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You will submit this application online using PublicArtist.org.
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| Budget: $25,000 |
| Activated: 09/11/2026 Deadline: 10/07/2026 |
| Call Summary The Huntington Theatre in Boston, MA is encouraging midcareer and established artists with experience in conceptualizing and fabricating public art to submit qualifications for a commission to be installed in their expanded campus on Boston's Avenue of the Arts. The $25,000 budget includes artist fee and fabrication. Installation is planned for August/September 2027. Qualifications due October 7, 2026. This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) not a request for designs or proposals. Artists should not submit concept drawings or design proposals at this stage. |
| Budget Description The $25,000 commission covers both fee and fabrication of the piece. Installation will be covered by The Huntington and Flyleaf Creative in conversation with the selected artist. |
| Project Description The Huntington is thrilled to announce an open Request for Qualifications for a new piece of visual art to be installed in the forthcoming East Wing of our campus on Huntington Avenue. The commission will welcome audiences in the new building alongside a large-scale video wall, soundscapes and exhibits in our gallery, expanding the Huntington’s contributions to Boston’s esteemed Avenue of the Arts. Artists are encouraged to submit samples of their portfolio that demonstrate their ability to create large scale pieces for public spaces. Submissions will be evaluated anonymously by a jury of community stakeholders invited by the artistic staff at The Huntington. The selected artist will receive a $25,000 commission encompassing artist fee and fabrication to complete the work by the opening of the building in Fall 2027. |
| Artwork Goals A large-scale piece that will welcome audiences and visitors, inspiring connection and conversation. |
| Artwork Location Description The selected piece will be located on a prominent wall in The Huntington's new East Wing, welcoming people to the larger gathering spaces. The space could be as big as 6'X14.5' with some working around architecture. Drawings of the space are available on the Huntington website. |
| Site History The East Wing, projected to open Fall 2027, will incorporate a new soaring, modern venue alongside our historic theatre, on the first two floors of the Toll Brothers residential tower currently under construction next door. A welcoming beacon on Huntington Avenue, this new space will provide fully accessible, dynamic cultural and convening spaces visible from the street. The East Wing will feature expansive lobbies, a box office, patron amenities and services, and will add flexible performance spaces, a bar/lounge/cafe, and an outdoor balcony overlooking Huntington Avenue. Bruner/Cott, who so skillfully led the Huntington Theatre renovation, is working with The Huntington again to design this beautiful addition to our campus. Our goal is for the East Wing to be open daily, year-round, to present new and exciting artistic collaborations and diverse cultural programming, offer food and drink in a convivial atmosphere, allow us to better serve audiences of all abilities, and increase the breadth and scope of our education programs and community engagement. |
| Eligibility Mid-career or established visual artists Minimum 15 years of professional artistic practice Experience collaborating on fabrication budget and installation process Demonstrated experience creating large scale works for public space |
| Application Requirements |
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Biography Resume: 1 page(s) maximum Work examples: 10 - 15 Artist Statement: 1000 word maximum |
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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. |
| Selection Information |
| Selection Process A jury of community stakeholders will score anonymized portfolios and artist statements based on a rubric provided by The Huntington. |
| Selection Criteria The rubric will include demonstrated ability to conceptualize and fabricate work at scale for a large public space, clarity of the applicant’s artistic practice via artist statement, and artistic excellence. |
| Timeline RFQ due October 7 Semi-finalists (6 artists selected by October 22nd) will be asked to create a sketch/outline of concept for proposal. Proposal due November 30th. $500 honorarium. Finalists (3 artists selected informed by December 11) will be asked to create a full proposal including renderings, materials, fabrication strategy, and budget. Final Proposals due February 1st. $1,000 honorarium, The selected artist will be announced by March 1st. Installation coordinated with The Huntington and Flyleaf Creative August/September 2027. |
| Additional Resources |
| https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/gallery-submissions/ |
| Contact Information | Elixmarie Mercado 560 Harrison Ave. Suite 504 Boston MA 02118 USA 617-273-1553 artsubmit@huntingtontheatre.org |
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