Request for Qualifications

Creative Wayfinding

RFQ Deadline: October 25, 2026

Project Budget: Up to $23,000

Location: Downtown Rochester, MN

Rochester has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to develop and implement a creative component as part of the interim wayfinding system deployed downtown.

With multiple major construction projects underway between 2026-2028 a wayfinding campaign, utilizing Detours Lead to Discoveries was implemented in 2026. The NEA grant will support an addition to this campaign, to further help residents, visitors, patients, and families navigate downtown while maintaining access to arts and cultural destinations.

The City of Rochester in partnership with Rochester Art Center seeks an artist or artistic team to develop a public artwork and visual concept that complements Rochester's “Detours Lead to Discoveries” interim wayfinding campaign. The selected artist(s) will create artwork that engages pedestrians and bicyclists, encourages exploration of downtown, and includes visual elements that can be adapted for use on temporary wayfinding signage.

Up to $23,000 is available for the project. This total budget must cover all project expenses, including the artist’s time for concept development, design, production, and public engagement, as well as materials, fabrication, graphic design, and other necessary project costs.

This will be a two-part selection process beginning with a letter of interest responding to this RFQ followed by an invitation-only submittal of a final proposal.

Artists may propose 2D or 3D work in a range of media. The final artwork must include visual elements that can be reproduced and adapted for use in interim wayfinding signage. Artists may use a portion of the project budget to hire a graphic designer or other design professional to assist with translating their artwork into signage-ready imagery.

Artwork is expected to remain at outdoor public sites through mid-summer of 2028, with locations subject to change.

A minimum of three installation sites will be selected by the artist collaboration with the City of Rochester.

Timeline

2026

October 25 – Qualifications due
- One or more artists will be invited to submit a more complete proposal based on their initial letter of interest
November 3 – Request for proposals
November 30 – Full proposals due
Mid-December – Selected artist will be under contract

2027

Jan-Feb – Design & Development including check-ins
March-April Final production
May-June Installation by City Crews
June 30 Grant deadline for project completion

Eligibility

Artists ages 18+ of all backgrounds are welcome to submit their qualifications. There is no fee to apply.

Criteria

Required:

Tell a story that engages & encourages exploration
Include reproducible 2D images to incorporate into or alongside Detours Lead to Discoveries signs.
Include vibrant eye-catching imagery that is not confusing with traffic symbols or could create dangerous situations for pedestrians
Prioritized engagement with pedestrians and bicyclists
Be durable or reproducible (with planned replacements) to be on display for at least a year, starting in June 2027.

Desired:

Connects to downtown Rochester’s history, culture or identity through symbols
Incorporate interactive elements like scavenger hunts, games or prompts
Includes public participation during artwork development

Submission

Interested artists should submit a letter of interest providing their qualifications which includes the following:

Briefly describe your artistic practice and why this project interests you.
Describe experience creating public art, temporary outdoor work, graphic imagery, interactive work or projects related to wayfinding or placemaking.
Briefly describe how you might approach creating artwork that encourages exploration of downtown and can translate into 2D imagery for wayfinding.
Describe any experience with community engagement.
Provide 5-10 samples of previous work.
Please share with us what information you need to develop a full proposal.

Submission Form

To view or download a pdf of this RFQ, use the button below.

Request for Qualifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Will artwork locations be selected before or after proposals are submitted?

Specific locations will be determined after an artist is selected. Because downtown construction areas will change over time, artwork may need to be relocated as projects are completed and new construction begins.

Our goal is to keep the original artwork on public display downtown whenever possible. Depending on the medium and durability of the artwork, it may be displayed outdoors within a construction zone or in a protected indoor location visible to the public, such as the skyway, Rochester Art Center, or Public Library.

How long must the artwork remain on display outdoors?

The RFQ states that “Artwork is expected to remain at outdoor public sites through mid-summer of 2028.” This language is intentionally flexible to accommodate a variety of artistic media and approaches.

If the original artwork is not suitable for extended outdoor display, the artist should propose a way to represent the work outdoors through photographs, reproductions, graphics, or other related imagery that can remain in place for the duration of the project. Our goal is for the artwork or its visual representation to remain part of the downtown experience through mid-summer 2028.

What are some examples of how artwork could be displayed?

The following examples illustrate how artists working in different media might approach this project. Artists are encouraged to propose creative solutions that fit their work and the downtown construction environment.

2D artwork: A muralist or other two-dimensional artist could create artwork that is reproduced on banners attached to construction fences or similar structures. For example, this project in Fayetteville, Arkansas features artwork by local artists printed on construction fence banners. The original artwork could also be displayed in a public indoor or outdoor location for part or all of the project duration.
3D artwork: A sculptor could create small sculptures to be installed along downtown streets, with corresponding images incorporated into wayfinding signage. For example, Mice on Main in Greenville, South Carolina, features miniature sculptures throughout downtown. Images of the sculptures could be reproduced on signs to connect the artwork to the broader wayfinding project.

These are just examples. Artists may propose other approaches and media, as long as their proposals address how the artwork, or a visual representation of it, can remain visible outdoors through mid-summer 2028.

Should the artist’s budget include fabrication and materials?

Yes. The artist’s proposed budget should include all costs associated with creating and fabricating the artwork, including materials.

Will electrical power be available at the installation site?

We do not yet know whether electrical power will be available at the installation site. We expect to have more information by late winter or early spring 2027. Artists are welcome to consider projects that use electricity, but should keep in mind that access to power cannot be guaranteed.