The Hayden Heights Library on St. Paul’s Greater East Side, which has not been remodeled since its construction in 1978, is currently undergoing a full renovation—co-designed with community members—to meet the needs of community members today and tomorrow.
Public art is a key part of this transformation. Selected artists will have a unique opportunity to contribute to a new space that reflects the neighborhood as well as the library’s and city’s vision for libraries where everyone belongs.
RFQ Overview | Details
Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) seeks artists and/or artist teams to create original, community-centered artworks to be installed permanently in the new Hayden Heights Library (currently being renovated at 1456 White Bear Ave in Saint Paul).
The major renovation of this building is part of the library’s Transforming Libraries initiative, which aims to reimagine library spaces with and for community.
Selected artists will collaborate with SPPL to present designs and create permanent artwork that reflects the diversity, culture, and values of Saint Paul residents—especially those historically excluded from public libraries and similar civic/public spaces.
We are seeking artists to:
- Create visual artwork for interior or exterior placement at Hayden Heights Library.
- Collaborate with SPPL staff and design professionals to ensure site compatibility, safety, and durability.
- Complement the interior finishes of the space, and utilize the values, personality, brand colors, and guidelines in order to guide art decision.
- Deliver artwork that reflects equity, accessibility, cultural identity, and belonging.
This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), not a call for design proposals. Artists should not submit concept drawings or detailed project ideas at this stage.
Eligibility
- Individual artists or artist teams, creative collectives are invited to apply.
- Artists based in or with a demonstrated connection to Saint Paul or the Twin Cities metro area.
- Artists of all disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including those who identify as east side of Saint Paul residents, BIPOC, immigrant, disabled, LGBTQIA+, youth artists, or artists with a history of community reflective design in their practice.
- Artists may apply for multiple projects; however, each artist or team will only be awarded one commission to ensure opportunities are distributed broadly.
Projects
Project 1: Interior Wall Mural - Artist & Materials Fee: $40,000
We are offering a large-scale painted mural opportunity on the main feature wall at the back of the library. This wall is a key visual point in a lively public space where people of all ages come to read, learn, gather, and explore. There are two continuous wall sections measuring 14’ x 49’ and 10’ x 29’. A section of the wall runs adjacent to the children’s and teen areas and are highly visible throughout the space. The mural should appeal across ages.
At this stage, the library is looking for artists whose past work shows they can create an engaging, site-specific mural that adds to the space without taking it over. The opportunity encourages artists to thoughtfully consider how the mural will function as an anchoring feature within the library. Given its prominent location and long-term presence, the mural should reflect a strong attention to detail, color, composition, and the overall energy of the space. Please include your relevant experience, examples of past projects, and a short statement about your interest in and approach to this opportunity.
Ideal for: muralists and painters with large-scale wall experience
Project 2: Interior Textile Wall Art - Artist Award: flexible
We invite artists to create a wall piece using textile, beadwork, weaving, fiber arts, or similar methods. The artwork should capture the character, culture, history, or aspirations of our community and help make the space feel welcoming and visually interesting. The chosen artist will design and create a wall-mounted work that uses textile, beaded, woven, fiber-based, or mixed-media techniques. Wall areas available for artworks can accommodate artworks in various dimensions.
The library will consider 1-2 artworks in these mediums, and will work with the artist on a commission fee that is ideal for the scale and complexity of the artwork.
Ideal for: visual artists who work in weaving, beading or textile mediums.
Project 3: Custom Designed Bike Racks - Artist Award: $3000**
Bike rack graphics will reflect the library identity and the surrounding neighborhood character. Designs prepared by artist will be ordered through a bike rack fabrication company. Designs are laser cut within arch-style frame and powder-coated in bright, durable colors; artist can suggest color palettes that align with the library’s visual identity. The artist may create at least 2–3 design variations that could be applied across multiple racks.
Ideal for: graphic designers and illustrators. Note: bike rack fabrication/installation not included in artist budget, as the artist is selected to design only**
How to Apply
The selected artist(s) for each project will be supported through a design process, working collaboratively with the project team to develop concepts, receive feedback, and finalize an approved design for fabrication and installation.
Interior Mural Selection Process: Artists for the interior mural project may be invited into a semi-finalist round and a paid design sketch phase.
Interested artists should submit:
- Contact info (email and phone) and name of artists and/or artist teams. Specify which project the artist is applying for.
- A statement of interest (1page) outlining their approach to art, how their experience aligns with the project scope, and why they are interested in this opportunity. Describe any connection to Saint Paul neighborhoods, communities, or SPPL. We’re interested in your connection to the projects and your unique perspective, not polished writing.
- Up to 6 relevant work samples that demonstrate artistic quality and relevant experience. Include a list of artwork details.
Please combine all materials into a single PDF or shared folder and submit to: michaela.sy@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Submissions are due by Monday, July 27 at 5pm.
Key Milestones / Timeline
RFQ Submission Deadline - July 27, 2026
Artists Submissions Reviewed - August 2026
Artists Notified - By September 5, 2026
Design Concept Development - Sept - Nov, 2026
Fabrication & Installation - Nov 2026 - Jan 2027
Installation Complete - By January 2027
Selection Criteria
Artist qualifications will be evaluated based on:
Alignment with SPPL’s values: Demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to SPPL’s core values—Connection, Innovation, Resilience, and the Power of Belonging—and reflects these values in past work.
Equity-centered approach: Brings an equity mindset to their creative process, including a demonstrated ability to create inclusive, accessible work that reflects and affirms diverse cultural identities, lived experiences, and abilities.
Community connection: Reflects a strong connection to Saint Paul or the broader Twin Cities community. Artists are encouraged to demonstrate how their cultural background, lived experience, or artistic practice connects with or is responsive to Saint Paul’s greater east side neighborhood, surrounding neighborhoods, or the City of Saint Paul.
Artistic vision and approach: Presents a thoughtful approach to creating public art that is engaging, imaginative, and responsive to both the community and the library’s architectural and design goals.
Collaboration and communication: Shows a collaborative spirit and openness to working with community members, library staff, and design teams throughout the development and installation process.
Experience: Demonstrated experience, skills, or artistic practice indicating the ability to successfully execute a project of similar scale or context. Evidence may include completed artworks, past commissions, exhibitions, collaborative projects, community-based work, or other examples that demonstrate the artist’s capacity.
SPPL's Transforming Libraries: Background
The renovation of the Hayden Heights Library building is part of SPPL’s Transforming Libraries initiative, a multi-year effort to reimagine library spaces with and for community.
Our goals are to:
- Invest in library spaces that are safe, welcoming, and affirming of all cultures, abilities, and communities.
- Create technology-rich and play and learn spaces that support families and individuals to connect and grow with each other.
- Reflect the unique identities and stories of Saint Paul communities through design, programming, and public art.
Equity-focused community engagement has been a cornerstone of Transforming Libraries. In efforts to center historically excluded voices and perspectives, SPPL engaged more than 3,000 additional people through a series of virtual and in-person open houses, pop-up events, community meetings, and surveys. We asked community members to identify what they want from Hayden's transformation.
We heard overwhelming support for libraries that maximize accessibility for all community members, are environmentally responsible, reflect the cultures of the community, and provide new spaces for families and teens to play and learn and for community members to gather, meet, and work or study independently.
Community input, along with technical guidance from design partner, LSE Architects, and additional industry experts have informed our final design for Hamline Midway, Riverview, and Hayden Heights libraries.
MORE DETAILS: https://sppl.org/transforming-libraries/hayden-heights/
Questions? Contact michaela.sy@ci.stpaul.mn.us.