The City of Berkeley Civic Arts Grants Program is currently seeking grant review panelists. The review panel process is designed to ensure that our grantmaking is transparent, thoughtful, and reflective of our cultural equity values.
The Grants Program currently provides funding in three categories:
- Individual Artist Projects
- Community Festivals
- General Operating Support
Two additional grant categories that may be offered this year include:
- Arts Programs
- Capital Projects
Each grant category is reviewed by a separate panel comprised of at least three panelists. Panelists will initially evaluate and score their assigned grant applications independently. Grant categories with more than 60 applications may be split into two separate panels.
Panelists have 6 - 8 weeks to complete their independent review, and then meet virtually (using Zoom) to participate in the review panel. Grant review panel meetings are open to the public, but not recorded. Depending on the number of applications received, panels may take place over 1 or 2 weekdays.
Civic Arts seeks panelists based in the greater Bay Area who are knowledgeable about the arts and cultural sector as it pertains to non-profit organizations, practicing artists, event production, and cultural equity. If accepted to be included in the Civic Arts grant panelist pool, panelists will be eligible to serve up to two years. Panelists are approved to be included in the panelist pool by the Civic Arts Commission. Staff ensures that the makeup of panels is representative of Berkeley’s demographics and the artistic disciplines represented in the grant application pool.
Panelists are currently compensated at rate of $25 for each application reviewed.
Panelists must complete all assigned reviews before the scheduled panel review meeting to participate in the panel and receive payment.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Specification No. ??
Santa Fe Trackbed to Park Conversion Public Art Commission
PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY
RFQ Issue Date: November 13, 2025
Applicant Questions Due: December 1, 2025 (by 5:00pm PT)
Responses to Questions Posted: December 8, 2025
Application Deadline: January 12, 2026 (by 5:00pm PT)
Applications Accepted Through Submittable: https://cityofberkeleyoed.submittable.com/submit
Proposals will not be accepted after the date and time stated above. Incomplete proposal or proposals that do not conform to the requirements specified herein will not be considered. Issuance of the RFQ does not obligate the City of Berkeley (the “City”) to award a contract, nor is the City liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation and submittal of proposals for the subject work. The act of submitting a proposal is a declaration that the proposer has read the RFQ and understands all the requirements and conditions.
I. PROJECT SUMMARY
SANTA FE TRACKBED SITE DESCRIPTION
The project site was historically part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Launched in 1904, the Santa Fe Railway line ran through Berkeley, connecting Oakland to Richmond and provided both passenger and freight service.
Between the 1930s and 1960s, South Berkeley was subjected to redlining by mortgage lenders, a discriminatory practice that severely limited investment in the area. As a result, the neighborhood experienced decades of disinvestment and many lower-income families of color settled there due to the inability to afford other neighborhoods.
In the 1950s, the Santa Fe Railway ended passenger service on the line, and by the early 1970s, freight service had ceased as well. In 1974 Berkeley voters passed Measure Y, which approved funding to acquire and develop the entire 3.1-mile stretch of the Santa Fe Railroad Right-of-Way (ROW). City Council authorized the acquisition in 1978, and by 1979 approved a development plan that included the creation of parkland, the construction of new housing, and the sale of some parcels to neighboring residents.
As a result, two major parks were established along the ROW in the early 1980s – Cedar Rose Park at the northern end of the corridor, and Strawberry Creek Park, located just south of University Avenue. Several affordable housing projects were built on parcels adjacent to Channing and Dwight Way, and a housing development immediately south of Ward Street at Sojourner Truth Way was created by the City.
Opposition to the loss of potential open space culminated in the passage of Measure L. This measure mandated the remaining ROW to be preserved as open space, a position that was further reinforced in the 2000 Berkeley General Plan, which prohibited any additional parcel sales. From that point forward, the corridor was designated exclusively for parks, walking paths, community gardens, tot-lots, and other community-supported open space initiatives.
After 2000, most of the remaining parcels remained undeveloped. However, two significant community-led projects occurred. In 2007, efforts to establish the Berkeley Community Orchard began, though the initiative was ultimately curtailed due to the discovery of arsenic contamination in the soil. In 2011, the Southern Berkeley Bioremediation Garden and Public Education Project was launched through a partnership involving the Ecology Center, UC Berkeley, and several local gardening organizations, offering an example of how the community could reclaim and repurpose the land sustainably.
In 2021, the City of Berkeley Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department secured a $5 million grant from California’s Proposition 68 Statewide Parks Program to transform the undeveloped parcels along Acton Street between Blake and Ward Street in South Berkeley into a new neighborhood park. This marks the most recent step in a decades-long transformation of the Santa Fe Railroad Right-of-Way (ROW) from an abandoned rail corridor into vibrant public space for all Berkeley residents. Currently anticipated to be complete in Summer 2027, the Santa Fe Trackbed to Park Conversion project will create new park area that spans four blocks. Running north to south, the new park areas will be:
- Community Garden Park (between Blake and Parker Streets)
- Dog Play and Community Park (between Parker and Carleton Streets)
- Kid’s Play and Community Park (between Carleton and Derby Streets)
- Urban Farm and Education Park (between Derby and Ward Streets)
Click here (https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/capital-projects/santa-fe-trackbed-park-conversion) for more information on the Santa Fe Trackbed to Park Conversion project.
Images of the park’s conceptual plan can be found on the RFQ page under “Additional Files.”
PUBLIC ART PROJECT
The City of Berkeley has identified one public art opportunity to design, fabricate, and install two unique vertical structures that will serve as habitat boxes for both birds and insects. The two installation sites are:
- Community Garden Park (between Blake and Parker Streets)
- Urban Farm and Education Park (between Derby and Ward Streets)
The selected artist or artist team will be responsible for creating two distinct artworks—one artwork installed at each site. Each structure must stand vertically for high visibility to park visitors and function effectively as both a bird and insect habitat. Concrete supports embedded in the soil must be designed to adequately support the height of each artwork. Each artwork shall be a minimum of 10 feet tall, featuring a bird habitat box positioned at the top and a bug habitat box located at least 4 feet above the base. Artworks will be installed permanently and must be structurally sound, highly durable, and easy to maintain.
PROJECT GOALS
- Create permanent structures that effectively offer shelter and nesting opportunities for native and migratory birds, as well as non-stinging insects. Structures will be made of highly durable materials and their design considers safety, maintenance, weatherization, and vandalism.
- Integrate strong design aesthetics with a focus on environmental awareness and park integration. Artworks will be appropriate for the site in terms of scale, medium, design, and imagery, and will complement the context of the surrounding area.
- Develop bold, visually striking installations at both ends of the park corridor to serve as key points of interest.
PROJECT BUDGET
The total project amount is $150,000 and includes all associated costs including, but not limited to, artist design fee, environmental research, engineering, fabrication, transportation, and installation. The selected artist or artist team will observe and comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations of governmental agencies, including federal, state, municipal and local governing bodies having jurisdiction over any or all of the scope of artwork services.
ARTIST ELIGIBILITY
This opportunity is open to artists or artist teams residing in the 21 Northern California Megaregion Counties. Such counties include Alameda; Contra Costa; El Dorado; Marin; Merced; Monterey; Napa; Placer; Sacramento; San Benito; San Francisco; San Joaquin; San Mateo; Santa Clara; Santa Cruz; Solano; Sonoma; Stanislaus; Sutter; Yolo; Yuba.
Artists from historically underrepresented populations, including African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American communities, are strongly encouraged to apply.
II. SCOPE OF SERVICES
- The selected artist will enter into a Personal Services Agreement with the City of Berkeley. The anticipated agreement term is from November 2026 to October 2027.
- The selected artist will be responsible for the design, engineering, fabrication, and transportation, as well as the installation by a CA licensed contractor of two unique vertical structures that will serve as habitat boxes for both birds and insects; one for the Community Garden Park and one for the Urban Farm and Education Park located at the Santa Fe Trackbed to Park Conversation site for an amount not to exceed $150,000.
- The selected artist will attend scheduled remote and in-person meetings and site visits. Selected artist will supply shop drawings, renderings, and material samples, as needed, to complete the project.
- The selected artist will provide a cleaning and maintenance plan for the artworks.
III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All RFQ submissions must be created in Submittable. Any other submission by mail, email, fax, or hand delivery will not be accepted. Late or incomplete Submittable applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Cover Letter
Please address the following:
- What interests you about this project?
- How does your experience make you uniquely suited for it?
- In researching, designing, and constructing this public artwork, what will be your key considerations?
- Length: One (1) page maximum
- File formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf
Resume/Biography
- Length: One (1) page maximum per artist; two (2) pages maximum for artist teams
- File formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf
Portfolio
- Submit 5–10 images of completed artworks that demonstrate creativity and qualifications relevant to this project.
- For each image, include: Title, Medium, Dimensions, Year completed, and a Brief description
- If applying as a team, clearly identify the lead artist for each image.
- File formats: .jpg, .jpeg, .png
IV. SELECTION PROCESS
Qualification Panel
A panel of Bay Area arts and environmental professionals will serve as the Qualification Panel, reviewing all RFQ submissions and advancing approximately 20% of the total applications received.
Project Panel
The Qualification Panel will be joined by representatives from key stakeholder groups — including the Civic Arts Commission, the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission, the architect team, and the neighborhood— to form the Project Panel. This panel will select up to three finalists.
The finalists will be invited to visit the project site and meet with key project stakeholders to support the development of site-specific proposals. Each finalist will receive:
- An honorarium of $1,500
- Pre-approved travel reimbursement
Finalist proposals will be presented to the Project Panel, which will recommend one artist to advance.
Civic Art Commission
The artist recommended by the Project Panel will be presented to the Civic Arts Commission for final consideration. The City of Berkeley reserves the right to reject any or all submissions.
V. SCORING CRITERIA
The Qualification Panel will score applications based on the following:
Creativity (60 points)
Creativity will be assessed by the originality and thoughtfulness of ideas; the degree to which the work engages viewers visually, emotionally, and intellectually; and the demonstrated level of technical skill and craftsmanship.
Experience (40 points)
Experience will be evaluated based on past works that reflect a scope, scale, and/or site context comparable to this project. Consideration will also be given to completed artworks that successfully engage their audiences, as well as evidence of the applicant’s professional knowledge, capacity, and resources to execute permanent outdoor work in the public realm.
Local Vendor Preference (5 points)
In accordance with City contracting requirements, applicants who reside or maintain a studio in the City of Berkeley and are registered as a City of Berkeley Local Business, will receive an additional 5 bonus points, for a possible total of 105 points.
The Project Panel and Civic Arts Commission will review finalist proposals based on the following:
Project Goals
- The proposed artworks are permanent structures that effectively offer shelter and nesting opportunities for native and migratory birds, as well as non-stinging insects. Structures will be made of highly durable materials and their design considers safety, maintenance, weatherization, and vandalism.
- The proposal integrates strong design aesthetics with a focus on environmental awareness and park integration. The proposal is appropriate for its site in terms of scale, medium, design, and imagery, and complements the context of the surrounding area.
- The proposal develops a bold, visually striking installation at both ends of the park corridor to serve as key points of interest.
Project Management
The proposal demonstrates skills in communication, research, coordination, budgeting, and scheduling. The proposal demonstrates professionalism, thoroughness, and timeliness in working with staff, project stakeholders, and community.
VI. SCHEDULE (dates are subject to change)
RFQ Posts November 13, 2025
Applicant Questions Due December 1, 2025 (by 5:00pm PT)
Responses posted in Submittable December 8, 2025 (by 5:00pm PT)
RFQ Closes January 12, 2026 (by 5:00pm PT)
Finalists Selected March 2026
Finalists Site Visit May 2026
Finalists Proposals Due + Community Survey July 2026
Finalists Presentations August 2026
Civic Arts Commission Decision September 2026
Artist Under Contract November 2026
Design Development Review + Construction Review December 2026 - February 2027
Fabrication February 2027 - September 2027
Installation September 2027
Unveiling October 2027
VII. QUESTIONS REGARDING RFQ
For questions concerning the anticipated work, or scope of the project, please contact City of Berkeley Civic Arts civicarts@berkeleyca.gov no later than December 1, 2025 (by 5:00pm PT). Answers to RFQ questions or any RFQ addenda will be posted in City of Berkeley Civic Art Submittable portal at https://cityofberkeleyoed.submittable.com/submit. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check the Submittable website for updates and responses.
Answers to RFQ questions submitted by the deadline will be posted below.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Submittable technical support is available at https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/ or by email at support@submittable.com. Their business hours are 9am-5pm MT.
PLEASE NOTE: The below content, VIII. through X., is provided only as information and is not a requirement for submitting an RFQ.