East End District: Navigation Boulevard Roundabout

About the Open Call

Weingarten Art Group, on behalf of East End District (EED), invites public artists to submit qualifications for the design and production of a site-specific gateway sculpture at the Navigation Boulevard Roundabout. The commissioned work will be a permanent landmark that celebrates the East End’s cultural vibrancy and pride. The selected artist will also serve as a mentor in the inaugural East End Artist Launchpad, a new mentorship initiative supporting local emerging artists as they develop and install their own temporary public artwork in the East End. This RFQ is the first phase of a two-phase selection process. A shortlist of artists will be invited to submit detailed proposals in the Request for Proposals (RFP) phase. This is a prominent traffic circle serving as a gateway to the East End, a culturally rich and vibrant neighborhood. The East End grew from a 19th-century hub of trade along Buffalo Bayou into one of the city’s most culturally diverse districts. Waves of immigrants – Asian, Hispanic, African American, and European – shaped its neighborhoods, industry, and identity, fostering a tradition of resilience, activism, and community pride. Known for its industrial base, thriving small businesses, and role in peaceful civil rights efforts, the East End also became a center for education, faith, culinary delights, and the arts. Today, it blends historic character with revitalization, offering vibrant public art, eclectic dining, walkable neighborhoods, and strong civic engagement, while honoring its rich multicultural heritage. Following the RFQ phase, three finalists will be selected to participate in an RFP process. Each finalist will receive a $4,500 honorarium for the development of a detailed design proposal. Finalists will be required to attend a site visit in Houston in March 2026. Travel expenses for the artist and up to one member of their studio will be reimbursed in accordance with a budget cap provided by Weingarten Art Group. The honorarium includes one design iteration, should it be requested by East End District for decision-making purposes. Following the RFP phase, one artist will be selected to implement their proposal. The selected artist’s proposal will result in an agreement to implement the design generated during the RFP phase, including a period to further refine and finalize the design. The total project budget for the Roundabout Gateway Sculpture is not to exceed $1,000,000 (USD). This amount must cover all aspects of the completed work, including final design, engineering, fabrication, packing and transportation of the artwork, permitting, installation labor and equipment, lighting internal to the artwork, and all required insurance, such as Commercial General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, and Employer’s Liability, as applicable. This amount should also account for travel and accommodations related to site visits after the award and during installation, any incidental expenses, and the artist’s time for coordination with the East End District’s engineering and design consultants. The selected artist will be required to provide a comprehensive maintenance plan for the completed artwork. As East End District is tax-exempt, tax should not be included in budget proposals. East End District’s landscape designers and engineers will coordinate closely with the selected artist to design and construct elements to accommodate the artwork, including a foundation, landscaping, and lighting. These costs will be managed separately by East End District. In addition to the commission award, the selected artist will receive a stipend for their participation as a mentor in the East End Artist Launchpad. Mentorship expectations and stipend will be detailed in the RFP. The artist contract will be with Weingarten Art Group, who, on behalf of the East End District, will offer project management services to guide planning and installation. Artwork Goals & Design Considerations: Create a highly visible, site-specific, iconic gateway to the East End District; Celebrate the East End District’s unique pride and cultural vibrancy; Maintain visibility around the roundabout for traffic flow; Pedestrian Safety: Discourage access to the central island of the roundabout. Visual interest should lead the eye upward rather than to the base, and any interactivity should be minimal and activated only from afar; Consider the aerial perspective from surrounding buildings; Plan for the artwork to be illuminated at night to enhance visibility. The East End Artist Launchpad is a public art mentorship program designed to support one to two emerging artists as they gain practical experience and professional development in the field of public art. The selected artist for the Roundabout Gateway Sculpture will act as a mentor to the Launchpad Fellow(s), who will engage in hands-on learning by shadowing and contributing to the development of Roundabout Gateway Sculpture. In the Request for Proposals, there will be further information detailing mentorship expectations and stipend, which will be in addition to the budget for the Roundabout Gateway sculpture.

What is Offered

A commission budget of up to $1,000,000 USD for the permanent sculpture. Three finalists will receive a $4,500 honorarium for detailed design proposals. The selected artist will also receive a stipend for mentoring emerging artists in the East End Artist Launchpad.

Requirements

This RFQ is open to professional artists based in the U.S. with demonstrated experience creating large-scale public art projects with budgets of at least $250,000. Prior experience in mentorship or community-based work is encouraged but not required. Artists may apply in teams.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following materials via Submittable: Resume or CV, Letter of Interest describing current artistic practice and interest in the sculpture and mentorship component, 5-7 past work examples (up to 15 images total) including an image list (title, date, medium, dimensions, artwork budget, venue/location), and contact information for 3 professional references.