Applying to calls is ALWAYS FREE!
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You will submit this application online using PublicArtist.org.
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| Budget: $170,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Activated: 06/22/2026 Deadline: 08/03/2026 |
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| Call Summary Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment’s (ACME) Art in Public Places (AIPP) program in partnership with Austin Transportation and Public Works (ATPW), seeks to commission three (3) Austin-based mid-career professional visual artist or artist-led team to design, fabricate and install one exterior site-specific work of art. Four artwork locations include Avenue G and Avenue H from East 51st Street to East 56th Street (D4 and D9), Neils Thompson Drive and Longhorn Boulevard (D7), Davis Lane and Latta Drive (D8) and Kendra Page Park (D2). Only one artist or artist-led team per location. |
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| Budget Description As per City of Austin Ordinance, 2% of capital project costs are set aside to commission public art though the Art in Public Places (AIPP) program. Sidewalks and Shared Streets is funded by a 2020 voter-approved bond, the Capital Improvement Project features the projects listed below. The total award for each artist contract is $170,000.00 is paid over the course of the commission with milestones at community engagement, design, fabrication, installation, and closing. AIPP recommends that selected artists or artist-led teams budget 10% for contingency, and budget the remainder for all other project expenses including but not limited to: insurance, promotion, community engagement, de-sign, all engineering, fabrication, materials, subcontractors, travel, transportation, shipping, permits and installation. |
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| Project Description The Sidewalk and Urban Trails Division is responsible for the sidewalk and shared streets network. Urban trails are built to connect with our sidewalk/shared street and bicycle networks and designed to provide a safe and comfortable way to walk and bike. There are over 1,500 miles of missing sidewalks in Austin. Currently, about 800 miles are planned to be shared streets and 700 miles are planned to be sidewalks. Shared Streets are designed to accommodate all travel modes, ages, and abilities while prioritizing the comfort and safety of pedestrians. Four locations have been identified for possible public art installations, see details below. Only one artist or artist-led team will be selected per location at a maximum of three locations. The final artwork site for each location will be determined in collaboration between the selected artist, City staff, sponsor project design team and the community. |
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| Artwork Goals - A work of art of redeeming quality that advances public understanding of visual art and enhances the aesthetic quality of public places - Conceptualizes a strong overall artwork design approach that integrates with the site and surrounding natural environment - A work of art that responds to the neighborhood, community, or history in collaboration with community engagement feedback - Is easily maintained and vandal resistant in an exterior environment - Is permanent with an expected life span of at least 20 years |
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| Artwork Location Description Location 1: Avenues G and H and 55th St ATPW is converting a pilot shared street project along Avenue G and Avenue H between East 51st Street up to East 56th Steet to a permanent project, including two Healthy Street projects and Avenue G and East 55th Street. See project map below. Location 2: Neils Thompson Drive and Longhorn Boulevard ATPW Sidewalk Program is constructing a shared use path on a section of Shoal Creek Trail along Neils Thompson Drive and Longhorn Boulevard. The shared use path will include separate bicycle and pedestrian facilities, see project area and schematic plans below. Location 3: Davis Lane and Latta Drive ATPW’s Sidewalks, Urban Trails, and Drainage Program and Active Transportation and Street Design are working to build a safer connection of the Violet Crown Trail along Davis Lane between Sendera Mesa Park and the trail near the Primrose School of Southwest Austin. The capital project will include redesign of the intersection of Davis Lane and Latta Drive, including replacing the existing bike land and sidewalk on the northeast side of Davis Lane, a wider shared use path along Davis Lane, and a raised crossing at Mule Deer Drive. See project area and schematic plans below. Location 4: Kendra Page Park ATPW’s Safe Routes to School Program recently completed a new sidewalk along Kendra Page Park, along Blue Meadow Drive across the street from Langford Elementary School. Artwork opportunity includes collaboration with Austin Parks and Recreation to install an artwork within Kendra Page Park. ATPW has completed construction. |
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| Eligibility The City of Austin's AIPP program strives to commission a broad range of artworks which contribute to the current dialogue in the field of visual art. AIPP defines “artist” as an individual recognized by critics and peers as a professional practitioner of serious intent and substantial ability. QUALIFICATIONS: - Austin-based public artist or artist team who reside in the seven counties bounding the Austin metro area (Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, and Blanco counties) - Mid-career public artists are recognized in their fields and have a track record of exhibits, engaging communities, and completed projects in the public art realm. Minimum of five relevant completed projects with budgets up to $100,000. - at least 18 years of age INELIGIBILITY: Artists who have three or more permanent commissions represented in the AIPP public art collection; artists who are currently under an active contract for a permanent AIPP project; and artists who have completed a permanent AIPP project within the past year are not eligible to apply. City of Austin full-time employees, or contractors hired by the sponsor project, are ineligible. |
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| Application Requirements | ||||||||||||||||
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Resume: 2 page(s) maximum Work examples: 1 - 10 |
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Artists are allowed to apply in teams.
Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves. |
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| Selection Information | ||||||||||||||||
| Selection Process A three-member selection panel comprised of visual arts professionals and community representatives will review all eligible submissions. The selection panel may choose recommendations and alternates at the time of the initial review. Up to six artists or artist-led teams may be shortlisted and invited to inter-view. Only three artists or artist-led teams and three alternates will be recommended for the commission. Additional community representatives and City staff advise the selection process as non-voting members, providing their respective knowledge and expertise about the site, the community, the neighbor-hood, and the sponsor project, to help select the best candidate for this opportunity. |
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| Selection Criteria - Artistic merit, creative capacity, and technical expertise of past work (30%) - Demonstrated experience in the field of public art (40%) - Enthusiasm and ability in creating site-specific public artwork and working with local communities (30%) |
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| Timeline Call Open: June 22, 2026 Call Deadline: August 3, 2026 Selected Artist under contract: Late fall 2026 Project Timeline(s): please see RFQ for details for each project schedule |
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| Additional Resources | ||||||||||||||||
| https://www.austintexas.gov/arts-culture/art-public-places | ||||||||||||||||
| RFQ: Shared Streets AIPP Project (PDF) | ||||||||||||||||
| Contact Information | ||||||||||||||||
| Rebecca Rende AIPP Coordinator Senior 5202 E Ben White Blvd. Suite 400 Austin TX 78741 United States rebecca.rende@austintexas.gov 512-694-6833 |
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