Multicultural Senior Center—RFQ

About the Open Call

The Orange County Public Art Review Board is inviting applications from individual artists or artist teams to create artwork for the Orange County Multicultural Senior Center, located in the established suburb of Pine Hills (7149 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32818). The complex will feature three dynamic and inviting spaces dedicated to community engagement: the Orange County Multicultural Center, the Senior Center, and the Innovation Lab. The Multicultural Senior Center will serve as a welcoming and comfortable gathering space for the Pine Hills residents, who have long been dedicated advocates of community unity. The Center will provide a relaxing environment for hosting programs, workshops, games, and craft activities, as well as active offerings such as Zumba. Additionally, the facility will include a warming kitchen and event hall, enabling seniors to host meals and celebrations. The opportunities for engagement and community building are extensive. The Pine Hills seniors are a vibrant and dynamic group, and they merit artwork that reflects their spirit and history. Possibilities for Public Art include, but are not limited to: Multiple works of art hung throughout the center, Art Embedded in Walls, Suspended 3D Art, Kinetic Sculpture, Textile Art, Glass Art, Mosaic, Murals. The newest Orange County Senior Center is located on a hilltop nestled between the Multicultural Center and the innovation Lab. The interior of the site is currently an unfinished space with vaulted ceilings offering the opportunity for the artist(s) and developer to work together to create a vibrant environment. Artist coordination with developer is required. Installation and opening scheduled for the summer 2026. Orange County is a rapidly growing metropolitan area of more than one million residents that contains the City of Orlando and a dozen other municipalities. We are a minority majority community with over 160 languages spoken in public schools. A recent study indicates that by 2030 Orlando may be the most diverse major metro area in the world. The county values innovation, collaboration, and inclusion. A budget of $48,500 has been approved for artwork. The selected artist(s) or team(s) will be awarded a comprehensive contract (or contracts). The artist will be responsible for artwork design, fabrication, materials, installation, insurance, travel, public presentations, meetings with Orange County staff as necessary, identification plaque, and all related incidental expenses. A selection panel consisting of the project manager, stakeholders and art professionals will review artists’ qualifications. Several artists will be selected to provide proposals and will be paid a stipend of $500 each for their proposal. Final artist(s) selection will take place after review of the proposals. The Arts & Cultural Affairs Director serves as the non-voting Chair of the Selection panel. The Public Artist Selection Panel and Orange County reserve the right to reject any or all applications, proposals, applicants, or projects, and to modify or terminate the application process or the selection process for any reason and without prior notice. Artists will be evaluated on artistic excellence as evidenced by submitted materials; professional experience; compatibility with the architectural design, facility environment and values of the county and this particular community. Timeline: Call Release: August 1, 2025; Applications Due: Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.; Finalists Selection: Monday, September 22, 2025; Artist Notification: By or before September 23, 2025; Site Visit: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 11 a.m. EST; Proposals Due: Monday, November 3, 2025, at noon EST; Proposal Review: Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 2-3:30 p.m.; Notification of Acceptance: By or before November 5, 2025; Installation: July 2026.

What is Offered

Finalist Design Stipend: $500. Commission: $48,500 for artwork design, fabrication, materials, installation, insurance, travel, public presentations, meetings with Orange County staff as necessary, identification plaque, and all related incidental expenses.

Requirements

This opportunity is open to professional artists working in any appropriate media. Student artists may apply if they can secure an experienced public artist to serve as a mentor to oversee their work. Eligibility is international. Artists will be evaluated on artistic excellence as evidenced by submitted materials; professional experience; compatibility with the architectural design, facility environment and values of the county and this particular community.

How to Apply

Applicants must provide: Professional resume (teams must submit resumes for each member); Letter of interest, outlining interest in the project and a preliminary statement of approach; A minimum of one (1) image is required, and the maximum is 5. Images of finished works or conceptual drawings can be submitted. If images submitted are not of a completed public artwork, provide additional information to assure the Selection Panel of ability to realize a public art project and that it will be completed and installed as designed. Selected artists must complete the W-9 Vendor Registration Form and will receive payments by check. Experience with public art projects with a similar budget is not required but helpful. Apply through the Call for Entry (CaFÉ) platform.