Bid Number:	SUCO10222025
Bid Title:	Call to Artists: Coalville Rail Trail ‘Quilted Together’ Public Art Project
Category:	RFP Postings
Status:	Closed

Description:

Summit County Public Art Attn: Jenny Diersen Public Art Coordinator

P.O. Box 4455

Park City, UT 84060 jenny@pcscarts.org http://summitcounty.org/249/Public-Art

October 22 2025

Call to Artists: Coalville Rail Trail ‘Quilted Together’ Public Art Project

Celebrating community-building, history, and culture of Coalville, the Rail Trail, and Summit County, UT. The Summit County Public Art Advisory Board (“SCPAAB”) is seeking Artists to propose a concept for a highly creative artwork to be installed on the Rail Trail near the Coalville Center Street trail access point.

PROJECT BUDGET:

Up to $13,000. Budget is inclusive of Artists’ fees, usage fees, insurance, labor and equipment to design and produce artwork, artwork installation, and travel costs including airfare, hotel, and ground transportation.

PROJECT TIMELINE:

The project artwork installation period will take place in early Spring 2026, with a project completion date no later than May 1, 2026. This date may be subject to change and Artists are expected to remain as flexible as possible in this regard.

ELIGIBILITY:

Any Artist or team of Artists interested in creating a three dimensional art installation driven by the project goals, to be completed by May 1, 2026, may complete a proposal in accordance with the guidelines provided below. Additional consideration may be given to submissions with stated relevance and ties to Summit County, UT. SCPAAB members, employees of Summit County, selection panel members, project personnel, and immediate family members of all of the above are not eligible to apply.

APPLICATION:

Artists and/or Artist teams may submit concepts for the Coalville Rail Trail 'Quilted Together' Project Artwork. Submission of digital materials is required. Please review all guidelines in this Call to Artists and resources provided before starting an application. Incomplete responses will not be considered.

DEADLINE:

5 PM Mountain Time on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Digital format responses will be accepted via email Attn: Jenny Diersen, Summit County Public Art Advisory Board Administrator at or via U.S. postal service (flash drives). Responses must be received, not postmarked, by the deadline date. Required application materials can be found below in the ‘Application Materials’ section of this RFP.

Project Background

The Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail runs throughout Summit County, Utah from Park City to Echo and travels through various ecosystems and communities, each with different histories, cultures, and traditions.

In 2021, Summit County began a two-year study of the trail and the lands surrounding it, resulting in the Summit County Rail Trail Corridor Plan adopted in May 2023. The Plan prioritizes access, environmental quality, agricultural preservation, sustainable tourism and recreation, economic vitality, and history, arts, and culture throughout the corridor.

For the last year the Summit County Planning Department has engaged in a process to develop the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail Arts and Culture Phasing and Implementation Strategy, completed in Spring 2025, which phases geographically and recommends Coalville, UT as a starting point for creative placemaking through public artwork on the Rail Trail.

The theme “Quilted Together” will guide the Arts & Culture implementation plan along the Rail Trail Corridor, referencing the strong culture of craft and quilting in the North and South Summit communities, and supports the long-range vision to connect the Rail Trail and the rural communities through which it runs by a series of sculptural artworks that honor and express the unique heritage, history, and culture of these towns. Coalville in particular has a strong quilting heritage, with an active quilters’ guild and a dedicated quilting exhibit in the Summit County Historical Museum located in the courthouse building. Quilting has long served as both a practical craft and an art form, symbolizing creativity, storytelling, and cultural identity. Quilting, at its core, is the process of stitching together various patterns to create a unified whole. This concept mirrors the communities along the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail, each with its own unique identity and cultural expression. By incorporating quilt-inspired patterns into public art along the Rail Trail, Summit County can celebrate these individual communities while visually uniting them into one cohesive design.

The Rail Trail itself serves as the thread that weaves these communities together, much like the stitching in a quilt. The inspiration for this idea comes from barn quilts, which are common in rural areas of the southeastern United States. These large, colorful quilt patterns often carry symbolic meanings, representing local history, heritage, or values, and act as a form of community branding. Similarly, incorporating quilt-inspired public art along the Rail Trail can serve as creative placemaking, reinforcing

the Rail Trail’s role as a cultural and physical connector across Summit County. By embracing “Quilted Together” as the theme, this project honors local traditions while fostering a sense of unity and shared identity among the diverse communities linked by the Rail Trail.

The SCPAAB seeks artwork that incorporates the ‘Quilted Together’ theme to reflect the culture, history, and strong community of Coalville and Summit County, UT. Artwork submissions should engage the viewer well beyond the project's installation, and be crafted to withstand functional use and the elements. Preference may be given to Artists who use sustainable practices in their work.

The artwork will be free-standing and finished artwork must be anchored. Artist(s) shall make no alterations, additions or improvements in or to the premises, other than the installation of the artwork. Artists or Artist teams shall provide details and engineering calculations demonstrating the manner of the artwork installation.

Once the details, safety, and engineering are reviewed by Summit County Manager, Summit County Deputy Manager, and the Summit County Planning Department, the Artist may be responsible to provide additional information, clarification of their proposed approach, or revised details to demonstrate compliance. Once the engineering and details are approved by the Summit County Manager, Summit County Deputy Manager and Summit County Planning Department, fabrication and installation can proceed.

Artwork Opportunity

Goals of the Coalville Rail Trail 'Quilted Together' Artwork:

SCPAAB is seeking artful 'Quilted Together' artworks for installation at the Coalville Center Street Rail Trail trail access point that will:

Incorporate the ‘Quilted Together’ theme, artistically interpreting the quilting history of the region into a public art sculpture.
Create and celebrate a strong sense of place, recognizing the strong cultural history of Coalville, the Rail Trail, and Summit County.
Engage the viewer beyond the project’s installation.
The artwork must be fabricated in durable, permanent, outdoor media that is safe, easily maintained, and proven its viability in public installations.
The artwork must be able to withstand deep snowfall, high winds, and variable temperatures.
The artwork must be suitable for public viewing by all ages.
The artwork must utilize sustainable practices.

Timeline

RFP Launch	Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Proposals Due	Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Artist Selection Deadline	Thursday, December 18, 2025
Artist Contract Period	December 25’ to January 26’
Project Completion	Friday, May 1, 2026

Artist Selection Criteria

Panelists will use the following criteria to rank submissions. Please note that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

A proposed concept that helps achieve the stated goals of the Coalville Rail Trail 'Quilted Together' Project Artwork goals and objectives (see ‘Artwork Opportunity’)
A demonstrated applicant ability to create artworks appropriate in concept for this project.
A demonstrated applicant ability to meet and conform to the demands of project schedule including but not limited to design review and artwork installation.
Adherence to the maximum budget of Thirteen Thousand Dollars ($13,000.00).
Functionality and durability of the proposed services. The art is intended for permanent outdoor display and must take into consideration variable climate, such as high winds, temperature, snow, etc.
Professional References - Applicants should list and provide contact information for at least three (3) references to contact for similar work performed.
Additional sustainable or “green” practices and qualities of your business or product.

Artist Selection Process

ARTIST SELECTION PANEL

The SCPAAB shall serve as the bid selection committee to evaluate proposals for Public Artwork. The County Staff Liaison and the SCPAAB Board Administrator shall coordinate and facilitate the SCPAAB’s actions. The SCPAAB shall make its recommendation to the County Manager. The County Manager shall make the award for Public Artwork. The County Manager may seek input from the County Council. Selection of Public Artwork shall be based upon adherence to the goals associated with the Qualifying Capital Improvement Project and the

Summit County Public Art Program.

The selection panel will convene to consider Artists’ proposals and will select a winning proposal for final approval by the County Manager. After approval, final contracting will begin. All SCPAAB meetings and Public Art Selection Panel meetings are open to the public and are posted on the Summit County website at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. To check the meeting schedule for public art projects, please go to summitcounty.org. Summit County reserves the right to cancel this project and/or choose not to select from the submissions received through this Call to Artists or to select portions of each submission, as negotiated with the Artist or Artist team.

Application Materials

By the submission deadline, Artists applying for this project must submit the following materials via email to Jenny Diersen, Summit County Public Art Advisory Board Administrator at . Required application materials can be found below.

Profile – Applicant contact information: Name, Organizational/Business Affiliation (if any), Address, Website, Social Media Sites, Phone/Email.

Resume – Two-page maximum current professional resume. Artist teams should submit one document that incorporates two-page resumes for each team member. Only .doc and .pdf documents will be accepted.

Statement of Interest – 700 words or less. Explain why the Artist or Artist team is interested in the project; how the Artist or Artist team’s work is appropriate for this project; how the Artist or Artist team’s work will reach the stated goals of the project. If submitting as a team, the statement should include a description of any past collaborative work experience and how the team anticipates working together on this type of project.

Concept – 1,500 words or less. Explain the Artist’s or Artist team’s initial concept for artwork at the sites included in this Call to Artists. This should include design concept and goals; design sketches representing proposed projects; how the design meets the project goals; art medium(s) to be used; materials; and approximate installation time frame. Conceptual design

drawings including information about the actual dimensions of the artwork and placement will be required.

Budget – The proposal must include a preliminary budget, outlining project costs including materials, labor, insurance and direct costs. Projects must adhere to the maximum $13,000 budget.

Work Samples – Applicants are encouraged to submit samples of past work that best illustrate their qualifications for this project. Up to ten (10) digital images (no composites) or videos as visual reflections of the artwork application, with an Annotated Work Sample Description including a brief description of the artwork, the title of the artwork, completion date, medium, and dimensions. Upload JPG files only; 1920 pixels on the longest side and at least 72 dpi.

Contract – The individual(s) selected shall be required to enter into a professional services contract with the County on a form to be drafted and approved by the Summit County Attorney’s Office. Applicants must read the County's standard professional services agreement posted at http://summitcounty.org/249/Public-Art and insurance requirements included as part of this Call. Contracted Artist(s) may be subject to additional requirements in the contract related specifically to the project.

References – Applicants must provide three (3) professional and/or client references with their applications.

Deadline

Required materials must be received no later than 5 PM Mountain Time on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Online submissions and mailed application materials must be received by the deadline. Late and/or incomplete proposals will not be accepted.