Santa Rosa Transit Mall Revitalization Project - Call for Artists

The City of Santa Rosa Transit Department (CityBus) is seeking an artist or artist team to create two-dimensional imagery for custom fabricated installations as part of the Transit Mall Revitalization Project. The Transit Mall, located on Second Street between Santa Rosa Avenue and B Street in downtown Santa Rosa, is the largest transit hub in the North Bay Area, serving over 10,000 passengers daily across multiple transit agencies.

The project includes three main art installation locations: cut metal panels on the parking garage (south side), cut metal panels and screen-printed canopy on bus shelters (north side), and potentially additional art elements such as benches, lighting, and free-standing installations. Parking garage panels must have no less than 65% of their surface space open to comply with California Building Code. Bus shelter designs may be integrated or stand-alone. The proposed public art should reflect an abstract, organic, and contemporary aesthetic emulating the modern elegance of the redesigned streetscape elements.

Up to three artists or artist teams will be selected as semi-finalists and invited to interview or prepare a proposal. Semi-finalists will receive a $2,000 honorarium to prepare a complete proposal. The selected artist(s) will enter into a Professional Services Agreement with the City of Santa Rosa and receive a commission of $20,000-$25,000 total, inclusive of all costs for shop drawings, fabrication oversight, installation oversight, and design direction for a community mural. Applicants must submit eight digital images of previously completed artworks, a statement of interest (maximum 500 words/2000 characters), and a one to two-page resume via the CAFÉ online application system. Team applications are permitted. There is no application fee.