San Francisco Central Subway Public Art Call

The San Francisco Arts Commission is expanding the Central Subway Artist Pool established in 2005. This call is open to artists practicing in the visual arts, including those new to public art as well as those with comprehensive public art experience. All practicing, professional artists residing in the United States may apply, with Bay Area artists particularly encouraged.

The Central Subway will extend light rail service in a subway running under Fourth and Stockton Streets through the South of Market, Union Square, and Chinatown neighborhoods. The transit system will include three subway stations, one above-ground platform, and an underground pedestrian concourse. Artists working in all visual art media will be considered for a variety of art opportunities, including large wall and ceiling surfaces, glass elevator exteriors, large open spaces for hanging elements, and opportunities on the entryway, concourse, and platform levels. All permanent artworks commissioned must be fabricated from permanent, vandal-resistant materials and must not have any special maintenance requirements.

Applicants must submit 10 images. Artist teams of two or three members may submit one application with 10 images total, or each member may submit a separate individual application with 10 images each. The total budget for artwork has not yet been finalized, but it is anticipated that several million dollars will be allocated for multiple public artworks. After the application deadline, submitted materials will be screened by Arts Commission staff before presentation to a Central Subway Artist Pool Selection Panel. Selection will be based on artistic excellence and innovation, appropriateness of medium and style, experience with similar scale projects, quality of recently completed projects, reference checks, and availability to participate in the design and implementation schedule. For further information, contact Mary Chou at (415) 252-3215 or [email protected].