City of Berkeley - OED | Civic Arts

Review the Individual Artist Projects Grant guidelines before applying.

This grant opportunity is currently open for proposed projects in the following disciplines:

• Film and New Media
• Multidisciplinary / Interdisciplinary Arts
• Social Practice
• Visual Arts

Review the Arts Programs Grant guidelines before applying.

Nonprofit organizations that fall within one of two categories are eligible for this opportunity:

• Non-arts nonprofit organizations located in the City of Berkeley producing arts/cultural programming in the City of Berkeley led by a Berkeley-based partnering arts organization or teaching artist
• Arts nonprofit organizations located in the Greater Bay Area (outside of Berkeley) producing arts/cultural programming in the City of Berkeley

Review the Community Festivals Grant guidelines before applying.

Only events that meet the following 'festival' definition are eligible for this grant opportunity.

• A festival is defined as a public event that celebrates a community, neighborhood, historically significant day, or shared cultural interest. These may include arts fairs, celebrations of cultural heritage, and other events that occur over a limited time period.

Please note: This grant is for festivals that are one- or multi-day events, but generally events that occur one time per year. This grant is not intended to fund ongoing programming.

Review the General Operating Support Grant guidelines before applying.

Only Berkeley-based organizations that meet the following 'arts organization' definition are eligible for this grant opportunity.

• An arts organization is defined as an entity with a primary purpose of providing arts, creative, or cultural programming/services. 

The organization’s purpose will be assessed and verified by staff using the organization’s website, mission, core activities, and IRS National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) codes.

Please note: This grant program operates and is open on a two (2) year cycle. If awarded, grantees receive their award amount for Fiscal Year 2026, and will receive the same award amount for Fiscal Year 2027.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Specification No. 25-11686-C

MLK JR. YOUTH SERVICES CENTER / YOUNG ADULT PROJECT PUBLIC ART COMMISSION

PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

RFQ Issue Date: November 25, 2024

Applicant Questions Due: December 31, 2024 (by 5:00pm PT)

Responses to Questions Posted: January 8, 2025

Application Deadline: January 31, 2025 (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

SITE DESCRIPTION

Located next to Grove Park at 1730 Oregon Street, the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center/Young Adult Project houses various afterschool and summer recreation programs such as tutoring, violence prevention, and leadership development for teens and young adults. As a community center, the Parks, Recreation, Waterfront Department provides recreational programming and services for residents of all ages here, but this is the only community center with a particular focus on young adults and teens, located in an area that was formerly redlined by the mortgage industry. It is home to the City’s only teen-focused recreational programming and offers free, low-cost, or affordable programming for the City’s residents, in particular our at-risk youth. In addition, the MLK Jr. Youth Services Center/Y.A.P. has been designated as one of the City's care and shelter facilities identified in the City's Resilience Strategy.

The City is using funding from T1 bonds for a seismic retrofit of this 1950s building, as well as various interior and exterior upgrades to create a more modern and flexible recreation center that is safe and accessible to the community it serves.

In 2022, the City developed a conceptual design for this upgrade through a public process including feedback from community meetings, focus groups workshops, park canvassing, and an online survey. Public feedback included the desire for public art to enhance the project and site.
 

PUBLIC ART PROJECT

Alongside project stakeholders, an opportunity area has been identified for a large-scale tile or mosaic application upon the East wall (exterior) wrapping onto the North wall and Lobby (exterior and interior). The total combined square footage is approximately 885 square feet.

Click here to view and download three architectural renderings of the installation site:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/182423535@N08/

PROJECT GOALS 

• Provide an enriching welcome to teens, young adults, visitors, staff, and community members.
• Promote neighborhood connections, a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and play.
• Relate in a meaningful way to the project site, such as complementing the youth center programming; responding to the building’s architecture; celebrating or reflecting the youth center and surrounding community, culture, or lifestyle; referencing the park’s history; and/or harmonizing with the natural environment.

PROJECT BUDGET 

The total project amount is $442,000 and includes all associated costs including, but not limited to, artist design fee, fabrication, transportation, and installation. Artist 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

Professional practicing artists and creative teams residing in the United States and its Territories are eligible to apply. Artists who belong to a historically underrepresented population are strongly encouraged to apply.      
 

II.  SCOPE OF SERVICES

a.  Artist will enter into a Personal Services Agreement with the City of Berkeley. The anticipated agreement term is from December 2025 to December 2027.

b.  Artist will be responsible for the design, fabrication, transportation, and installation of a large-scale tile mosaic application at Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center/Young Adult Project for an amount not to exceed $442,000.

c.  Artist will attend scheduled in-person and remote convenings such as meetings and site visits. Artist will supply shop drawing, renderings, and material samples as needed to complete the project. 

d.  Artist will provide a cleaning and maintenance plan for the artwork. 

III.  SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

RFQ submissions will be collected through the online portal, Submittable. RFQ submissions that are mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered will not be reviewed or considered.

Letter of Interest and Experience

What interests you about this project, and what makes you uniquely qualified for it?  In the planning, designing, and fabricating of this public artwork, what will be important considerations? 

One-page maximum. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf.

Resume and/or Biography

If you are applying as a team, please combine into one document. 

One-page maximum. Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf.

Portfolio Images

Please include title, medium, dimensions, year, and a brief description. If you are applying as a team, please indicate the lead artist. 

Up to ten images of fabricated work. Acceptable file types: .jpg, .jpeg, .png
 

IV. PANEL REVIEW PROCESS

Qualification Panel

Three Bay Area arts professionals will serve as the Qualification Panel. This panel will identify a pool of Project-qualified applicants.  This Panel will screen all applications with the intent to advance approximately twenty percent of total applications received.

Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center/Young Adult Project Panel

The Qualification Panel will convene with representatives from various stakeholder groups - the Civic Arts Commission, the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission, the architect team, and the community - to form the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center/Young Adult Project Panel.

This Panel will identify three finalists who will be invited to the project site for a Q+A session with the project team and key stakeholders. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $2000 plus pre-approved travel reimbursement for the development of a site-specific proposal.

The Panel will later reconvene for finalists to present their proposals resulting in one proposal being recommended to the Civic Art Commission.

Civic Art Commission 

The recommended proposal will be submitted to the Civic Art Commission’s Public Art Subcommittee for possible approval and then onto the full Civic Arts Commission to consider for final approval. The City of Berkeley reserves the right to reject any and all submissions.
 

V. QUALIFICATION PANEL SCORING CRITERIA

The Panel’s scoring criteria for submissions include the following considerations.

Creativity (60 points)

Creativity may be assessed by such measures as originality of an idea or thoughtful imagination; the degree to which a work engages the viewer visually, emotionally, intellectually, and/or spiritually; the authentic relationship between the artist and subject matter; and visionary concepts espoused with technical skill or craftsmanship.

Experience (40 points)

Relevant experience can be demonstrated by past works of scope, scale, and/or site context comparable to those required for this project, as well as by completed artworks that successfully relate to their audiences. Past works may also indicate the degree to which an applicant has the professional knowledge or resources required to work in the public sector.

Local Vendor Preference (5 points)

Per City contracting requirements, applicants who live or have a studio in the City of Berkeley and are registered as a City of Berkeley Local Business will be given a bonus of 5 points for a possible total of 105 points
 

VI. MLK JR. YOUTH SERVICES CENTER / YOUNG ADULT PROJECT PANEL and CIVIC ARTS COMMISSION SELECTION CRITERIA

The Panel and Commission’s selection criteria for submissions and proposals include the following considerations.

Project Goals

The proposal meets the goals of the project and reflects the values of the Civic Arts Commission to advocate, nurture, and sustain arts and culture citywide, ensuring equity, democracy, and inclusion.

Site Specificity

The proposal is appropriate for its site in terms of scale, medium, design, and imagery, and complements the context of the surrounding area. 

Feasibility and Maintenance

The proposal demonstrates consideration of planning, coordination, budget, timeline, and minimal maintenance requirements that account for weatherization and vandalism.

Project Management

The artist can work constructively with numerous project stakeholders, community, and staff.
 

VII. SCHEDULE (All dates are subject to change)

RFQ Posts                                                      November 25, 2024

Applicant Questions Due                             December 31, 2024 (by 5:00pm PT)

Responses posted in Submittable              January 8, 2025 (by 5:00pm PT)

RFQ Closes                                                   January 31, 2025  (by 5:00pm PT)

Finalists Selected                                          April 2025 

Finalists Site Visit                                          May 2025

Finalists Proposals Due                                July/August 2024

Finalists Presentations                                  September 2025

Civic Arts Commission Decision                  October 2025

Artist Under Contract                                    December 2025

Design Development Review                       May 2026

Fabrication                                                     June 2026 - June 2027   

Installation                                                      August/September 2027
 

VIII. 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 31, 2024 (by 5:00pm PT). Answers to questions will not be provided via email or via phone. 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 vendor’s responsibility to check this site.

Answers to questions submitted by the deadline are posted below.

1)  Questions related to construction progress/completion 

Question: Is the renovation of the building complete or in progress?

Answer: The building renovation is in the design phase and will be completed by approximately fall/winter 2027.

Question: In the North wall there is a division wall, is this already built? I Just trying to figure out the split solution, between exterior and interior.

Answer: The renovated North wall, which includes a wall to create an entrance into the building, is not already built. Finalists will be provided with more detailed information if needed for them to develop proposals.

2)    Questions related to visuals and dimensions of the walls

Question: If possible, please share photos of the walls in question. 

Answer: Since the renovated walls have not yet been completed, renderings, elevation drawings, and a plan view of the walls are posted on the link provided within this RFQ. https://www.flickr.com/photos/182423535@N08/

High resolution images are also available on the RFQ webpage under Additional Files button.

Question: Could you please provide dimensions of the tile/mosaic murals desired on the East wall (exterior), the portion wrapping onto the North wall, and the Lobby (exterior and interior)? It is difficult to understand the space or dimensions from the architectural drawings. Could you write on the drawing to explain better? 

Question: Can you supply an image or written spec for the dimensions of the two walls? 

Answer: Higher resolution elevation and plan views have been uploaded onto https://www.flickr.com/photos/182423535@N08/. These enable dimensions to be visible.  The walls are 20’ high.  The East (exterior) wall is 34’-6.25” wide.  The North (exterior and interior) wall is 18’ wide overall. 

High resolution images are also available on the RFQ webpage under Additional Files button.

Question: May I still request additional renders and or models for study? 

Answer: Additional renders and/or models are not available at this time.  Finalists will be provided with more detailed information if needed for them to develop proposals.

3)    Questions related to possible artwork media

Question: My question is whether this type of artwork (stainless steel relief sculpture) is eligible. 

Question: I was specifically wondering if you were only accepting submissions for a tile/mosaic mural or if painted murals would also be considered. 

Question: Are you considering works other than tile mosaics?

Answer: This opportunity is for tile or mosaic artwork only.

4)    Questions related to community engagement

Question: Could you express if hands-on community involvement is desired for this commission, is it optional, or not preferred at all? 

Question: I'm a community artist my focus is to work WITH the community on the project hosting workshops and making ceramic tiles to go into the mural. Also potentially offering skill sharing teaching youth at the center how to make mosaic. It's not clear from the RFQ if this is possible. Could you please clarify if this would work in the scope of this project. 

Answer: Hands-on community involvement is neither required nor expected for this commission, but Finalists are welcomed to explore community engagement options based upon information collected at the in-person Q+A and site visit.

5)    Questions related to architectural details and waterproofing 

Question: Is the East and North wall going to have a top cap? a cornice type / roof, or it will be just flat? I would like to know if I need to budget a waterproofing solution at the top to protect the mosaic.

Answer: Artists will not be responsible to budget for waterproofing the walls. Finalists will be provided with more detailed information if needed for them to develop proposals.

6)    Questions related to number of artists

Question: Are you selecting one artist for the entire project or are you considering an artist for each artwork location? 

Answer: One artist will be selected to complete the entire project.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT 

Submittable technical support is available on their website https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/ or by emailing support@submittable.com. Their business hours are 9am-5pm MT. They aim to respond within 24 business hours.
 

Please note: The City Contracting Requirements specified in the Terms of Use below are for the final awarded artist, and not RFQ applicants.