REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS: NOBLESVILLE TRAILSIDE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION

18 Dec REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS: NOBLESVILLE TRAILSIDE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION

RFQ: NOBLESVILLE TRAILSIDE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION

The City of Noblesville seeks artists to create a new art installation along an interchange between the Hague Road trail, Pleasant Street, and State Road 32, currently under construction. The art will be installed on the wing walls flanking the sides of the tunnel entrances as well as the large retaining wall between the trail and the roadway on the south side of the interchange (see this link for more details). Artists are asked to include at least wing walls 4 and 5 in their proposal, but can include all of the wing walls, if appropriate for their budget. This installation has the opportunity to incorporate murals, sculpture, lighting, and projections, and the City seeks proposals that incorporate one or more media and meet the projects’ budget. Please note that sculptural elements cannot be affixed to the retaining walls but must, instead, be free-standing. This installation is expected to honor and enhance the City’s historic charm, while also being a world-class example of public art. Artists may take inspiration from nearby landmarks, including the Hague Road Nature Haven, the Midland Trace trail, and Cicero Creek.

Artists may be selected for part or all of the project. Extra consideration will be given to proposals from professional, established artists who have not yet developed a public art project in central Indiana, allowing Noblesville to be the first to host their work. 

Noblesville Creates is serving as the coordinating agency for this project. All submissions will be reviewed by a committee made up of appointees from the City of Noblesville, Noblesville Creates, and key community stakeholders.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

Sunday, January 25th, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

ELIGIBILITY:

To be eligible to submit for this opportunity, artists must:

• Be able to meet all of the project requirements (see below)
• Be age 18 or over
• Be willing to meet all contractual obligations and adhere to a strict budget and timeline
• Carry personal liability insurance for the duration of the project (Noblesville Creates can provide a referral to an insurance provider if needed)

THIS PROJECT WILL REQUIRE:

• Providing the application information described below
• Collaborating with The City of Noblesville staff to develop designs for the installations
• Adhering to the size and design requirements set forth by The City of Noblesville
• Construct/Install any and all elements of this project using durable, structurally sound materials that will withstand extremes in weather and UV exposure. Sculptural elements must be constructed to last at least 8 years, preferably longer. Mural elements are expected to last 8 years.
• Coordinating with The City of Noblesville staff for the installation of the sculpture(s)
• If applicable, coordinate with artists working on other components of this public art project or other nearby projects to create complementary designs and plan installation schedules
• All selected designs that include sculptures will be reviewed by a structural engineer (selected by the City) and artists must address any recommendations from the structural engineer before fabricating and installing the pieces.

PROJECT BUDGET:

The City of Noblesville has reserved $100,000 for this project. That budget is to cover the artists’ compensation and anticipated expenses, including (but not limited to) design fees, construction materials, paints, installation hardware or equipment, sealant, other materials, production and labor. Payment will be made in two installments: 1/2 will be paid to the artist at the beginning of the project, with the remaining 1/2 to be paid upon completion of the project. Please note that these payments can take up to 60 days to arrive.

RESOURCES:

Site plans and photos can be found here. If this link does not work for you, please contact Aili McGill at amcgill@noblesvillecreates.org.

PROJECT TIMELINE:

This timeline represents the project as it now appears. Changes may be necessary as the project progresses.
Review responses to RFQ: Jan 26-Feb 8
Finalist interviews (if needed): Feb 8 – 13
Selection of artist(s): By Mar 1 (subject to change due to availability of artists and reviewers)
Design: Mar-Apr
Final Design Approved: no later than Apr 15
Installation: April 1-May 15, weather depending.

Notes:

• Construction on the site is projected to last through early spring
• The final design must be approved by the Public Art Committee and the Mayor’s office prior to fabrication and installation
• The City would like to have this project installed before for the Indiana Peony Festival on May 16^th, 2026, weather depending
• The City and Noblesville Creates will provide clear updates and information about construction timelines, as information is available

SELECTION PROCESS:

Artists must submit their qualifications to Ailithir McGill (amcgill@noblesvillecreates.org) by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jan 25^th, 2026 Appointees from The City of Noblesville, Noblesville Creates and community stakeholders will review submitted qualifications and select up to 10 finalists to interview further.

Note: While this is the intended selection process, in the event of an insufficient number of qualified applicants, Noblesville Creates reserves the right to invite an artist to propose, or to directly select an artist and also reserves the right to cancel the opportunity entirely at any point and for any reason. 

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Finalists will be selected based upon the following criteria:

Technical Ability: Artist’s submission indicates professionalism, skill with materials and techniques, and indicates the capacity to meet the requirements of this project.

Artistic Quality: Artist’s past work is appropriate to its context, innovative, creative and stylistically distinctive.

Note: Extra consideration will be given to proposals from professional, established artists who have not yet developed a public art project in central Indiana, allowing Noblesville to be the first to host their work.

HOW TO APPLY:

Artists must submit the following information to Ailithir McGill, Executive Director of Noblesville Creates amcgill@noblesvillecreates.org (please note: submission materials will not be returned to applicants).

• Resume: Please include a copy of your artistic resume that includes your email and mailing addresses, as well as any website and/or social media pages where we can view your work.
• Cover Letter: Please include a statement about your interest in this project, as well as any personal or professional connection you have to The City of Noblesville and how that connection influences your interest in this project. Please include a statement about how your previous work experience qualifies you for this opportunity.  Please also include a statement about your process that can help the committee understand how you will create and install your work and fit within the budget.
• Examples of previous artwork: Submit 5-10 digital images in .jpg or .pdf format of past work. Please limit the file size of each image to 2MB or less. If possible, include images of at least 1 previous project that is appropriate to the conditions of this brief.
• Image information sheet: Submit a sheet with the following information about each submitted project: title, date completed, client/neighborhood/site name, total artwork budget, and a brief (1-2 sentences) description of the project or piece at is relates to this project. Include a directory of which image titles you have submitted are associated with each project (ex: for an artist named Smith: PROJECT x: Images Smith 1, Smith 2, Smith 3; PROJECT Y: Smith 4, Smith 5, Smith 6). Submit this sheet in .doc, .docx or .pdf format.

DELIVERY OF SUBMISSIONS: 

Submissions may be emailed to amcgill@noblesvillecreates.org, shared via Dropbox, or hand-delivered to Ailithir McGill at Noblesville Creates located at the below address. 

Mailed or delivered submissions must be loaded on a single usb drive. CDs, DVDs, or printed items cannot be accepted. USB drives must arrive at Noblesville Creates no later than 11:59 pm on Saturday, Jan 24^th at 5 p.m. (the building closes at 5 pm and is closed on Sunday). A Dropbox share request must be time-stamped by 11:59 pm on Sunday, Jan 25^th, 2026 – all items must be included in the shared folder by that time. Any item that is time-stamped as being uploaded after 11:59 pm will be disqualified from consideration. 

The Delivery Address is: 
ATTN: Ailithir McGill 
Noblesville Creates
107 S. 8^th Street
Noblesville, IN 46060

QUESTIONS?

Contact: Ailithir McGill, Executive Director, Noblesville Creates: amcgill@noblesvillecreates.org or 317-452-3690.

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