeholders. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $3,000 plus travel reimbursement for development of a proposal.

Eligibility

Eligibility is open to professional, practicing artists who reside in the United States. Entries not meeting eligibility guidelines will be withdrawn from consideration.

Please see commission portal link for full project information and application instructions.
Click here for the application form.