The Arts Commission Announces New Public Art Project at Swayne Field; Request for Qualifications Deadline Extended

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledoʼs Art in Public Places Program, in partnership with the City of Toledo Department of Housing and Community Development, and supported by the Greater Toledo Community Foundationʼs Arts and Culture Fund, is commissioning a new work of public art at the Swayne Field shopping center.

The Department of Housing and Community Development has worked recently to upgrade the multi-acre site, with a goal of attracting new tenants, including small and minority-owned businesses, and a new lead resource center as an anchor. “We are thrilled with the partnership with the Arts Commission, the Greater Toledo Community Foundation and the owners of Swayne Field to undertake a public art installation on the site,ˮ Rosalyn Clemens, chief of housing and neighborhood sustainability, said. “Our goal with this project is to continue our placemaking and site transformation with an art feature that celebrates the history of Swayne Field and imagines the future of Englewood.ˮ

The Arts Commission will be leading a process to select an artist or team to work with the neighborhood and ultimately create a permanent sculpture on the site.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is open now, and the deadline has been extended until June 1. All artists or teams within a 150 mile radius of Toledo are eligible to apply.

Interested applicants should visit The Arts Commissionʼs website to review the full Request for Qualifications and apply.

Required application submittals include a Letter of Interest, current resume, and relevant visual support materials. Applications will be reviewed competitively by a Design Review Board (DRB) composed of members of The Arts Commissionʼs Art in Public Places Committee, residents of the Englewood neighborhood, and additional stakeholders.

The Design Review Board will review all submissions and select up to three artists/teams as finalists. The finalists will then be asked to develop a conceptual approach for artwork at the site and make a presentation of their proposal, including process for community engagement, artistic concept, materials, maintenance guidelines, special equipment needs, and a preliminary budget.

TIMELINE

April 22, 2026             Public Info Session
April 23, 2026             Launch Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
June 1, 2026              Qualifications Submission Due Date
June 29, 2026            Three Finalists Announced
July 6-10, 2026          Site Visits
July 10, 2026             Design Phase Begins
August 10-14, 2026   Proposal Presentations
August 24, 2026        Winning Proposal Announced

(timeline may be subject to change)

About Englewood & Swayne Field

Englewood is one of Toledo's oldest and most notable neighborhoods. It existed as part of Toledo's Old West End until the construction of the I75 Expressway, dividing

Englewood from the rest of the Old West End neighborhoods. The area grew into a residential neighborhood towards the end of the 1800s, evolving into a community with unique architecture in the Queen Anne, Late Victorian, and Italianate styles.

Englewood became known for its iconic landmarks, including Swayne Field, which opened in 1909. Swayne Field was an important destination as the home of the Toledo Mud Hens, as well as the location of Negro League games and community activities that took place for decades before its redevelopment in the 1950s.

Englewood also experienced the emergence of major industrial developments in the early 20th century, especially the Doehler-Jarvis plant, built in the early 1900s, which manufactured automotive parts particularly cast metal components like engine blocks and chassis parts and became a major employer in Toledo for decades. The factory closed in 2002.

Additionally, Englewood is home to several historic religious institutions, including St. Martin de Porres Church and the United Missionary Baptist Church, with both having origins dating to the 1800s.

The community's historical value was officially acknowledged when Englewood received a Historic District designation in 1998. Today, the neighborhood works hard to honor its past while preserving its identity.

About The Greater Toledo Community Foundation
The Greater Toledo Community Foundationʼs mission is to create opportunities, connect generosity, and inspire collective action to ensure a vibrant region where all people thrive. The Foundation partners with donors to create lasting impact through community leadership and convening, strategic grantmaking, and innovative philanthropy that addresses the communityʼs most pressing needs.

With more than $560 million in assets across 1100 funds, the Community Foundation is the regionʼs largest grantmaker, distributing over $30 million annually to support community needs, opportunities and long-term impact. In 2025, the Community Foundation launched a new Arts & Culture Fund, which supports this public art project.

About The Arts Commission
The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio, founded in 1959, administering the City of Toledoʼs One Percent for Art Program since 1977. The Arts Commission is supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.