To: CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
From: KELLY ORTA, DEPUTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR AND JACK MEYER, CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COMMUNITY PANEL’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SELECTION OF ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PHASE I OF THE ARTESIA BLVD. ART INSTALLATIONS
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BACKGROUND
In May 2025, the City contracted the services of LBP Consulting, LLC (LBP) to provide consulting services to develop a comprehensive public art placemaking and placekeeping plan for art installations along Artesia Blvd. between Aviation Blvd. and Inglewood Avenue. Following months of collaboration with staff and outreach with the community, the Artesia Blvd. Strategic Art Plan (Plan) was presented to the City Council on December 16, 2025. The Plan was approved by the City Council and included input and recommendations from the Cultural Arts Commission (Commission). A copy of the Plan is included as an attachment.
The Plan incorporates an initial phase of locations and installations, including the following: two median installations, two monument installations, enhancements to five concrete benches, a decorative crosswalk, and an LGBTQ-themed installation. In order to begin the selection process, the release of a Request for Qualification (RFQ) is required, which outlines general information on all Phase I installations and provides an opportunity for professional artists and artist teams to submit their interest in submitting proposal(s) for one or more installation. This allows the city to build a pool of qualified artists to determine participation in the subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP). At the Commission’s January 28 meeting, it reviewed and approved the RFQ, included as an attachment. The RFQ was released on February 2 and was open for approximately 60-days. Approximately 190 submissions were received, which were carefully reviewed by the LBP team to ensure qualifications of all submissions and completeness in submitted materials.
Additionally, the Plan outlines an extensive review and selection process for the artists, which includes the commencement of a Community Panel to review artist submissions and make recommendations to the Commission during the RFQ and the RFP stages of the project. Per guidelines outlined in the Plan, the Community Panel includes the following individuals:
The Community Panel met on Thursday, August 20, to review the top respondents for each location, as identified by LBP. The objective of the Community Panel was to identify the top artists or artist teams to invite for participation in the upcoming RFP. Due to the timing necessary to post the Commission’s meeting agenda, the Community Panel’s recommendations will be included as a Blue Folder item and will be provided no later than Friday, August 21 in order to allow ample time for review by the Commission prior to deliberations.
Staff recommends the Commission consider the Community Panel’s recommendations of the most qualified artists or artist teams to participate in the upcoming RFP process. The Commission’s recommendations will be shared with the City Council in a subsequent meeting for formal approval prior to the release of the RFP.
ATTACHMENTS
• Artesia Blvd. Strategic Art Plan
• Artesia Blvd. Request for Qualification