Temporary Trailhead - Trailhead Project 2026

The City of Santa Clarita invites artists to submit original sculpture designs for the Temporary Trailhead project. Selected artworks will be installed on the city's trail system for a three-year period. Santa Clarita is located 30 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles and features over 9,000 acres of open space and 100 miles of trails.

Sculptures must be original designs suitable for viewing by all ages and may not be used for advertisement or promotion. There is no required theme, though consideration of response to the landscape and site-specificity is encouraged. Sculptures can be of any medium but must be constructed of durable materials able to withstand desert weather conditions (high winds and extreme temperatures). Sculptures should be no less than 6 feet and no more than 15 feet in height (excluding base) and weigh no more than 3,000 pounds. Each sculpture must fit on a pre-determined concrete pad (Location 1: 96" x 96" with 72" x 72" usable corner-to-corner space; Location 2: 120" x 120" with 96" x 96" usable corner-to-corner space). Power is not available onsite; if required, solar components are suggested. Artists must provide a detailed maintenance schedule and outline their history with the chosen material.

Selected artists will receive a $5,000 honorarium for the three-year loan period, plus up to $1,500 for insurance costs and up to $2,000 for engineering stipend if required. The City will collect a 25% commission on artwork sold during the period. Artists are responsible for all design, fabrication, transportation, installation, de-installation, and maintenance costs. Sculptures must include anchorage tabs or devices to secure them to the concrete pads without altering the pads. A contract will be executed prior to installation. Applicants must be 18 years or older with a US mailing address and must submit a W-9. Submit up to five images of proposed artwork, a PDF of five previous artworks, resume/CV, and a sculpture description including materials, dimensions, previous exhibition locations and dates, and maintenance requirements.