REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Old Port Square Stair Risers
Budget: $3,500 for artist design fee; fabrication and installation paid by Old Port Square

Old Port Square is seeking an artist to create a welcoming and vibrant design for two stairways leading into the public plaza. The design will be applied by adhesive vinyl onto the stair risers and the sidewalk, with a life expectancy of between one and two years. TEMPOart, an organization dedicated to temporary public art, is administering the selection process. 

This project is well-suited to two-dimensional artists with an ability to digitally render their work. The selected artist will need to provide a final design file for the fabricator to be printed onto vinyl. Design specifications will be provided to the selected artist. 

Artists must live in Cumberland County, Maine to apply. 

OVERVIEW

The selected artist will be responsible for creating a cohesive design that fits within the measurements and parameters provided by the fabricator for printing. The site-specific design should reflect and celebrate the Old Port community. An internal design review team at Old Port Square will work with the artist to approve the final design. The artist and TEMPOart will work with the fabricator to ensure the artwork maintains integrity during the installation process. 

BUDGET

$3,500 for the artist design fee. Fabrication and installation to be paid by Old Port Square.

SELECTION PROCESS

A Selection Panel consisting of Portland-based art professionals, artists, and representatives of Old Port Square will select the artist based on the artist’s previous work. The Panel may choose to interview finalists or call references before making a final selection.

SCHEDULE
● RFQ released: Friday, April 24, 2026
● Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
● Finalist Interviews: Friday, May 29, 2026
● Artist Selected: June 1, 2026

Schedule subject to change, especially as it relates to the final selection of the artist. 

The selected artist will have six weeks to create a design which will be reviewed internally by Old Port Square. The design may need to be adjusted with assistance from the fabricator with approval by the artist. A final design is due by July 17, 2026. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
RFQ Materials shall include:
1. Artist statement: One paragraph about your work as an artist, please include any relevant experience to the project here, if applicable (Limit to 200 words)
2. CV/Resume: (2 page limit)
3. Two references who can speak to your work as an artist and ability to complete a project.
4. Media: Up to 10 digital images of relevant completed artwork (NO proposed designs for the space). Label images: last name of artist, artwork title, installation date. JPGs only. 1 MB limit in size per image.
5. Media script: Short description of each completed artwork submitted as media. The
media script should include the title of the artwork, the budget of the project, the location, and the artwork intent. (Limit to 100 words per artwork).

Applications must be received via email to director@tempoartmaine.org, with documents saved as PDFs and media shared through a Google Drive or Dropbox link. Subject line: “Old Port Square RFQ.” For more information and help with applying, artists can schedule a one-on-one with the TEMPOart executive director by emailing Laura at director@tempoartmaine.org with the subject “RFQ assistance.”

Application will be disqualified if: 

1. The required materials are not submitted; 
2. Directions for submission are not followed; and/or
3. The artist includes a specific proposal for the activation.

ELIGIBILITY
The call is open to all artists residing in Cumberland County, Maine, ages 18 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin,gender identification, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental cognition. 

Old Port Square
East Brown Cow has been endeavoring in recent years to revitalize and reimagine Portland’s Canal Plaza block.

Situated at the cultural and economic center of Maine’s largest city, the block is being redesigned to strengthen its connectivity to Portland’s urban fabric and create an activated and distinct destination featuring prime retail, luxury hospitality, residences, award-winning food and beverage, Class A office, and experiential uses in Portland’s historic downtown.

TEMPOart
TEMPOart commissions temporary public art that sparks dialogue, builds community, and inspires our collective imagination. Each year new projects from TEMPOart enliven Portland’s public spaces. We believe that art can be a catalyst to connect communities and inspire meaningful thought and conversation on timely issues. Our projects and events help people see their world in a new way, or just go through their day with a new found energy–feeling less alone, alive with wonder, and knowing more is possible.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
2026 Artist Call for Art Activations in Public Space
Budget: $10,000 per artist/artist team

TEMPOart, a non-profit organization dedicated to commissioning temporary public artwork in Portland, Maine, is turning 10. To celebrate, TEMPOart seeks artists to create multiple interactive artwork activations in public space for the 2026 calendar year. For this tenth year of engagement in public space, TEMPOart is excited to work with a range of artists and creators to bring temporary moments of impactful cultural connection to Portland. We want to celebrate, play, and find joy in our shared spaces. 

Expanding the bounds beyond object-based work, artists of any medium (visual, performing, experimental, community-practice) with an interest in creating a site-responsive, joyful moment for the Portland community are encouraged to apply. Selected artists and TEMPOart will work with the City of Portland, and other partners, to determine sites for the activations, with a priority placed on the Congress Street district of downtown Portland. Duration of artwork will depend on the medium and intention of the artist(s). 

To highlight our artist community, the 2026 call is open to artists residing in Maine only. Artists who would be working in the public realm for the first time are encouraged to apply.

OVERVIEW

TEMPOart was founded by artist and visionary Alice Spencer. The American Dream by Judith Hoffman was the first artwork installed in 2016. The sculpture was based on the Sears Home Kits of the early 1900s, exploring the concept of the “American Dream home.” Since that first project, we’ve supported artists to create for the community in areas throughout Portland. Each project invited our community into a dialogue and inspired our collective imagination. With our community, we’ve danced, shared meals, meditated, built towering pink creatures, explored, and more. 

Specific sites and durations for the 2026 activations will be determined in collaboration with the selected artists. We are prioritizing downtown Portland’s Congress Street; this corridor has been highlighted by TEMPOart collaborators as an area that could benefit from artistic intervention. However, should one of the activations be better suited for another Portland site, the possibilities are open. 

BUDGET
$10,000 per selected artist/artist team, inclusive of materials, artist fee, and costs associated with producing the final activation. TEMPOart will provide additional funding for permitting fees for public space utilization. 

SELECTION PROCESS
A Selection Panel consisting of Portland-based art professionals and advocates will select finalists to interview. Criteria for selection is based on the artist’s experience in their respective artistic medium and interest in the project. Artists must be willing to interact with, and respond to, a site and its community. Finalists will be paid $150 for the interview process, where they will be asked to expand on how their artistic practice could be highlighted and how their artistic practice would benefit from being realized in public space. 

Should the Selection Panel require additional information from finalists, another round of interviews will be conducted. Applicants, nor finalists, should submit a proposal for a concept.

SCHEDULE
● RFQ released: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
● Virtual Artist Information Session: Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Recording of Artist Information Session
A recording of the Zoom info session will be linked at tempoartmaine.org
● In-Person Application Support: Schedule a 30 minutes, one on one with the TEMPOart executive director to ask questions and receive feedback on application materials. Link to schedule.
● Submission Deadline: Monday, August 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
● Finalist interviews: Week of September 8, 2025
● Artists selected by September 19, 2025

Schedule subject to change, especially as it relates to the final selection of the artists or artist teams. The Selection Panel can move forward with additional finalist interviews should it be necessary for consensus.

Artist activations will be scheduled with the TEMPOart team through the 2026 calendar year. TEMPOart will work with all selected artists to ensure activations do not overlap. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
RFQ Materials shall include:
1. Letter of interest: Include interest in creating a joyful, site-specific activation in public space and why it would be a good fit for your artistic practice. (Limit to 2000 characters)
2. CV/Resume: (2 page limit)
3. Two references who can speak to your work as an artist and ability to complete a project.
4. Media: Up to 10 digital images of relevant completed artwork. Artist(s) may submit up to two videos of relevant artwork, if it is essential to understanding the work. Label images/media: last name of artist, artwork title, installation date. JPGs only. 1 MB limit in size per image. If submitting a video longer than two minutes, please indicate the time stamps for the selection panel to watch.
5. Media script: Short description of each completed artwork submitted as media. The
media script should include the title of the artwork, the budget of the project, the location, and the artwork intent. (Limit to 100 words per artwork).

Applications must be received via email, with documents saved as PDFs and media shared through a Google Drive or Dropbox link. Subject line: “2026 Artist Submission.” For more information and help with applying, artists can attend the virtual information session or the in-person application review session. Additionally, artists can schedule a one-on-one with the TEMPOart executive director by emailing Laura at director@tempoartmaine.org with the subject “RFQ assistance.”

Application will be disqualified if: 

1. The required materials are not submitted; 
2. Directions for submission are not followed; and/or
3. The artist includes a specific proposal for the activation.

ELIGIBILITY
The call is open to all artists residing in Maine, ages 18 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin,gender identification, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental cognition. Should the applicant be applying as a team, at least one member of the team should be a Maine resident.

TEMPOart
TEMPOart commissions temporary public art that sparks dialogue, builds community, and inspires our collective imagination.Each year new projects from TEMPOart enliven Portland’s public spaces. We believe that art can be a catalyst to connect communities and inspire meaningful thought and conversation on timely issues. Our projects and events help people see their world in a new way, or just go through their day with a new found energy–feeling less alone, alive with wonder, and knowing more is possible.