2025 Art of Recovery Production Partners RFP

The City of Santa Monica is seeking proposals for the 2025 Art of Recovery Production Partners, a Request for Proposal (RFP) targeting organizations, arts and cultural producers, collectives, groups, and individuals interested in collaborative art projects within the city. This initiative, launched in November 2020, aims to support local artists and the local economy by creating engaging art events and projects in public spaces. The primary objective is to build an ecosystem of support for artists, with selected producers responsible for providing space, production services, and facilitating cross-sector collaborations. Key deliverables include implementing art projects that align with the city's strategic priorities of economic growth, cultural vitality, justice, equity, diversity, and sustainability. The RFP was posted on October 9, 2025, with questions due by October 16, 2025, and final proposals due on November 20, 2025, at 3:00 pm. The contract term is initially three years, with potential for two one-year renewals, and the program has historically supported 82 projects, 144 in-person events, and engaged 792 creatives with funding of $1,486,667 from the city and $539,966 from partners.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline set-aside designations or restrictions for specific types of organizations, suggesting a broadly inclusive approach to potential respondents. While no incumbent vendors are specifically mentioned, the RFP indicates a preference for partners with experience in performing arts and potential expansion into visual art works. The proposal requires detailed consideration of insurance requirements, including Commercial General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per accident, and potential Workers' Compensation insurance. Proposers must have insurers authorized to conduct business in California with an A.M. Best rating of at least A:VII. Although a specific award value is not disclosed, the historical funding levels suggest a substantial budget allocation for the Art of Recovery initiative. The city will evaluate proposals based on the submitted materials, with a focus on the ability to support artists, create meaningful community engagement, and align with the city's broader strategic objectives.