Fire Station 36

Contact InformationBernalillo CountyContact Email: [email protected] Phone: 505-350-0144

Requirement OverviewLocation Eligibility Type: RegionalEligible Applicant Types: ArtistSubmission Limit: 1Media RequirementsImages | Min: 3, Max: 10Audio | Min: 0, Max: 0Video | Min: 0, Max: 0Total | Min: 3, Max: 10

Opportunity SummaryThe Bernalillo County Arts Board announces the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a new art commission of outdoor public art at Fire Station 36, located at 6810 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Opening Date: October 9, 2026. Closing Date: October 23, 2026, 11:59pm. Eligibility: Regional (artists living in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.) Budget: $80,000, all inclusive. Fire Station 36 is a new, energy‑efficient facility. The public art project aims to create a meaningful visual landmark shaped through collaboration with firefighters and local community members. The artwork will be installed outside of the station's Community Risk Reduction Center. The selected artist will be invited to create a durable, low‑maintenance outdoor artwork. Themes may include sustainability, public safety, community pride, and resilience, with optional nods to the station's bear mascot, ladder‑truck legacy, and fire-fighter iconogr...

Jump toApplication RequirementsEligibilityLegal Agreement

General InformationCall DescriptionThe Bernalillo County Arts Board solicits a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists or artists’ teams to collaborate with the local community and the employees of Fire Station 36 to design and install a site-specific, outdoor public art project in the North Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Please refer to the attachment provided for exact location, site plan, and other details. Budget: $80,000.00 is the all-inclusive budget to create and install the artwork.Site Details:The artwork is to be installed in front of the Community Risk Reduction Center, located in the patio of the facility just south of the main entrance to the Fire Station. The address is 6810 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113. The site for the public art project is currently a gravel filled area of approximately 550 square feet in size. Location/Context/History:Fire Station 36 is a newly built, energy‑efficient fire station located on Edith Boulevard NE near Osuna Road NE in Albuquerque’s North Valley. The station replaces the aging Fire Station 9 on Bear Canyon Road and was created with significant community involvement to ensure the facility supports both firefighters and nearby residents.The 14,000‑square‑foot station includes modern amenities for firefighter wellness and operations, such as four apparatus bays, twelve bunk rooms, a full kitchen, a gym, and a day room. It will also house New Mexico’s first electric fire truck and features a community room shaped directly by neighborhood input. Key sustainable features include a 52 kW ground‑mounted solar array, Energy Star fixtures, and extensive natural daylighting.Project Intent/Theme:The Bernalillo County Public Art Program seeks an artist or artist team to create a durable, low‑maintenance, large‑scale outdoor artwork for the newly constructed Fire Station 36 in Albuquerque’s North Valley. This station was designed through strong community collaboration and built with a focus on sustainability and modern fire service needs, providing a meaningful context for a public artwork that reflects both its purpose and its place.The artwork should celebrate the heritage and history of Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue, with specific emphasis on Station 36 and its role in serving the North Valley community. The station is home to New Mexico’s first electric fire truck, features significant green‑energy infrastructure, and represents a long‑term investment in public safety, innovation, and neighborhood partnership. Artists are encouraged to consider how these themes of service, resilience, sustainability, and community can be expressed in a visually compelling and site‑responsive way.To ensure cohesion with the station’s design, artists may incorporate imagery connected to the identity and culture of Station 36, including subtle references to the station’s bear mascot, its legacy as a ladder truck station, and fire service iconography such as the Maltese cross. These elements are welcome but should not dominate the artwork. Instead, artists should balance fire‑service themes with broader community representation, reflecting the pride and commitment of both the firefighters who work there and the residents they serve.Community engagement is strongly encouraged. The final artwork should resonate with public safety personnel, support the station’s purpose as a community‑connected facility, and contribute an iconic visual presence to the North Valley.Project Funds:$80,000.00 is available to commission the artwork. This amount is all-inclusive and includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, time, artist fees, equipment, labor, permits, travel, installation, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.Timeframe (Subject to Change): RFQ released: October 9, 2026.Deadline for Submissions: October 23, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. MSTNovember: Jurying of SubmissionsDecember: Semi-finalists invited to create designs/conceptsJanuary 2027: Semi-finalists present concepts to the Selection CommitteeJanuary 2027: Finalist selectedFebruary 2027: Artist enters into contract and project beginsFebruary 2028: Art installation completed

Application RequirementsPlease review and follow the image preparation guide on the CaFÉ website. Digital media on-line submissions must follow the CaFÉ image uploading requirements. This online process requires that all application images and materials be submitted in digital format. For digital image requirements please visit the “Image Prep” section at CaFÉ, (www.callforentry.org). Submit from th