Swayne Field

Public Info Session

Help shape a new public art project at Swayne Field! Join us on April 22 for a public info session to learn more about this upcoming project, the artist selection process, and how the community can get involved.

When: Wednesday, April 22 | 5:30 PM
Where: St. Martin de Porres Church, 1119 W Bancroft St

Arts Commission staff will present more information about the project and answer any questions related to the artist selection process.

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The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s Art in Public Places Program has partnered with the City of Toledo’s Department of Housing and Community Development to commission a new work of public art that will be integrated into the Swayne Field Shopping Center in the Englewood neighborhood of Toledo OH. 

HCD, together with the site owner’s investment, has raised $3.6 million in federal grants and loans to fully rehabilitate the multi-acre site and 92,000 sq ft facility with a goal of attracting new tenants, including small and minority-owned businesses, and a new workforce training center as an anchor. Rehabilitation efforts include major reconstruction to adapt the current parking space into a more walkable plaza with green space, lighting, trees, landscaping including bioswales for stormwater runoff, and a complete update of the building’s facade.

Art in Public Places is currently assembling a Design Review Board (DRB) consisting of community leaders and members of the APP Committee, who will select three artists and/or teams to propose complete designs for the project. Finalists will be paid a stipend of $2000 to participate in the concept proposal process, which will include touring Swayne Field and meeting the Design Review Board and community members prior to developing a proposal for the site. 

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) launches on April 23, seeking artists with experience incorporating community input in the creative process and completing public art projects in commercial locations. Submitted qualifications will be judged on a competitive basis.

HOW TO APPLY

Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit the following:

– Letter of Interest - This letter should be no more than one page and should explain the artist’s interest in the project.

– Current Resume - If submitting as a team, a current resume for each team member should be provided.

– Visual Support Materials - Submit 5 digital images of your most recent professional work.

– Annotated image list - The image list must include the artist’s name and a brief description of image stating its title, date, medium, size, location and if a commissioned project, the commission budget.

All submissions must be received by 11:59 pm EST, May 18, 2026.

Materials must be submitted* at the link below:

Swayne Field Request For Qualifications

*Submission uploads collected via Google Drive; Google account required to complete submission. Please contact Ben Cook (bcook@theartscommission.org) for assistance uploading RFQ materials.

The artist / team selected for the commission shall collaborate closely with the project management team through in-person meetings and other necessary means of communication when developing conceptual designs for artwork, including site integration, content, media, and application. 

A map of the site can be viewed here.

Existing site

Proposed updates