Creative Strategist: City of Pittsburgh

The City of Pittsburgh, Office of Management and Budget, is requesting proposals for a Creative Strategist—an individual or firm—to lead creative placemaking and cultural investment initiatives in Downtown Pittsburgh under RFP #2026-RFP-220, with proposals due November 13, 2026 at 3:00 pm. The position is grant-funded through the Pennsylvania Creative Communities Initiative program.

Respondents must demonstrate good faith efforts to obtain participation from Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (18 percent target), Women-Owned Business Enterprises (7 percent target), veteran-owned businesses (5 percent target), and LGBTQIA+ small businesses (3 percent target). These are participation goals, not set-asides.

The scope spans three phases: Phase 1 (Listening) requires observing and documenting Downtown Pittsburgh's public spaces and users with deliverables due within 45 days of contract start; Phase 2 (Activation) involves public outreach, developing strategies to enhance public spaces through cultural programming and artistic interventions, and preparing evaluation reports; Phase 3 encompasses developing a Downtown Pittsburgh Creative Investment and Cultural Strategy Plan, tracking performance metrics, and creating a sustainability plan for ongoing initiatives. The successful applicant must obtain and maintain general liability, professional liability, workers compensation, and automobile liability insurance naming the City as an additional insured.

The total annual project budget is $100,000, covering all artist fees, travel, mileage, parking, materials, equipment, subcontractor expenses, and community engagement costs. Respondents must provide a preliminary budget proposal delineated by phase or deliverable, along with hourly rates and time allocations. The initial contract term is two years with optional extension for up to two additional years. Contract award is anticipated in December 2026.

Evaluation will weight qualifications and experience (40 percent), demonstrated success in collaborative community work (40 percent), quality and completeness of application materials (10 percent), and MWDBE/VOSB good faith effort (10 percent). No more than three semifinalists will be selected for interviews. A pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2026, and questions are due November 6, 2026 at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's procurement portal.