City of Gainesville seeks artists for GPD fencing project

Published on February 05, 2026

The City of Gainesville Cultural Affairs Division invites individual artists and teams to participate in a public art fencing project adjacent to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD). The deadline to submit qualifications is Saturday, Feb. 28.

With a new GPD property and evidence building planned at Northwest 6th Street, the public artwork would beautify a permanent section intended to separate the GPD parking area and the Rails-to-Trails multiuse pathway.

Submissions for the public art fencing project should combine design with functional infrastructure that reflects the history, character and values of the Gainesville community and must meet all applicable safety and durability requirements. Eligibility, submission guidelines and additional information about the large-scale project are available online.

The project is managed by the city’s Parks, Recreational and Cultural Affairs Department, in collaboration with Gainesville Art in Public Places Trust, and GPD. For more information, contact VelasquesC1@GainesvilleFL.gov or 352-393-8532.

Call to Artists

Request For Qualifications - Gainesville Police Department Property & Evidence Facility - Public Art Fencing

Deadline: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) began planning renovations to its original 1952 facility at 721 NW Sixth St. in 2010. A new state-of-the-art facility, located adjacent to the existing administration building at the southwest corner of NW 6th Street and NW 8th Avenue, was completed in April 2014. To support evolving operational needs, GPD is expanding its Property and Evidence complex, with construction of the new addition anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026.

The City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in collaboration with the Gainesville Art in Public Places Trust and the Gainesville Police Department, invites professional artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a public art opportunity associated with the new GPD Property and Evidence Facility.

Through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the City seeks to pre-qualify three (3) or more artists or artist teams to develop site-specific proposals for the design and fabrication of a creatively designed fencing element. The artwork will be installed adjacent to the facility and will function as a visual and physical boundary between a parking area and the Rails-to-Trails multi-use pathway, a heavily used recreational and transportation corridor located along a historic railroad alignment.

Award Info:

This public art opportunity seeks to thoughtfully integrate artistic expression with functional infrastructure, enhance the pedestrian experience along the Rails-to-Trails corridor, and reflect the history, character, and values of the Gainesville community, while meeting all applicable safety and durability requirements. The total project budget is $80,000 (all-inclusive). This amount includes, but is not limited to, artist design fees, fabrication, permitting, project footing and base, transportation, installation of the artwork, and all other associated costs. The selected artist or design firm will be required to carry a $1 million general liability insurance policy, naming the City of Gainesville as additionally insured. Honoraria: Up to three (3) finalists will each receive an honorarium of $500 to develop and present a site-specific proposal, either in person or virtually.

Submission Details