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| Budget: $50,000 |
| Activated: 07/25/2025 Deadline: 09/11/2025 |
| Call Summary The Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Friends of Aransas NWR) seeks to commission a unique public art sculpture for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This permanent artwork will welcome visitors and honor the refuge, renowned for its diverse wildlife including the endangered whooping crane. The sculpture must be durable, constructed from environmentally resilient, low-maintenance materials suited to the coastal habitat. It should reflect the refuge’s unique natural environment, conservation efforts, and serve as both an artistic landmark and educational experience for visitors. The artwork must include the likeness of at least one full-scale whooping crane. The final artwork will be prominently sited at the front of the Aransas NWR Visitors Center, enhancing public engagement with the landscape and its wildlife. The Friends of Aransas NWR seeks qualifications from professional artists (individuals or teams) with experience in 3-D public art projects who can ensure the artwork’s sustainability and harmony with the refuge’s mission. The Friends of Aransas NWR, relevant stakeholders, and subject-matter experts will evaluate artist qualifications and select four finalists to submit a proposal ensuring alignment with the site’s ecological considerations. The final selection is subject to approval by the Friends of Aransas NWR. More information about the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas. |
| Budget Description The budget for this opportunity is $50,000. The budget includes: artist’s design and project management fees; materials and supplies; meetings with project team members; community outreach and site research; proposal for artwork that includes: project narrative, itemized budget, maintenance plan, renderings and/or other visuals, schedule, and roles and responsibilities for installation; stamped structural engineering drawings, if required, and all insurances needed; fabrication and installation; and travel accommodations. ? Note: Some elements may be installed by a contractor for convenience depending on the final design of the artwork. However, all installation costs of the artwork will be paid by the artist’s budget. |
| Project Description The Friends of Aransas NWR, in collaboration with the San Antonio River Foundation, seeks to commission a professional artist or artist team to create a new, permanent public art sculpture for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. This is a commission opportunity for a new, original work of art that will serve as a meaningful landmark for visitors while honoring the refuge’s mission and highlighting the iconic whooping crane. The selected artist will be responsible for the design, fabrication, and installation of the artwork in close coordination with the project stakeholders. The final work must include at least one full-scale representation of a whooping crane, and should reflect themes of conservation, biodiversity, and the refuge’s distinctive coastal environment. The artwork should be constructed using durable, environmentally resilient materials that are appropriate for an outdoor setting exposed to Gulf Coast conditions. The selected artist will collaborate with the Friends of Aransas NWR and relevant stakeholders throughout the design development and approval process. The artist’s responsibilities will include site visits, stakeholder meetings, final design development, stamped engineering drawings (as needed), fabrication, transportation, and installation of the artwork. This call is not for existing work, and artists must propose new concepts that are site-specific and responsive to the goals of the project. |
| Artwork Goals The artwork must: Be a visually striking and meaningful addition to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and reflect the natural environment, wildlife, and conservation mission of the refuge Include the likeness of at least one full-scale whooping crane Encourage visitor interaction, education, and engagement with the refuge’s landscape and generate excitement and interest among local communities and refuge visitors Be constructed from durable, low-maintenance materials that can withstand the coastal climate and environmental conditions and be designed with consideration for the refuge’s unique ecosystem and adhere to any applicable environmental and conservation guidelines. |
| Artwork Location Description The refuge serves as a critical habitat for hundreds of species, and its coastal marshes, grasslands, and oak woodlands support a rich biodiversity, making it a destination for conservationists, bird watchers, and nature enthusiasts. The landscape has long been a source of sustenance and inspiration, and today, it continues to be a place of discovery, reflection, and stewardship. The designation for the artwork location is at the front of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center. |
| Site History The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1937, has long been a sanctuary for wildlife and a testament to conservation efforts along the Texas Gulf Coast. Originally designated to protect the endangered whooping crane, the refuge now spans over 115,000 acres of coastal wetlands, prairies, and oak woodlands, serving as a vital habitat for diverse species and an important site for ecological research. Today, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge continues to play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity while offering visitors a place to connect with nature. Its legacy is one of resilience and renewal, ensuring that future generations can witness the awe-inspiring migration of the whooping crane and experience the beauty of Texas’ coastal wilderness. |
| Eligibility The opportunity is open to all art and design professionals, ages 18 and over, and residing in the United States, regardless of residence, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. |
| Application Requirements |
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Resume: 3 page(s) maximum Work examples: 10 Letter of Interest: 100 word maximum The letter should be approximately one page in length and should explain your interest in creating a unique, signature work of art for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. If applying as a team, please also include a description of your team and the qualities each person brings to the project. References: 3 |
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Artists are allowed to apply in teams.
Each artist is to submit the full allotment of work examples. |
| Selection Information |
| Selection Process The artist selection process is being administered by Interim Arts, under contract with the San Antonio River Foundation, in coordination with the Friends of Aransas NWR (Project Partners). The process will take place in two phases. In the first phase, artists are invited to submit qualifications through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). A selection panel made up of representatives from the Friends of Aransas NWR, relevant stakeholders, and subject-matter experts will review applications and select up to four finalists. In the second phase, the selected finalists will each receive a $500 honorarium to develop and submit a proposal for a new, unique work of art. This honorarium will cover all costs associated with preparing the proposal. Finalists must present a conceptual approach that includes the artwork’s design, materials, scale, weight, installation and maintenance requirements, budget considerations, and potential for public engagement. Finalists will then participate in an interview process, after which one artist will be selected for the commission. The selected artist will contract with the Friends of Aransas NWR to execute the final artwork for the Wildlife Refuge. |
| Selection Criteria Artists should demonstrate the following: Experience completing a public art project of similar scope and scale (project type, budget, artistry) (45%) Understanding of the project goals and mission of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (20%) Knowledge of materials and fabrication methods, and sensitivity to the nature of an outdoor coastal environment (20%) An interest in creating a signature work of art (15%) |
| Timeline (dates may be adjusted at any time) 2025 July 25 Release Request for Qualifications August 4 Deadline for submitting questions September 11 Applications due September 15 - 25 Applications reviewed, and finalists notified October 30 Proposals due Week of November 10 Finalist proposal presentation, interview November - December Contract negotiation and execution 2026 February 6 Final design due 4 Months (est) Artwork fabrication TBD Artwork installation TBD Dedication of artwork |
| Additional Resources |
| https://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas |
| Request for Qualifications (PDF) (PDF) |
| Artwork Location 1 (PNG) |
| Artwork Location 2 (JPG) |
| Contact Information | Ashley Mireles San Antonio TX United States ashley@sariverfound.org |
| Submission Instructions |
| Email Address ashley@sariverfound.org |
| Emailing Submission Instructions Artists interested in being considered should submit the following materials no later than 5:00PM (Central Time) on September 11, 2025, to Ashley Mireles at ashley@sariverfound.org. The following application materials are required: 1) Letter of interest. The letter should be approximately one page in length and should explain your interest in creating a unique, signature work of art for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. If applying as a team, please also include a description of your team and the qualities each person brings to the project. 2) Resumes. Indicate commissions, exhibitions, awards, publications, education, or other relevant information. 3) Ten samples of past work (which may include artworks, research, etc.) with annotated image description including title, date, size, medium, location, and if a commissioned project, the commission budget. 4) References. A list of three professional references that have a thorough knowledge of your work and working methods. The list must include current addresses and telephone numbers. There is no application fee. Applications delivered by hand or mail to the Project Partners will be considered ineligible and will not be accepted. |
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