Request for proposals (RFP)
A call that asks artists to submit a specific concept for the project (design, budget, timeline) so the selection panel chooses both the artist and the artwork at once.
The RFP-versus-RFQ choice is the most consequential fork in a commissioning process. An RFP front-loads creative work: every applicant designs before anyone is paid, which suits small projects with tight timelines but asks the whole field to speculate on one job.
Most artist-advocacy guidance prefers an RFQ-first process for significant commissions: select a shortlist on past work, then pay finalists an honorarium to develop concepts. If an RFP is the right tool, the respectful version keeps the required submission light (concept sketch, not construction drawings) and is honest in the call about how much unpaid work it's asking for.