The City of Davis Civic Arts Advisory Board invites qualified artists or collaborative teams to submit a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by October 1, 2026, at 5 p.m. to design and create a new piece of public art that will enhance the new skate park in Community Park.
As part of a community-driven effort to renovate and activate the City’s new skate park, the City of Davis will commission a professional artist or team of artists to design, fabricate and install a permanent work of public art. The public art will visually enhance an existing staircase leading down to the skate park and will consist of a ceramic, glass or tile mosaic design that is installed on 23 step risers. A budget of up to $28,000 is available.
The completed artwork will serve as a visual focal point, drawing visitors toward the skate park and visually enhancing the skate park with a colorful backdrop.
Mosaic artwork is a common medium found in public art throughout the City of Davis, and is well suited for our community due to its aesthetic value, durable nature as an outdoor art medium and its perpetuation of the ceramic arts tradition for which Davis is well known. The city of Davis is highly regarded for its ceramic legacy, largely due to UC Davis’ role as birthplace of the West Coast "Funk Art" movement in the 1960’s.
The public skate park was originally constructed in 1993 for skateboarding and inline skating. In 2024, the City of Davis initiated a process to redesign the skate park and eventually contracted with Grindline Skateparks for construction. Plans were finalized and demolition of the skate park began in April 2026.The new skate park is scheduled to be completed in fall 2026, and the public art element will be integrated into the project following its completion.
Interested applicants wishing to respond to this RFQ must apply by October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. at: https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/17827/CAFE. The complete Request for Qualifications, and other supporting materials can be found on the City’s Artist Opportunities page, under “Current Calls for Artists/Skate Park Mosaic Steps,” or by contacting City of Davis Arts and Culture Manager Rachel Hartsough at 530-747-5640 or rhartsough@cityofdavis.org.
The City of Davis Arts & Cultural Affairs Program supports community-based arts projects, cultural opportunities and education initiatives that foster excellence, diversity and vitality in the arts. The program is the clearinghouse for all creative activity in the City of Davis government and serves the entire Davis community. We develop community partnerships, explore best practices, manage the public art collection and support Civic Arts Commission initiatives.
Press contact: Barbara Archer, 530-400-3418, barcher@cityofdavis.org
