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You will submit this application online using PublicArtist.org.
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| Budget: $1,450,000 |
| Activated: 09/01/2024 Deadline: 03/15/2025 |
| Call Summary A public art call RFQ for seven site-specific, large- to medium-scale public art locations installed within the new Capital Improvement projects opening late 2026 and early 2027. The six new University Health facilities are looking for artworks to be fabricated in safe, easily maintained materials, which match the vision and mission of our University Health SaludArte: Art of Healing program and instill a calming, hopeful and positive health care setting.. These signature public art opportunities need to follow the visual, environmental and historical cues provided in the resource page and reflect the neighborhoods we serve. They will be monumental and landmark pieces for these neighborhoods, used for wayfinding and as a point of community pride. This RFQ general call will remain open from Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, to March 15, 2025. We will also hold public presentations to promote this opportunity for professionals, mentors and emerging artists. All applicants must have the technical skillset to complete the approved design, be fully vetted and complete the project on time. These projects must be safely installed, long-lasting and made with materials that are easy to maintain. Retama Community Hospital PA1 RCH Art Opportunity $500,000 • Exterior large 48-60’ vertical sculpture on a raised concreate plinth ° (Plinth, lighting and landscaping will be provided by client) • Three finalists will be selected to create a proposal for the specific location. • Runners up will receive a $500 stipend. The winner will receive full award. PA2 RCH Opportunity $200,000 • Interior large 4’ x 4’ hanging wall piece ° Piece can be three-dimensional. ° Location has access to electricity - and internet. • Special blocking and lighting will be provided PA 3 RCH Art Opportunity $200,000 • Interior 6’ x 8’ x 2’ lightweight, hanging sculpture made from safe materials. ° The piece must weigh less than 350 pounds and will hang in the ceiling of the lobby. ° Item should be colorful and transparent. Palo Alto Community Hospital PA4 PACH $100,000 • Exterior medium to small sculpture ° Plinth and exterior lighting will be provided by client. PA5 PACH $200,000 • Interior large 4’ x 4’ hanging wall piece ° Piece can be three-dimensional. ° Location has access to electricity - and internet. • Special blocking and lighting will be provided. PA 6 PACH $200,000 • Interior 6 – 8’ lightweight hanging sculpture made from safe materials. ° The piece must weigh less than 350 pounds and will hang in the ceiling of the lobby. ° Item should be colorful and transparent. Wheatley Public Health Clinic PA7 WPHC $50,000 • Exterior 4-6’ sculpture set the left of the front door of the clinic. ° The piece must be easily maintained and able to withstand exterior heat and sun within a landscaped area. ° Lighting and a plinth will be provided by client. All artists’ work submitted for this RFQ call will be considered, and finalists will be selected for a site-specific proposal. If you feel your work is particularly suited for one art opportunity, please note that in your artists statement. _________________________________________________________ The mission of University Health is to improve the health of the community through high-quality, compassionate patient care, innovation, education and discovery. We are leading the way to be one of the nation’s most trusted health institutions. The 2026 Capital Improvement Project will provide much-needed facilities to meet the needs of our growing community and region. Our patient care will be: • High-quality and compassionate above all • Attentive, kind and helpful without exception • Wise in the use of resources The vision of University Health’s SaludArte: Art of Healing program is to use art to inspire healing, compassion, hope and trust. We also aim to reflect the community, improve the experience of our patients and visitors and communicate our important mission through art and design enhancements while being good stewards of our financial and natural resources. Technical parameters for successful artwork: All submitted artwork must fit within the theme guidelines or feature imagery that will promote healing, hopeful messages to our staff, patients and guests. Theme: Texas in Bloom |
| Budget Description The budget for all opportunities within this project is $1,450,000. All purchased artwork delivered to University Health must be installed and total fabrication and all costs turnkeys. Please carefully review the selection process and timeline details below. |
| Project Description Please do not submit artworks that could be interpreted as political or religious, show excessive nudity, depict violence or traumatic events (stabbing, blood, sharp objects) or use imagery that symbolizes death. These will not be accepted. The following are prompts for creative consideration, but the subject matter is ultimately up to the artist’s interpretation: • Rivers: healing, connecting, living; as regionally significant to San Antonio • South Texas culture, flora, fauna • Celebration • Family • Growth • History See visual cues for each project site attached in the University Health resource section. Artwork must also exclude imagery that has negative cultural association, such as cacti or owls. Any animal that may appear aggressive or frightening to young children. This artist opportunity is one of three main calls (Design Enhancement, Public Art and Art Procurement) for the new two Capital Improvement community hospitals, two medical office buildings and two public health clinics. • Retama Community Hospital and medical office building, next door to Retama Park racetrack in northeast San Antonio • Palo Alto Community Hospital and medical office building, located across from VIDA and TAMUSA in southwest San Antonio • VIDA Public Health Clinic • Wheatley Public Health Clinic on I-35 on the east side of San Antonio The SaludArte: Art of Healing program encourages all interested parties to visit www.publicartist.org/UniversityHealth in the upcoming weeks for more information regarding art outreach presentations and community engagement opportunities between Wednesday, Sept. 4 and Wednesday, Oct. 9. University Health is also available to come and speak to your neighborhood group about these exciting new facilities and health care services coming to a neighborhood near you. For more information, please contact Anita Martin, Director of Community Outreach at University Health via her email at anita.martin@uhtx.com. |
| Artwork Goals University Health and its SaludArte: Art of Healing program strives to create and commission artworks that reflect aesthetic and technical quality and foster a welcoming, uplifting environment for healing. Procured art for the 2026 Capital Improvement projects will be an aesthetically pleasing focal point for patients, visitors, and staff alike. The artwork must consider the safety of the hospital’s visitors and should be easy to clean and maintain. |
| Artwork Location Description Completion expected last quarter 2026 or first quarter 2027. • Retama Community Hospital and medical office building • Palo Alto Community Hospital and medical office building • Vida Public Health Clinic • Wheatley Public Health Clinic |
| Site History University Health is committed to meeting the needs of our growing community to ensure access for all in the high quality, affordable care they need and deserve. University Health’s Capital Improvement Projects for 2026 will provide much-needed facilities for our growing community and region. This will be a place where children and their families are surrounded with all the experts and technologies to provide the highest level of compassionate care. These public health clinics and community hospitals will aim for patients to see and feel the difference of care. Our team understands that being attentive, kind. and helpful, without exception is good medicine because: • Care is provided in ways that foster collaboration and communication. • Patients and families feel respected. • A caring community is built on empathy, support and compassion. |
| Eligibility The project is open to emerging and established artists aged 21 older who reside in the United States. Art consultant groups and galleries are also encouraged to submit entries as a team with an artist. All applicants, regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, origin, or disability, will be considered. Please carefully review all selection criteria below. |
| Application Requirements |
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Resume: 2 page(s) maximum Work examples: 5 - 10 Artist Statement: 800 word maximum Letter of Interest: 800 word maximum Artists must be prepared to show insurance coverage up to $1 million for installation onsite and follow all safety training during the construction process. If an artist is interested in being considered for all or a particular of the RFP next phase, please indicate in your letter of interest and or statement. Please explain why. References: 3 |
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Artists are allowed to apply in teams.
Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves. |
| Selection Information |
| Selection Process The University Health Steering Committee will review applications received through this RFQ and select finalists to be considered for RFPs. Artworks will be evaluated based on artistic and technical merit. We will be vetting all selected candidates carefully to make sure they have the technical skills and experience to complete these projects on time and on budget. The SaludArte: Art of Healing program strongly discourages artists from mailing or hand delivering physical materials or samples of artwork for the committee’s consideration. Any materials received will not be returned to the artist. The University Health Art Program Committee reserves the right to accept or reject all responses received through this call. |
| Selection Criteria Late applications will not be considered. Applications are rolling. Please check specific call deadlines and note that when the call ends, it will be timestamped. For technical questions about this call or the application process, please contact Crystal Hollis at info@publicartist.org or at 210-701-0775 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST/CDT, Monday-Friday.) Phase II: Public Art opportunities are part of the University Health’s $5 million art integration budget for the award-winning SaludArte: Art of Healing program. It represents less than one-third of the capital improvement budget. For more information about the University Health new Capital Improvement Programs, 2026 or the SaludArte: Art of Healing program, please visit https://www.universityhealth.com. If artist is selected and purchase is under $10,000, the artist is not required to become firsttime vendor. You will need to follow the invoice template instructions and submit a W-9. However, for these larger public art calls, artists must become a University Health vendor and work under a contract. For information on becoming a University Health vendor, please email procurementservices@uhtx.com or call210-358-4000. |
| Timeline The following schedule is preliminary and subject to change. Our calls are rolling, and work will be received with our committee. You can check www.publicartist.org/UniversityHealth for updates on artists who have been selected. The public art call will be open Sunday, Sept. 1, to Saturday, March 15 at 10:59 p.m. CST. |
| Additional Resources |
| https://www.publicartist.org/universityhealth |
| Contact Information | Crystal Hollis 210-701-0775 info@publicartist.org |
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