Current Open Calls

Professional visual artists or artist-led teams are invited to apply for the following opportunities. Review each individual open call for artists for qualifications specific to those projects.

Questions about our current open calls or the process? Attend the Cultural Arts Division Virtual Open Office Hours every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT and talk with a staff member.

General Terms

The Art in Public Places program defines artist as an individual recognized by critics and peers as a professional practitioner of serious intent and substantial ability in the visual, performing, and literary arts.
Design professionals, including architects who do not have a consistent visual art practice are ineligible to apply as team leads, but may be a part of artist-led teams.
Artists who have more than three permanent artworks represented in the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places public art collection; artists who currently are under contract with the City of Austin for a permanent Art in Public Places project; and artists who have completed an Art in Public Places project within the past year as well as City of Austin full-time employees and architects or other designers currently contracted with the City of Austin are ineligible to apply.
Each project budget is inclusive of design, fabrication, installation, engineering, permitting fees, travel, shipping expenses, insurance, and other project-related costs
All artists doing business with the City are required to register as a Vendor with the City of Austin through the Purchasing Department's website. If you are currently registered as a vendor with the City, please update your registration profile as needed. Note that registration is not complete until the vendor has submitted a hard copy of his or her W-9 form to Purchasing.

Policies

How to Create a City Account

Watch a video on How to Create a City Account.  | Cómo crear una cuenta con la Ciudad.

Create An Account – For First-Time Users

Step 1: Visit the Economic Development Department Application Portal.
Step 2: Click the “Create Account” icon.
Step 3: Enter the required information and click the “Submit” button.
Step 4: After completing account creation, you will be prompted to fill out your profile information.
Step 5: After updating your profile information, you will be redirected to the home screen to begin the application process.

How to Redeem Your Access Code

If you have previously applied for a City of Austin Economic Development Department grant or program, you may need to redeem an access code to confirm and access your account.

If you received a ‘Your email is connected to our system’ message, follow the steps below to confirm and access your account.

Step 1: Visit the Economic Development Department Application Portal.
Step 2: Click the “Create Account” icon. 
Step 3: Enter the required information and click the “Submit” button.   
Step 4: If your information is in our database, your access code will be displayed.
Step 5: Copy the one-time access code and enter into the Access Code tab.
Step 6: After you confirm your account, you will be directed to complete your account creation using the “Create Account” tab.

Art in Progress

The Art in Public Places program hosts diverse projects underway in various stages of the public art process, including planning, artist selection, preliminary design, final design, fabrication, and installation. View the timeline for past open calls in progress listed below. Project schedules are subject to change.

Looking for art in progress not listed? Please email aipp@austintexas.gov.

Walter E. Long and John Trevino Metro Parks AIPP Project

Selected Artist under contract - November 2023
Target Installation/Project close-out - Summer 2024
Information Meeting - April 12, 2023
Submission deadline - April 27, 2023
Interviews (if needed) - May 2023

Airport Playscapes Public Art Opportunity, Austin, TX

Information Meeting: April 12, 2023
Submission deadline: April 27, 2023
Short-listed artists notified: May 15, 2023
Interviews: June 26, 2023
Selected Artist under contract: October 2023

Bergstrom Spur Urban Trail

This project is an opportunity for three individual artists or artist-led teams to create distinctive artwork interventions within each of the three sections of the trail. Artwork could be sculptural or participatory—inviting trail users to interpret their own experiences through artwork that yields a sense of discovery and offers diverse interpretations. The selected artists or teams will work collaboratively with the project team and Art in Public Places staff to determine placement and to integrate the artwork into the overall trail project.

Application Period: May 9, 2023 – June 13, 2023, 5:00 PM CT
Artwork Budget: The trail has three segments. Three separate commissions will be awarded based on the length of the trail segments.
Artwork Budgets: Eastern Segment: $204,000, Central Segment: $107,000, Western Segment: $64,000
Location: 6.5 mile urban trail connecting the old Union Pacific main line in deep South Austin with the old Bergstrom Air Force Base now the Austin Airport
Download the Bergstrom Spur Urban Trail Request for Qualifications (PDF, 403KB)

AUS – Respite: An Airport Quiet Space

One or more Austin-based artists will have the opportunity to collaboratively design the setting and thematic environment of a contemplative space located post-security. Sensitive consideration must be given to a ceremonially neutral experience that is welcoming to local, national and international travelers. Artistic features could be functional and could also contribute to the overall environment of the space. Physical and visual tactile qualities such as: glass walls/door, interior wall cladding, ceiling and acoustic panels, lighting features, floor inlays, customized seating, and soundscapes could create a calming and serene ambiance.

Application Period: May 9, 2023 – June 13, 2023, 5:00 PM CT
Artwork Budget: $230,000
Location: 3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719
Download the AUS Respite Request for Qualifications (PDF, 236KB)

AUS – Gateway: Hello/Goodbye

Project Description:  US-based artists and artist-led teams are invited to submit qualifications to be considered for design, fabrication, and installation of a significant large-scale artwork opportunity. The artwork installation or series of artworks will stand as an aesthetic port of entry to the airport. Whether arriving or departing, the artwork will offer salutations to all drivers and passengers coming to and from the airport. The selected artist or artist-led team should find inspiration from siting artwork beneath the natural beauty of Austin’s expansive and magnificent skies, while also imagining an elegant lighting experience that is as smart as it is visually stunning. 

Application Period: May 9, 2023 – June 13, 2023, 5:00 PM CT
Artwork Budget: $3.5 Million 
Location: 3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719  
Download the AUS Gateway Request for Qualifications (PDF, 214KB)

ESB Mexican American Cultural Center

There are myriad interpretations of the ideas of place-keeping, home, and memory that resonate from our varied human experiences (past, present and future). The selected artist(s) or artist-led team will work collaboratively with project stakeholders and community advocates to design artwork that will connect the history of place and the iconic facility. Ideally, the final artwork will also increase visibility and appeal to a broader community. This opportunity is open to Austin-based artists and artist-led teams who have a multi-media or sculptural practice with experience creating permanent work situated in outdoor spaces. There will be up to two installation areas. Only one commission will be awarded.

Application Period: May 9, 2023 – June 13, 2023, 5:00 PM CT
Artwork Budget: $190,000
Location: 600 River St, Austin, TX 78701
Download the ESB Mexican American Cultural Center Request for Qualifications (PDF, 160KB)