Call for Artists: Dakota Bridge Public Art

Dakota Bridge Public Art – Friends of the Arts

Public Art Commission Opportunity

Project: Dakota Bridge Public Art

Issue Date: November 2, 2026

Deadline: December 14, 2026

Artist Fee: $66,000

Commissions Available: 1 (open to artist teams)

Background

The Dakota Avenue bikeway and bridge corridor was first identified in the Active Living: Sidewalk and Trails Plan in 2007 and later incorporated into the Connect the Park Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in 2012. Centrally located within St. Louis Park, the Dakota Avenue corridor plays a key role in improving walking and biking connections throughout the city by linking parks, schools, businesses, regional trails, and the future METRO Green Line Extension Light Rail Transit (LRT).

Public art has always been envisioned as a component of this corridor, and upon completion, the bridge was designated as “art ready.” Since then, artwork created by students from Susan Lindgren Elementary—led by artist Joe DeCamillis—was installed on the southern truss pier. This addition brought early creative energy into the space, and the long‑term intention has been to incorporate additional artwork to further animate the corridor and enhance the overall installation.

Project Overview

The City of St. Louis Park is committed to promoting and integrating arts, culture, and community aesthetics into city initiatives where appropriate and feasible. This project supports the city’s ongoing efforts to incorporate artistic and cultural elements into municipal initiatives and public spaces.

To support the planning, selection, and implementation of public art projects, the city has contracted Friends of the Arts to provide advisory, facilitation, and project support services related to the artist selection and public art development process. Through this partnership, Friends of the Arts will assist the city in conducting a transparent and inclusive artist selection process and guiding the successful development of public artwork.

The Dakota Avenue bikeway and bridge corridor is a key connection within the city’s pedestrian and bicycle network, linking parks, schools, businesses, regional trails, and LRT. As part of the 2019 project scope, the city allocated funding for public art, with direction to explore opportunities to elevate the artistic impact of the bridge area.

Public art will be located along the city’s trail near the bridge, potentially on both sides, to create a strong visual experience at this park entrance. Existing student pollinator-themed artwork on the bridge pillars will remain in place. Artists are encouraged to consider the surrounding green spaces shown on the map below, as well as designated bridge pillars available for mural installations. Due to structural limitations, no new artwork or attachments may be mounted to the bridge structure. All new artwork must be stand-alone, integrated into the landscape, and located a minimum of two feet from the trail edge to maintain snow-removal clearance. Large vertical installations are discouraged, and artwork should be scaled appropriately to complement the surrounding landscape and park setting.

The city seeks an artist or team to develop a site‑responsive installation that complements the corridor, respects structural constraints, and enhances the overall visitor experience.

Artists are hereby invited to submit qualifications to be considered for the following art opportunities in the areas described in Appendix A:

• 3D: Sculptural elements located within the green spaces surrounding the bridge and trail access points. Concepts may include interactive artwork, functional art, seating elements, or other site-responsive installations.
• Lighting: Lighting should contribute to the visual character of the space and improve the user experience, focusing on enhancing safety and visibility. LED lighting is preferred but not required. Exterior lighting must comply with the city’s zoning code requirements and industry best practices to avoid nuisances, glare and light pollution (e.g., dark sky compliant).
• Mural: Artistic treatments for designated bridge support pillars, utilizing mural artwork to enhance the visual experience and identity of the site.

Budget

$66,000

This not-to-exceed fee covers artist time, travel, materials, installations, any community engagement and all other costs associated with the project.

Eligibility

This public art commission is open to all artists or a team that lives in or around the Twin Cities area.  Applicants must be 18 years or older and have proven experience with public art and public engagement

In alignment with the City of St. Louis Park’s racial equity goals—and in recognition of the need to expand representation within the city’s public art collection—the city encourages inclusive artist participation and welcomes responses from all interested teams of artists or designers. As part of our commitment to broadening the diversity of voices represented in public art, the city especially welcomes teams whose work reflects a wide range of lived experiences, cultural perspectives, and artistic backgrounds.

Friends of the Arts and the selection committee will select artists without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity; familial, marital status, or pregnancy; guide dog or support animal; race, color, religion, ancestry, or nation origin; gender, age; handicap or disability; possession of GED.

Selection Process

A project specific selection committee will be established to review submissions.  The committee has been assembled by Friends of the Arts and City of St. Louis Park staff which includes city staff, community members, school district representatives, neighborhood organizations, and representatives from the local arts and culture community. In total, there will be 5-8 individuals serving on this committee.

In addition to meeting eligibility requirements, selection of finalist teams will be based on the following criteria:

• Quality of letter
• Quality of work samples
• Ability of finalist team to successfully design, produce and install projects, based on application materials provided.

For finalists, design concepts must meet the following criteria:

• Reflect and enhance the character of the Dakota Avenue bikeway, bridge corridor, and park entrance.
• Incorporate meaningful historical, environmental, or community connections relevant to the site.
• Create a memorable visual experience that engages pedestrians, cyclists, and other visitors.
• Reward repeated visits through layers of interest, interpretation, or discovery.
• Demonstrate artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation while appealing to a broad audience.
• Integrate thoughtfully with the surrounding landscape and complement existing site features and artwork.
• Respond appropriately to project constraints, including bridge limitations, trail clearances, and site conditions.
• Utilize durable, safe, and low-maintenance materials suitable for an outdoor public environment.

Schedule

• November 2, 2026 – RFQ opens; responses accepted.
• November 2-13, 2026 – Written Q&A period.
• November 16, 2026 – Q&A addendum issued.
• December 14, 2026 – RFQ closes.
• December 2026 – Committee review and selection of finalist(s).
• January 25-February 5, 2027 – Finalist artist interviews.
• February 12, 2027 – Finalist notified and issued a Notice to Proceed.
• Spring-Summer 2027 – Design development, fabrication, and installation.
• Summer/Early Fall 2027 – Ribbon Cutting

How to submit

Individuals or teams are asked to provide the following, combined into a single PDF document:

1. One page letter stating interest in the project, approach to design, information about how you would engage the community in the project, and contract information.
2. Statement of Qualifications and Work Samples – Please provide information that describes your qualifications and past experiences in public art. Please provide up to 10 work samples from past projects that help to describe your qualifications.  Up to 10 digital images of your recent and relevant projects.  Individuals and teams are limited to 10 images maximum.  Save all images as standard JPEG and label each with the applicant’s full name and number in sequence corresponding with a list of work samples.
3. One-page listing of each work sample; please provide a brief description and final cost for each work sample.
4. References – Please provide a list of three references.

NOTE: Do not submit a proposal for artworks at this time.

All materials must be received by December 14, 2026 at 11:59 CDT.

Please submit all RFQ materials via email to Mike Mellas mike@slpfota.org with “Dakota Bridge Public Art” in the subject line.

If you need clarification or further information, contact Mike Mellas at mike@slpfota.org

Late applications will not be reviewed.

 Click HERE to see posting with images of installation site.