A competitive call to artists issued by the City of Sarasota for a landmark sculpture in the center of the roundabout at U.S. 41 and Fruitville Road is now open for submissions through September 16. A request for qualifications is available online. Professional artists may submit proposals online at no cost. Submissions must complement the roundabout’s downtown location and meet the required criteria detailed in the call to artists, including height, lighting, non-interactive form and the ability to meet the demands of Sarasota’s climate.

The budget for the sculpture is no more than $175,000, which will be funded by developer contributions to the Public Art Fund. The piece will become part of the City’s permanent public art collection. Three finalists selected by the Public Art Committee (PAC) will make in-person presentations to the PAC, which will make a recommendation to the City Commission for consideration. The final candidate will be asked to engage the City and community stakeholders before designing the artwork. The selected piece will also be submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation for review and approval.

For more information, contact Mary Davis Wallace, Public Art Senior Planner, at marydavis.wallace@sarasotaFL.gov or 941-263-6349.