Houston Invites Artists to Submit Proposals for Memorial Honoring Fallen Municipal Employees
The Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), in collaboration with Houston Public Works, has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) inviting artists and artist teams to submit proposals for a public memorial honoring City of Houston municipal employees who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Open to artists and artist teams over 18 years old residing or working in the Greater Houston area, including Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, or Waller counties, the RFQ aims to commemorate the service and sacrifice of municipal workers. Mayor Sylvester Turner expressed pride in the initiative, spearheaded by Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock.
The memorial will serve as a tribute to the dedication of City of Houston employees, symbolizing their commitment and sacrifice in serving the community. Mayor Turner stated, “Let this memorial stand as a beacon, recognizing their unwavering commitment and ensuring their legacy lives on.”
Recognizing the hazardous nature of the work undertaken by City of Houston employees, the memorial seeks to honor those who have lost their lives in the line of civic duty. The artwork, once completed, will be located in Buffalo Bayou Park, north of Buffalo Bayou.
The RFQ is the first step in the artist selection process, with a three-person panel of artists and arts professionals evaluating submissions. Three finalists will be chosen to develop artistic concepts for panel consideration. Artists are urged to consider the site’s sensitivity near the banks of the Buffalo Bayou and Houston’s unpredictable weather and environmental conditions.
Managed by the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) with support from MOCA, the artist selection process has a reserved budget of $165,000. HAA continues its commitment to supporting Spanish-speaking artist applicants for this public art investment.
Interested artists and artists teams should submit their qualifications and artwork samples to HAA, by Monday, February 5, 2024, at 5:00 pm.
