Request for Qualifications - Artist Opportunities

The Cleveland Public Library (CPL) seeks emerging and established visual artists for its Prequalified Artist Registry. The Artist Registry will serve as a source for CPL to contract with artists to purchase existing artworks, commission new works, or partner with on commercial and other projects. Artists who are identified through this process are eligible to be contracted with by CPL to design, fabricate, and/or install projects at Main Library or any one of its 27 locations throughout Cleveland, Ohio, or related to any of its mobile and/or community-based projects, such as CPL BookBoxes, Art Boxes, BookBikes, or mobile technology spaces. A project-specific contract will be developed for any artist who is commissioned to do artwork with CPL.

There is no limit to the number of artists who can be prequalified through this process. Artists selected to be prequalified through this process will remain eligible for work consideration with CPL through June 30, 2026 and
may reapply for inclusion in the registry in the future. Cleveland Public Library intends to reissue this RFQ annually. Artists who are already prequalified will remain eligible for projects for two years after they have been accepted through this process. Virtual information sessions will be offered for prospective artists. See TIMELINE for dates and to sign up.

Eligibility

Applications are open to artists, artist teams, and collectives working in a variety of artistic mediums including, but not limited to, sculpture, painting, fiber, ceramics, photography, digital arts, printmaking, video, illustration, collage, and mixed media. All artists 18 years of age and older are eligible to apply. Cleveland-based artists are strongly encouraged to apply. BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, people with disabilities, and people with varying abilities are encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

Artists at all stages of their careers, from emerging to experienced, will be considered. The registry is open to artists from all backgrounds, from self-taught to professionally trained. Artists’ applications will be evaluated for inclusion in the registry based on the following:

• Creativity
• Conceptual strength
• Technical skills
• Experience or interest engaging the public through the arts
• Relationship with the community served by CPL
• Experience or interest in collaborating with public organizations, members of the community or public art projects
• Appreciation for CPL’s mission, vision and values

Review Body

A demographically diverse selection panel comprised of internal and external professionals will convene to screen all eligible applications and recommend a roster of qualified artists for CPL to consider for future projects. There is no limit to the number of artists who will be included in this registry.

Timeline

• April 1 Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued
• April 16 Virtual Informational session for prospective artists, 6:00-7:00pm
• April 18 Virtual Informational session for prospective artists, 12:00-1:00pm

Select one (1) virtual information session and email marissa.tiroly@cpl.org to sign up.

• May 15 Applications due
• June 30 Artists notified of decisions

All artists accepted through this RFQ process will be eligible for projects with Cleveland Public Library through June 30, 2026