Temporary Public Art Installation for the City of Williamsburg

The City of Williamsburg, through the Williamsburg Public Art Council (WPAC), is seeking proposals from qualified artists, designers, or creative firms for a temporary public art installation to be displayed in Bicentennial Park.

The selected installation will be displayed from early October through mid-November 2026 and is intended to activate the park through a visually compelling, interactive, and light-centric experience that encourages visitation during afternoon and evening hours.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION & GOALS

The City of Williamsburg is seeking a temporary, medium- to large-scale installation that emphasizes light-based or illuminated elements. Proposals may incorporate LED lighting, projection mapping, motion sensors, or other interactive components. Auditory elements must comply with the City’s noise ordinance .

Installations may be existing works or custom-designed; however, due to the project timeline, concepts that can be implemented efficiently are strongly encouraged.

Project goals are as follows:

• Activate Bicentennial Park during afternoon and evening hours through a visually compelling and immersive installation;
• Encourage community interaction and exploration through the installation’s design elements;
• Increase visitation to the park and surrounding areas during the fall season;
• Create a visually distinctive experience that encourages discussion and social media sharing; and
• Provide an accessible experience that appeals to a broad audience of all ages and backgrounds.

While the installation may draw inspiration from seasonal elements such as autumn colors or natural forms, it should not include overt Halloween themes to convey a broader, more universally appealing aesthetic.

Special consideration may be given to proposals that encourage coordination and/or collaboration with An Occasion for the Arts (AOFTA), a premier Williamsburg event. AOFTA is held annually in downtown Williamsburg during the first weekend of October.

•        Signed cover page
•        Signed submission form (page 5 of this RFP)
•        2 hard copies of proposal submission and 1 digital file
•        Project narrative, including features and functionality
•        Images/renderings
•        Artist/firm qualifications and experience
•        Two references
•        Portfolio of applicable past work
•        Project timeline, including installation and deinstallation plan
•        Ownership model (rental of artwork vs. ownership, if applicable)
•        Budget breakdown
•        Technical requirements
•        Additional labor requirements (if applicable)