Call for Artists- Sculptural Bus Shelter Modification

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is soliciting qualifications from emerging or professional artists to design and create original artwork for retrofitting two existing bus shelters in Havre de Grace, Maryland, under an RFQ funded by the DHCD Placemaking Grant, with qualifications due September 12, 2025.

The scope requires designs for 6'x8' bus shelters (Brasco International model SHS013) that are structurally appropriate, feasible to fabricate, eye-catching, and capable of functioning as traffic-calming devices. Designs must be original artwork unique to each shelter. The successful bidder(s) will proceed through a design approval process that includes committee review and a public comment period before final design selection.

The project is situated within Havre de Grace's established Public Art Program, formalized through the City Council's 2015 adoption of a comprehensive Public Art Plan prepared by Cochran Studio. The city has completed 21 public art installations since 1919 and maintains a Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) overseeing program governance and artist selection. The attached Public Art in HdG exhibit catalogs existing installations and establishes design standards emphasizing durability, maintenance feasibility, and community engagement.

The Placemaking Grant provides funding support through DHCD to commission the artwork. The project aligns with the Public Art Plan's recommendations for professional artist selection through competitive calls, five-point technical reviews addressing materials durability and installation safety, and standardized documentation and maintenance schedules for permanent installations. Funding sources identified in the plan include percent-for-the-arts mechanisms, grant funding, private donations, and public-private partnerships.

No contract value, contract term, or incumbent information is specified in the posted materials.