Surprise seeks artist for $165,000 public artwork at new police substation

Surprise is seeking an artist or artist team to create permanent public artwork for its first police substation, with applications due Aug. 31 and an estimated artwork contract of approximately $165,000.

The City of Surprise Arts & Culture Division posted the solicitation July 9, 2026. The selected artwork is planned for the facility’s highly visible exterior boundary wall at the northwest corner of 163rd Avenue and W. San Ysidro Road.

Artwork planned for 163rd Avenue site

The solicitation calls for a welcoming civic landmark that reflects service, integrity and justice. The city is seeking durable, low-maintenance outdoor artwork suited to the Sonoran Desert climate.

The solicitation expresses a preference for metal artwork integrated with the building’s architecture and encourages artists to incorporate the color blue through materials or lighting. Those are solicitation preferences, not a final design decision.

Estimated artwork contract is separate from construction authority

The approximately $165,000 figure is an estimate for the selected artist’s contract. It covers design, engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation of the completed artwork. It is not a final awarded contract, and the city has not yet selected an artist or approved a final design based on the available project brief.

A separate FY2026 City of Surprise contract-awarding authority record lists $29 million for Police Substation No. 1 design and construction services. That amount is for the broader substation project and is not the artwork budget.

The city’s Spring 2026 Progress Magazine says the substation is part of a voter-approved public-safety capital program. The planned facility is designed to accommodate approximately 60 police officers and professional staff, with construction expected to be completed in fall 2027.

Up to three finalists may receive honoraria

A community selection panel may advance up to three finalists to a proposal phase. Each finalist may receive a $1,500 honorarium, plus eligible travel and lodging expenses, to develop a conceptual proposal, meet with stakeholders and participate in interviews.

The current solicitation does not indicate that a final artist has been chosen. The city is still accepting qualifications and project applications.

What applicants must submit

Applications must be submitted through Submittable by Aug. 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time. Required materials include:

• Contact information
• An artist statement
• An experience and qualifications statement
• A community-engagement statement
• Five work samples

For residents tracking the project, the immediate decision point is the Aug. 31 application deadline. The solicitation remains separate from a future finalist selection, a final artist contract, an approved artwork design and the eventual completion of the police substation.

Sources

• Arizona Commission on the Arts — Police Substation Artwork Call
• City of Surprise — FY2026 Contract Awarding Authority List
• City of Surprise — Spring 2026 Progress Magazine