20-1688 - 20-1688 City of Calgary Public Art Program

The City of Calgary Public Art Program (“The Program”) was created to deliver public art programming for the residents of Calgary, has been in existence for 16 years, and is responsible for artworks dating back over 100 years. Since its inception, The Program has provided a variety of public art programming, site-specific art commissions, and conservation of the public art assets on behalf of Calgarians.

In the last five years, there have been broad-based discussions around the direction and priorities of The Program. As a result, in September 2019, Council approved the strategic direction to begin the process of engagement with the outcome of informing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to find a third-party, non-profit organization to deliver The Program as noted through the direction below.

On November 19, 2019, Calgary Council approved the transition of Calgary’s Public Art Program to a third-party non-profit organization with a sympathetic mandate. Components of a mandate considered sympathetic would include: expertise in art and/or cultural production; public facing program as a core component of organizational activity; educational and community-building activities; investment in a thriving arts and culture sector.

This RFP has been created to address this direction.

The highest rated proponent will be requested to enter an Agreement with The City for the provision of the Deliverables. The term of the Agreement includes a Proof of Concept for an initial term of up to three (3) years. After the initial term, The City will have an option to renew the Agreement on the same terms and conditions for up to seven (7) years for a potential total term of ten (10) years.

This procurement process is not intended to create and will not create a formal legally binding bidding process and will instead be governed by the law applicable to direct commercial negotiations.