Artwork for Streetlight Pole Banners – Las Tunas Drive

City of Temple City – Community Development Department

Deadline:

Friday, October 31 at 5:00 p.m.  A 1-week extension may be granted, if sufficient applications are not received.

The City of Temple City invites artists and designers to submit proposals for original artwork to be featured on streetlight pole banners along Las Tunas Drive. This project builds on the City’s commitment to enlivening public spaces through art and design, following the success of the Art on Boxes program and the ongoing Las Tunas Drive streetscape improvements.

The banners will serve as the third season (“shoulder season”) in the City’s year-round banner rotation. Spring banners (Camellia Festival) and winter banners (holiday season) are already in circulation. Artists selected through this RFP will design the set used for the summer/fall season. Reference images of the spring and winter banners will be provided.

Temple City has invested significantly in rebranding the Las Tunas Drive corridor through the Las Tunas Streetscape Project, a comprehensive initiative that introduced new landscaping, furnishings, LED lighting, and public art. A key element of this program has been incorporating the City’s stylized camellia logo and modern civic branding into downtown design.

This banner project is intended to reinforce that civic identity. Successful designs will:

• Reflect Temple City’s unique sense of place and identity.
• Complement the City’s logo and branding efforts.
• Draw inspiration from the community’s unique features, history, and landmarks.

• Banner Locations: Streetlight poles along Las Tunas Drive, from one city boundary to the other. Each street face typically has 3–4 poles.
• Dimensions: Each banner is 30” x 58”, double-sided, with the same design on both sides.
• Design Variations:To avoid monotony, artists may propose up to three different banner designs. Options include:
  • A repeating pattern of 2–3 designs throughout the corridor
  • One set of designs for the downtown core (Las Tunas between Golden West and Cloverly; Temple City Blvd. between Workman and Woodruff) and another set for outside the core
  • Another clearly defined system proposed by the artist
• Quantity of Designs: The City anticipates up to three (3) designs, but may consider more or fewer depending on quality and feasibility.
• Readability: Designs must be bold, simple, and legible for both pedestrians and motorists.
• Revisions: Artists should plan for up to three rounds of revisions based on City feedback.
• Fabrication: The City will cover banner printing and installation. The selected artist(s) will need to coordinate with the City’s contracted print shop to deliver artwork in the required format.

Temple City blends mid-century civic heritage with modern community life. Artists are encouraged to capture this duality: honoring the City’s roots while expressing a contemporary energy.

Prompts and inspirations include:

• Mid-century modern architecture (City Hall, Civic Center, Library)
• The City’s stylized camellia logo
• Walter P. Temple and civic legacy
• The first Winchell’s Donuts, founded in Temple City

• Camellia Festival & Parade
• Temple City Library
• Camellia Square “magic teapot”
• Filming location for The Wonder Years
• The Gazebo/Bandstand at Temple City Park

• Parrots in local neighborhoods
• Camellias and tree-lined streets
• The San Gabriel Mountains backdrop

• Space Shuttle playground at Live Oak Park
• Astronaut Steven Lindsey (five-time mission veteran, Temple City resident)
• Birthplace of the Jelly Belly

• The Pacific Electric “red car” line that once terminated in Temple City

Designs may be abstract or representational, seasonal or timeless, but should reinforce Temple City’s civic brand: a welcoming, diverse, creative, and forward-looking community grounded in its heritage.

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Artistic merit and creativity
• Responsiveness to the City’s character, branding, and themes
• Feasibility of production and installation
• Clarity and legibility in a streetscape context

• Artist statement and portfolio (up to 5 samples)
• Proposed design concepts (sketches, mockups, or representative examples)
• Short narrative explaining how designs reflect Temple City’s identity and approach to variation (e.g., corridor vs. downtown)
• Budget proposal

The City will cover printing and installation. Artist compensation for design services will be negotiated based on scope and experience.

• RFP release: October 10, 2025
• Submissions due: October 31, 2025
• Artist selection: November 14, 2025
• First artwork due: December 5, 2025
• Printing: January 15, 2026

For questions or to submit proposals, please contact:
Scott Reimers – Community Development Director
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