GovernSmyrna.

Designing Local - SIGNED RECOMMENDATION (RFP24-029) - 04.22.2024

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March 18, 2024
Kelly Brown, CPPB, NIGP-CPP
Purchasing Manager
kbrown@smyrnaga.gov
Re: RFP 24-029 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC ART CONSULTING SERVICES
Dear Members of the Selection Committee:
On behalf of Designing Local, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to submit this proposal to the City of 
Smyrna, Georgia. We believe that our certified woman-owned firm has the ideal mix of experience in both visioning 
what art can do for our clients and their public spaces alongside success in executing efficient and transparent 
curatorial programs. We’re so excited by the possibility of bringing our national experience to Smyrna. 
Designing Local is here to help the City of Smyrna support and implement its growing public art program, while 
fostering its past, present, and future stages. Our ultimate goal is to provide best practices in public art to create 
spaces for community enjoyment, connection, and joy. Our approach will be oriented around four pillars: 1) Assessing 
the current collection, public art policy, and public art program to understand their respective themes, priorities, 
opportunities, and strengths; 2) Best practices and public art trends; 3) Alignment with current City resources and 
short- and long-term goals; 4) Bold new opportunities that arise through research and engagement. The strategy for 
implementing public art in Smyrna will support the development of a unified, thriving public art landscape. 
Within our proposal, you will find our understanding of your project and our methodology in approaching your 
project, overview of our firm, detailed snapshots of our past work, references, the profiles of our key personnel cost 
proposal, and required documents. We believe these qualifications showcase the passion and creativity that we bring 
to our work along with the depth and breadth of our collective experience in planning for and curating public art 
nationally. 
Our team’s expertise spans art administration, planning, and landscape architecture, allowing us to approach our 
projects holistically from various perspectives. The primary consultant on this project will be Anna Talarico, Designing 
Local’s Public Art Coordinator. Anna joined our team in 2023, following her time at the Cleveland Museum of Art 
and FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art. We are particularly excited for her to lead this 
project, as she is well positioned to execute Smyrna’s vision for its public art program. 
Public art processes that combine both visioning and execution is where our firm comes alive and we are excited 
about the possibility of working with the Smyrna community in facilitating these vital services.
Sincerely,
Amanda Golden
Managing Principal & Co-Founder
amanda@designinglocal.com 
Josh Lapp
Principal & Co-Founder
josh@designinglocal.com | 614.607.1557
(Primary Contact)
Matt Leasure
Principal
matt@designinglocal.com
DESIGNING LOCAL
20 E. Broad Street, Suite 1010 | Columbus, Ohio 43215 | www.designinglocal.com