Review the Individual Artist Projects Grant guidelines before applying.
This grant opportunity is currently open for proposed projects in the following disciplines:
- Dance
- Folk and Traditional Arts
- Literary Arts
- Music
- Theater
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. It must have a broad intended audience that is accessible and engaging for a wide range of attendees. This 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.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Specification No. 26-11770- C
SOUTH BERKELEY SENIOR CENTER PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY
RFQ Issue Date: February 20, 2026
Applicant Questions Due: March 13, 2026 (by 5:00pm PT)
Responses to Questions Posted: March 20, 2026
Application Deadline: April 27, 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
SOUTH BERKELEY SENIOR CENTER
The Judge Henry Ramsey Jr. South Berkeley Senior Center, located at 2939 Ellis Street, has been a vital community hub since opening in 1979 as Berkeley’s first senior center. Established through the leadership of Judge Henry Ramsey Jr. - a lawyer, educator, veteran, civil rights leader, and City Councilmember - the center reflects his vision of creating spaces where older adults could connect, engage, and access essential services. Situated in South Berkeley, a neighborhood long recognized for its African American cultural heritage and civic activism, the center continues to uphold Judge Ramsey’s legacy of equity, inclusion, and community service.
Today, the South Berkeley Senior Center remains a vital hub for social, recreational, and supportive programs that foster wellbeing and connection among older adults. Services include daily congregate lunches, exercise and arts classes, cultural events, and educational workshops. The center’s social services staff also provide case management and referrals to help seniors access housing, health care, and transportation resources. Beyond senior-focused programs, the facility serves as an important community gathering space, hosting neighborhood meetings, nonprofit activities, and special events. Its multipurpose rooms, classrooms, and dining hall are used by a wide range of community groups, reinforcing the center’s welcoming, intergenerational character.
In 2023, the City of Berkeley selected Noll & Tam Architects to design the South Berkeley Senior Center Improvements Project. The renovation will provide seismic, electrical, and accessibility upgrades, and staff space reconfiguration. Expected to be completed in Spring 2028, the project will create a safer, more energy-efficient, and inclusive facility.
Click here for more information on the South Berkeley Senior Center.
Click here to find current images of the building, which are included in the downloadable PDF of this RFQ.
PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITY
The City of Berkeley has identified a public art opportunity for an artist or team to design, fabricate, and install a cohesive series of (5) wall mounted three-dimensional artworks in the following locations at the South Berkeley Senior Center.
- Exterior Wall: (1) large three-dimensional wall mounted artwork at the Ellis Street entrance of the Senior Center. Wall is approximately 9' high x 10' wide.
- Interior Wall: (4) small three-dimensional wall mounted artworks on the 2nd floor of the Senior Center. Wall area is approximately 55” high x 18’ wide.
Artworks will be installed permanently and must be structurally sound, highly durable, and easy to maintain.
PROJECT GOALS
- The artwork should be welcoming and engaging for a diverse, multigenerational audience.
- The artwork should feature a strong, integrated design that enhances the visitor experience of the South Berkeley Senior Center.
- The artwork should complement the site’s identity—including its usage, culture, history, architecture, or other site-specific themes.
PROJECT BUDGET
The total project amount is $225,000 and includes all associated costs including, but not limited to, artist design fee, research, engineering, fabrication, transportation, and installation. The selected artist or 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 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 communities—including African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American artists—are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications submitted by art consultants or commercial fabricators must include a designated partner artist or team, along with a portfolio demonstrating prior collaborative work.
The City of Berkeley prioritizes public art commission opportunities for artists and teams who are not currently represented in the City’s Public Art Collection.
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 January 2027 to May 2028.
- The selected artist will be responsible for full coordination of the project, including administration, design, engineering, fabrication, transportation, and installation (to be completed by a California-licensed contractor), for five (5) unique three-dimensional, wall-mounted artworks at the South Berkeley Senior Center. The total project budget shall not exceed $225,000.
- Project administration includes attendance at remote, and if needed, in-person meetings as well as any additional visits to the site. Selected artist or team will supply shop drawings, renderings, and material samples, as needed, to complete the project and a cleaning and maintenance plan for the artworks.
III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All RFQ applications must be created on Submittable. Applications submitted by USPS mail, email, fax, or hand delivery will not be accepted or reviewed. Applications received in Submittable after the application deadline of April 27, 2026, at 5:00pm PT will not be accepted or reviewed for any reason, including but not limited to technical difficulties, system errors, or user error.
Cover Letter
The cover letter should address the following:
- What interests you about this project
- How your experience uniquely qualifies you for this project
- Key considerations that will guide your research, design, and construction for this project
- Length: One (1) page maximum
- File formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf
Resume or Biography
- Length: One (1) page maximum per artist; two (2) pages maximum for teams
- File formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf
Portfolio
- Submit 5–10 images of completed artwork demonstrating creativity and experience relevant to this project. CAD renderings or imagery of unbuilt projects will not be accepted.
- For each image, include title, medium, dimensions, year completed, and a brief description.
- For team applications, clearly identify the lead artist for each image.
- File formats: .jpg, .jpeg, .png.
IV. SELECTION PROCESS
Qualification Panel
A panel of Bay Area arts professionals will serve as the Qualification Panel. This panel will review all RFQ submissions and advance 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 Commission on Aging, the architect team, and the neighborhood—to form the Project Panel. The Project Panel will select up to three finalists.
Finalists will be required 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 $1,750.
The Project Panel will review finalist presentations and recommend one artist or artist team to advance.
Civic Art Commission
The Project Panel’s recommendation 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
Applications will be scored 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 a one-time additional 5 points bonus during Qualification Panel scoring for a possible total of 105 points.
Finalist proposals will be scored on Project Goals and Project Management:
Project Goals
- The artwork should be welcoming and engaging for a diverse, multigenerational audience.
- The artwork should feature a strong, integrated design that enhances the visitor experience of the South Berkeley Senior Center.
- The artwork should complement the site’s identity—including its usage, culture, history, architecture, or other site-specific themes.
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 (All dates are subject to change)
RFQ Posts February 20, 2026
Applicant Questions Due March 13, 2026 (at 5:00pm PT)
Responses posted in Submittable March 20, 2026
RFQ Closes April 27, 2026 (at 5:00pm PT)
Finalists Selected July 2026
Finalists Site Visit August 2026
Finalists Proposals Due October 2026
Finalists Presentations November 2026
Civic Arts Commission Decision December 2026
Artist Under Contract January 2027
Design Development + Construction Review February 2027 – April 2027
Fabrication May 2027 – March 2028
Installation April 2028
Unveiling May 2028
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 March 13, 2026 (at 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. Submittable technical support is available at https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/ or by email at support@submittable.com. Submittable business hours are 9am-5pm MT.
Answers to questions submitted by the deadline will posted below on March 20, 2026.