InSITE Downtown STL Temporary Public Art Ideas Competition

The Downtown STL Public Art Initiative invites artists to propose temporary public artworks based on their own ideas and art practices at sites of their own choosing in the core of Downtown St. Louis. This Call for Artists is part of a partnership between the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, Explore St. Louis, and Downtown STL, Inc., created in 2018 with the vision that public art will support building a dense, inclusive and culturally vibrant downtown. Projects must be installed in spring 2020 and can be on view from one month to one year.

The core of Downtown St. Louis is defined as the area bounded by Convention Plaza, Tucker Boulevard, 4th Street, and Market Street. Parks, streetscapes, transit stops, and other City and government-owned sites are preferred, though artists may propose additional locations provided that agreements for placement, liability, and maintenance can be secured. Artists must consider how their proposed project will accommodate site use, pedestrian flow, and safety.

Eligibility is open to established and emerging artists with a connection to the St. Louis region. Partnerships between local and non-local artists are eligible. No previous public art experience is required. Submissions will be evaluated by the Downtown Public Art Advisory Committee, which will short-list finalists. A minimum of five final projects will be selected. Finalists will receive an honorarium ranging from $500 to $1,500 to develop their Concept Proposal. Project budgets should range from $5,000 to $30,000 (inclusive of design, supplies, insurance, engineering, fabrication, delivery, installation, and de-installation). The total budget available for all projects is $100,000. Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on May 19, 2019. Work samples should include 8-15 images, with optional audio (0-6 files) and video (0-6 files).