Creative Strategist: City of Pittsburgh

The City of Pittsburgh, through the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of City Planning, is soliciting proposals for a Creative Strategist to lead creative placemaking, urban design, and cultural strategies in Downtown Pittsburgh. Supported by the Pennsylvania Creative Communities Initiative, the selected individual or firm will serve as a thought leader to enhance civic pride and community well-being by activating underused public spaces, storefronts, and alleys through public art and strategic investment. The project is structured into three phases over an initial two-year term: a 45-day listening and research phase, an activation phase involving public outreach and evaluation, and a final strategy phase to develop a conceptual framework and sustainability plan. The total project budget is 100,000 dollars per year. Proposals are due by November 13, 2026, and must be submitted electronically in PDF or MS Word format. Evaluation is based on a points system weighting firm qualifications and experience at 40 percent, collaborative success at 30 percent, and quality of application, cost proposal, and MWDBE/VOSB good faith efforts at 10 percent each. The City emphasizes participation goals for minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and LGBTQIA+ businesses. Awardees must comply with the City Service Worker Prevailing Wage Ordinance and maintain general liability, professional liability, workers compensation, and automobile liability insurance. The City mandates the use of its own custom contract terms and reserves the right to require a performance bond.