Open Calls

Photograph of a colorful mural covering the side of a modern building under a blue sky. The mural features a smiling elderly figure in blue tones surrounded by vibrant plants, people, and abstract shapes. Large white outlined text reading ‘OPEN CALLS’ appears across the upper half. Centered in the lower half is the white Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment logo and wordmark.

Gus Garcia Recreation Center, Building Community by Lindsey Millikan. 2023.

Permanent Public Art

Illuminated public art installation made of a grid-like structure glowing in rainbow colors at dusk, with a person walking past nearby buildings.

Austin Film Society, Split Dioper by Eric Eley. 2019.

The City of Austin’s Art in Public Places (AIPP) program regularly issues open calls for professional visual artists and artist-led teams. These opportunities invite artists to design, fabricate, and install site-specific public artworks that become part of Austin’s permanent public art collection.

The AIPP program commissions artists working in all media to create thoughtful, place-based installations that reflect the community and enhance the city’s public spaces.

Open Calls for Permanent Public Art:

There are no open calls for permanent public art at this time.

Temporary Public Art

Aerial view of a grassy park with winding paths and white sculptural elements, bordered by trees and a river.

2024 TEMPO on the Rail, The Trail Conservancy, Conversation Stones by Diego Miró-Rivera. 2024.

TEMPO is AIPP’s temporary public art program, bringing site-specific artworks to public spaces where they spark imagination, inspire creativity, and encourage exploration. Designed as an entry point for local artists interested in public art, TEMPO provides an opportunity to design, fabricate, install, and maintain a temporary artwork through a contract with the City of Austin or program partners. Installations remain on view for one year.

For FY25-26, AIPP is partnering with The Trail Conservancy to present the next round of TEMPO installations. Look for new works debuting along the trail in March 2026. TEMPO installations. Look for new installations on the trail in February 2026.

Open Calls for Temporary Public Art:

There are no open calls for temporary public art at this time.

Exhibitions

The City of Austin’s Art in Public Places (AIPP) program accepts exhibition applications for City Hall’s The People’s Gallery exhibit and the Austin International Bergstrom Airport (AUS) terminals. The submission process includes an artist statement, images of artwork, and an application. There is no fee to apply.

Interior view of a large, light-filled gallery space with tall stone walls, concrete walkways, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Framed artworks hang on the walls along multiple levels. Visitors gather and converse on the ground floor seating area and near a reception desk, while staircases and railings connect the open, multi-story interior.

The People’s Gallery

Located on the first three floors of Austin City Hall, The People’s Gallery is an ongoing exhibition series that showcases the work of local and regional artists for two years. The exhibition is designed to reflect Austin’s artistic excellence and cultural diversity while encouraging public dialogue, understanding, and enjoyment of visual art. Each year, the gallery welcomes over 200,000 visitors, providing a prominent venue for artists and the public to showcase, experience, and celebrate the region’s creativity in the heart of Austin.

Supporting Austin artists:

As part of the City’s initiatives to support local artists, many of the works on view are available for purchase. Pricing and contact information are included in a gallery guide, available in the first-floor lobby. All sales are conducted directly through the artists or their representing galleries.

View through a glass gallery wall displaying an art exhibition. Colorful abstract portrait paintings hang in a row under spotlights, with a large expressive face painting on the left and smaller framed works to the right. The artist’s name, ‘Jerome Pelitera,’ appears in black lettering on the glass below the artworks.

The Changing Exhibits Program at AUS

The Changing Exhibits Program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport showcases the work of regional artists across twelve gallery spaces throughout the airport terminals for one year. Designed to enrich the traveler experience, the program provides a high-visibility platform for artists while engaging a diverse audience of more than 20,000 visitors each day.