Diamond District Sculpture RFQ

Diamond District Overview

The Diamond District, Richmond’s sports and entertainment destination, is anchored by CarMax Park—the new home of the Flying Squirrels, the City of Richmond’s minor league baseball team. The neighborhood is currently under construction and will feature retail, office, mixed-income housing, and a hotel. As a gateway to Richmond, the Diamond District acts as a connector of the city. A place of constant activity, the District will bring people together for events and experiences throughout the year.

Site History

Located on Powhatan land in the commonwealth of Virginia’s capital, the Diamond District occupies a 67-acre site in the Northside of Richmond just off the I-95 and I-64 highways and adjacent to busy train tracks and the former site of the Greyhound bus terminal. Nestled between neighborhoods including Sherwood Park, Rosedale, and Scott’s Addition, the site has been home to Richmond’s minor league baseball team and its most recent stadium, known as the Diamond—as well as the Arthur Ashe Junior Athletic Center, additional community sports facilities (ie. Sports Backers Stadium, Virginia Commonwealth University facilities), and manufacturing and distribution warehouses. It had long been the site of multiuse fair grounds, hosting the Virginia State Fair for many years. In the 1960s, the area even included Travelland, a travel-themed park that featured a locomotive, airplanes, and exhibits alongside a Visitor Center inside the relocated Westham Train Station building.

Project Vision

This RFQ seeks qualified artists for one sculpture commission at the Diamond District:

Signature Sculpture – Located beside the entryway to the new Diamond District ballpark, the sculpture will be a highly visible component of the park and the first of its public art installations. The permanent sculpture should be large in scale and could include interactive or functional components (ie. seating, shade, etc.) to encourage visitor engagement. (specs to be added on scale, dimensions of the site, etc.) Artists are encouraged to consider the following objectives:

• Develop a signature sculpture inspired and influenced by community input
• Connect to the history or significance of the site
• Include community engagement at the forefront of the artistic process
• Complement the Diamond District brand identity
• Thematic elements:
  • Brand Values
    
    • Energy: The Diamond District is vibrant, energetic, and resilient and embraces the joy of activity.
    • Community: The Diamond District brings people together, it strengthens connections and a sense of belonging.
    • Creativity: The Diamond District is full of creative expression, artful details, and represents the resourcefulness of Richmonders.
  • Brand Personality
    
    • Warm: A warm personality is inviting, engaging and creates an environment for connection. Friendly energy invites conversation and fosters a sense of belonging.
    • Energetic: An energetic personality is lively, enthusiastic, full of activity. It takes initiative, radiates charisma and positivity and keeps up the momentum.
    • Imaginative: An imaginative personality is vivid and creative, always generating original ideas. It’s curious, adaptable, and open to new perspectives.
• Apprenticeship Component: The selected lead artist will mentor a paid apprentice (emerging artist or fabrication intern) throughout design, fabrication, and installation. The goal is to support and cultivate the next generation of artists.
  
  • Please indicate in your application how you would like to incorporate an apprentice or intern into your project.
  • The selected artist will be involved in the apprentice selection process, working with the Diamond District Artist Selection Panel and community partners to identify an apprentice appropriate to their needs.

• Artistic Practice: Large-scale, outdoor sculpture and/or 3D design.
• Geography: Preference for artists who are based in and are from the Richmond region or have ties to the Richmond region. Artists from outside the Richmond region should explain how they plan to manage the project and engage the Richmond community. 

We welcome applications from: 

• Professional artists, collaborative teams, or collectives with experience in large-scale public art.
• Artists with a deep commitment to community engagement.

Scope of Work (for Commissioned Artist) 

1. Research & Community Engagement 

• Engage with the Diamond District Artist Selection Panel and community stakeholders; review relevant history (relative to the site, surrounding community, and City of Richmond) and brand identity inspiration.
  
  • Partners could include The Valentine Museum, VCUarts, Richmond Public Schools, Richmond Flying Squirrels stakeholders and fans, and more.
• Participate in at least 3-5 community engagement touchpoints (workshops, site walks, listening sessions, community conversations).
  
  • The Diamond District Artist Selection Panel will make introductions and support identification of groups or individuals to be engaged as needed. 

2. Design Development

• Concept drawings/maquettes; materials/specifications; maintenance plan; accessibility and safety considerations; interpretive approach.
• Outline and manage the apprentice’s learning goals and tasks. 

3. Engineering & Permitting

• Provide stamped engineering drawings if required; coordinate permitting and compliance with local authorities (with Diamond District Partners’ support).
• Outline and manage the apprentice’s learning goals and tasks. 

4. Fabrication & Installation

• Fabricate to approved specs; coordinate site prep and foundations; install safely and professionally; attend hand-off and unveiling celebration.

5. Documentation & Maintenance

• Deliver high-quality photos/video, complete as-built drawings, maintenance manual and plan (materials, finishes, coatings, cleaning schedule and instructions).

1. Artist Statement
2. Qualifications for completing a public art commission of this scale
3. Statement of Interest
4. Community Engagement
5. Apprentice/Intern Engagement
6. Geographic Ties
7. Website (if applicable)  
8. Instagram (if applicable)
9. CV
10. Images of past work
11. References

Phase 1: Request for Qualifications 

Phase 2: Finalist Interviews

Phase 3: Selection of Artist

Phase 4: Sculpture Design - the artist/s selected and commissioned to create the signature sculpture will conduct community engagement and historical research to inform their design proposal. Designs must be engineered for permanent exterior display, meet all safety codes, consider floodplain/site conditions where applicable, and be fabricated from durable, low‑maintenance materials (including but not limited to bronze, stainless steel, Corten, aluminum, high‑performance coatings). Plans must include recommendations for ongoing maintenance and repair. 

Phase 5: Review of design proposal. This will include draft designs, materials, scale, installation/transportation and maintenance plan.

$230,000 

This budget must cover design, fabrication, engineering, installation, foundations, infrastructure, site preparations, meetings, site visits, transportation of artwork, insurance, and other related expenses. More information about the site will be made available to the finalists.

Submit your application via SlideRoom by May 8, 2026

Please submit any questions to Maritza Pechin ([email protected]) and Monica Kinsey ([email protected]) by May 1, 2026.

Information Session: 

Friday, April 17, 2026: 12-1pm EST

(VIRTUAL MEETING LINK)