Route 66 I-44 Underpass Mural – Call to Artists

Request for Proposal
27-903
Professional Services for: Route 66 I-44 Underpass Mural - Call
to Artists
Department: Planning & Neighborhoods Department and Tulsa
Route 66 Commission
Commodity Code: 961-04
RFP Schedule
EVENT DATE
RFP Issue Date 07/31/2026
Pre-Proposal Conference Aug 5, 2026, 3:00-4:00 PM
Virtual - email buyer for invite to Zoom/Teams link Aug 10, 2026, 10:00-11:00 AM
Deadline for Questions 08/14/2026
Submit to assigned buyer via email. 10 Days prior to RFP due date
Proposal Due Date 08/26/2026
Mail or deliver to City Clerk address. Proposals are open
the day after the due date.
If You have any questions or need additional information, contact the Assigned Buyer:
Donny Tiemann | dtiemann@cityoftulsa.org
All questions should be emailed with RFP 27- 903 in the subject line.
Submit proposals (sealed) to:
Office of the City Clerk
City of Tulsa
175 E. 2ND St., Suite 260
Tulsa, OK 74103
RFP 27-903 Route 66 I-44 Underpass Mural Project | Page 1

OVERVIEW
The City of Tulsa is accepting submissions from professional or emerging artists or teams of artists in
response to a public art opportunity to create a mural as part of the City of Tulsa's year-long Route 66
Centennial celebration!
This call seeks to identify artists or teams of artists capable of designing an original work of art to be
installed on an Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) highway underpass located on
Tulsa's Route 66 corridor. The goal of this mural is to create an artistic Route 66 "gateway," celebrate
the East Tulsa Route 66 corridor and its landmarks, attractions, and history, provide another visual cue
that travelers are on Route 66, and beautify the Route 66 corridor. Artists or teams of artists should
submit only one design for consideration for this RFP.
LOCATION & SITE INFORMATION
Figure 1: Map of I-44 Highway Underpass
I-44 Highway Underpass: ODOT I-44 highway underpass on 11th Street between 119th & Garnett
Road.
Located on the East Tulsa portion of the Tulsa Route 66 corridor, this mural is right next to the Eastern
Route 66 Gateway which has an Art Deco style and a neon Route 66 shield.
* Approximate Size: Eastbound underpass wall is 155' 10" L x 13' 2" H; Westbound underpass
wall is 175' 2" x 13' 2" H; There are also 8 pillars. Pillars are 11' 6" tall with a circumference of
136"
* Approximate Total Square Footage: 4,360 (both walls); 1,052 (all pillars)
* Surface Type: Concrete; Ridged
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Figure 2: Photo of Westbound Wall of I-44 Highway Underpass
Figure 3: Photo of Eastbound Wall and Pillars of I-44 Highway Underpass
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Figure 4: Photo of Ridged Surface of I-44 Highway Underpass
ARTISTIC GOALS
* Welcome Route 66 travelers to Tulsa by creating an artistic gateway on the Eastern stretch of Route
66 in Tulsa!
* Celebrate East Tulsa Route 66 corridor's landmarks, attractions, and history!
* Beautify the corridor with varied public art.
* Provide another visual cue that travelers are on the Mother Road.
* Discourage graffiti on the underpass.
While Route 66 iconography, fonts, and artistic elements are strongly encouraged; the artwork is not limited
to classic or vintage-inspired Route 66 designs. Artists should feel invited to be creative and submit artwork
that is also interpretive, modern, or abstract. Similarly, artwork can contribute to Route 66 storytelling, but
storytelling is not a requirement. Designs that incorporate East Tulsa Route 66 icons, landmarks, or history
are strongly encouraged.
Installed alongside both murals will be a Capital of Route 66 graphic and QR code linking to a Route 66 Art
StoryMaps with more information about each mural and artist(s). This StoryMaps will serve as a digital self-
guided tour of all the art along Tulsa's Route 66 corridor, including the underpass murals.
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BACKGROUND
THE CITY OF TULSA - CAPITAL OF ROUTE 66
Tulsa is known as the capital of Route 66. Our city boasts more than 28 miles of active and original
alignments of the road and spans 8+ commercial districts. Throughout each district, Route 66 is a vibrant,
hyperlocal destination where you can find unique dining, shopping, services, lodging, entertainment, and
attractions surrounded by historic neighborhoods with lots of charm. Peppered throughout the corridor is
public art, new and vintage neon signs, historic markers, and landmarks that celebrate our rich Route 66
history.
That story begins with Cyrus Avery. Avery, an adopted son of Tulsa, is known as the Father of Route 66.
His full-throated support of the Good Roads Movement in the early 20th century placed him among a select
group of people responsible for designing the Federal Highway System. Because of his influence and
support, the future Main Street of America came through Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa. Today, that same
spirit of courage, innovation, and entrepreneurship thrives.
Route 66 in East Tulsa has many icons, landmarks, and stories that you may like to use in your artwork. For
example, the Admiral Twin Drive-In, Fire Station 66 - Keepers of the Mother Road, Route 66 Rising, Cyrus
Avery's Service Station, Will Rogers Theatre, KVOO Radio Station, Hi-Way 66 Drive-In, Rose Bowl, Wolf Robe
Hunt's Indian Trading Post, Wonder Bread Factory, Ann's Bakery, Duncan McIntyre, "Father of Tulsa Aviation,"
and McIntyre Airport, and historic motels and motor courts (Desert Hills Motel, Oasis Motel, Brookshire Motel,
Will Rogers Motor Court, Motor Inn, Grotto Tourist Court, Whitt Motel, Cook's Court, and the Tulsa Auto Court).
TIMELINE
The schedule below provides estimated dates for the RFP and contracting process. The City of Tulsa may
adjust this schedule as needed.
EVENT DATE
RFP Issue Date 07/31/2026
Pre-Proposal Conference (TEAMS) August 5th & August 10th
Deadline for Questions 08/14/2026
PROPOSAL DUE DATE 08/26/2026
RFP SSA Committee Opening Date 08/27/2026
Review and Evaluation 08/28/2026 - 09/10/26
Tulsa Arts Commission Review 09/14/2026
Award Recommendations Approved 09/17/2026
Execute contract (anticipated) September
Design Revisions September (If Needed)
Installation September-November
Unveiling TBD
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PHASE 1 - CALL TO ARTISTS
1. Call to Artists Issued: The City of Tulsa's Planning & Neighborhoods Department and the
Tulsa Route 66 Commission is issuing this Call to Artists.
2. Informational Conference (TEAMS) Call: Register via sending an email request for the
intended date to the Assigned Buyer at least one day before the meeting. One attendance
strongly encouraged as conference calls are the artist's opportunity to ask questions and
receive clarification.
a. Conference (TEAMS) Call 1 August 5, 2026 - 3:00 pm -4:00 pm
b. Conference (TEAMS) Call 2 August 10, 2026 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
3. Deadline: Submissions received after 5 PM CDT Wednesday, August 26, 2026, will not
be accepted. All submitted materials will be reviewed by the independent review panel.
PHASE 2 - REVIEW
1. Evaluation/Scoring: The independent review panel will evaluate all submissions and will select
one artist or team.
2. Recommendation: The independent review panel will formally recommend an artist or
team to the Arts Commission and Route 66 Commission, which advises the Mayor of
the City of Tulsa on final approval. Award of this RFP will be contingent on ODOT
Approval of Artwork. The Award Recommendation Approval is expected to take place
on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
PHASE 3 - IMPLEMENTATION
1. Contract Issue Period: Contract will be issued to selected artist(s).
2. If needed, the selected artist(s) will be expected to work with stakeholders to make any revisions
to artwork requested by City staff or the Tulsa Arts Commission into the final design. If needed,
the selected artists may also need to coordinate with City staff on edits to their StoryMaps
description to ensure accuracy. Any revisions would be implemented before issuing payment.
3. Installation: This is anticipated for September-November 2026, depending on the weather.
4. Unveiling: Once the mural is complete, the City of Tulsa will host an unveiling event and invite the
artist(s) to attend.
SCOPE OF WORK / DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
The selected artists/teams will be responsible for designing a mural that:
1. Serves as a gateway "photo-op" art piece beautifying an Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Underpass.
2. No messaging, advertisements, or profanity are allowed.
3. Utilizes high-quality, long-lasting and potentially cleanable materials.
4. Includes a protective graffiti coating on the mural.
5. Includes a descriptive title and 5-10 sentence description of the artwork to be used in a Route 66 Art
StoryMaps.
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BUDGET
The budget for the mural is $40,000.00. The budget for the mural must be inclusive of all costs,
including but not limited to artists' fees, studio overhead, consultant fees (including engineering),
purchase of materials, artwork fabrication, permits if required, site preparation, transportation,
installation of work (including scaffolding), construction and installation (including mounting) of any
necessary bases and lighting, general public liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, and
contingency. The selected artist(s) will be responsible for the appropriate allocation of the commission
funds to the artist's project components.
SCORING CRITERIA
Your submission(s) will be judged based upon the creativity and thoughtfulness of the overall design by
an independent review committee. The committee will use a rubric scoring artistic merit & visual impact
(30 points), historical & cultural context (25 points), narrative richness & representation (20 points),
place-based insight into the corridor (15 points), and technical feasibility (30 points) for a total of 120
points.
HOW TO APPLY
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL:
A. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Central
Daylight Time. Please place proposals in a sealed envelope or box clearly labeled
"RFP 27-903, Route 66 I-44 Underpass Mural - Call to Artists".
Proposals received late will be returned unopened.
B. Interested Respondents should submit:
One (1) unbound original and (1) digital copy (USB drive). Note: The unbound
original is a printed copy of the artwork on either an 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17 sheet
of paper and NOT the original artwork itself.
A complete proposal will include:
Artist Information Sheet
Respondent Information Sheet
Affidavit (Signed & Notarized) Note: There are notaries in UPS Stores,
most local banks, and local tag agencies.
Paper copy of mural design
Thumb drive with a digital copy of mural design and all proposal
materials.
C. Proposals shall be delivered and sealed to:
Deputy City Clerk
City of Tulsa
175 E. 2nd St.
Suite 260
Tulsa, OK 74103
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D. All interested Respondents (Sellers) are required to register with the Buyer
in order to receive updates, addenda or any additional information required.
You can learn more about the registration process on the following website:
https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/departments/finance/selling-to-the-city/register-as-a-
vendor/.
The City is not responsible for any failure to register.
E. Inquiries or questions to the Buyer requesting clarification regarding the Request
for Proposal must be made via e-mail and must be received prior to the end of
the business day on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Donny Tiemann, Project Buyer
dtiemann@cityoftulsa.org
Any questions regarding this RFP will be handled as promptly and as directly as
possible. If a question requires only minor clarification of instructions or specifications,
it will be handled via e-mail. If any question results in a substantive change or addition
to the RFP, the change or addition will be forwarded to all registered Respondents as
quickly as possible by addendum.
F. Proposals will be opened on the morning after the due date, at 8:30am, at the:
Standards, Specifications, and Awards Committee Meeting
175 East 2nd Street, 2nd Floor
City Council Chamber
G. The project is open to all professional and emerging artists, designers, or firms, regardless of
residence, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, military status, sexual orientation,
marital status, or physical or mental ability. Artist teams are eligible to apply, including teams
of artists from multiple disciplines.
SUBMISSION COMPONENTS
The following items make up this Call to Artists:
ARTIST SUBMISSION FORM (Not Evaluated)
FORM Contact & artist information, like your name, phone, email, mailing address, etc.
TITLE OF ARTWORK The title of your artwork which will be used in the public-facing Route 66 Art
StoryMaps.
DESCRIPTION OF ARTWORK Description of your design, inspiration for the work, why you feel it
represents Tulsa's stretch of Route 66, or what Route 66 means to you. This will be used in the public-
facing Route 66 Art StoryMaps.
ARTIST(S) BIO Biography and information about the artist(s) which will be used in the public-facing
Route 66 Art StoryMaps.
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YOUR CREATIVITY (Evaluated)
ARTWORK .pdf, .ai, or .psd file. (1) Print a paper copy for your design on either an 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17
sheet of paper and (2) a digital file of your design for your mural to a thumb drive.
RESPONDENT INFORMATION SHEET (Not Evaluated)
FORM Additional information needed by the City of Tulsa.
AFFIDAVIT (Not Evaluated)
FORM Legal form affirming non-collusion, interest, or claimant. Needs to be notarized.
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ARTIST SUBMISSION FORM
First Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Last Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Artist/Studio Name: (If different from above)
________________________________________________________________________
Are you applying with other artists?
Yes NO
If yes, please list the names of other artists here.
_________________________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code: _________________________________________________
Email: ______________________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________________________________________________
What is your connection to Route 66? Check all that apply (Not required, but nice to know!)
My studio or maker space is located on Route 66.
The school, college, university or trade school I attend/attended is located on Route 66.
I live on Route 66!
Mural Title: Tell us the title of your mural. If it has no title, please type in "Untitled" below. (Limit: 50 words)
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Description of Mural: Explain your design, including any iconography, color choices, history or themes you
explore. Share your inspiration for the work, why do you feel it represents Tulsa's stretch of Route 66, or what
Route 66 means to you. Title and Description will be used in the public-facing Route 66 Art StoryMaps. (Limit:
250 words)
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Artist Biography (Required)
Tell us about yourself. Provide artist bio. If you are applying with other artist(s) please write a combined bio
representative of all artists involved. This will be used in the public-facing Route 66 Art StoryMaps. (Limit: 250
words)
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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