Glossary
Request for qualifications (RFQ)
A call that asks artists for examples of past work, experience, and approach, not a new design, so a shortlist can be chosen before anyone is asked to develop concepts.
The RFQ is the standard first stage for significant commissions, and its logic is fairness plus quality: artists are judged on work that exists, the panel isn't seduced by whoever renders prettiest under deadline, and only the shortlisted few spend design effort, paid via honorarium.
It also lowers the barrier for artists new to public work. A strong studio artist may have no public commissions to point to and no proposal-writing polish, but an RFQ lets the work itself make the case. Programs trying to diversify their artist rosters usually start here.