Art in Transit Open Call for Artwork

Help shape the rider experience through art

Metro's Office of Community Engagement is seeking artists, designers, photographers, poets, illustrators, and interdisciplinary creatives to submit work for consideration in a variety of temporary public art activations across the transit system on a rolling basis.

This open call will create a pool of artists and artworks that may be selected for future temporary installations and digital presentations at Metro stations, facilities, and customer-facing spaces. Through these projects, Metro seeks to celebrate the creativity, diversity, and stories of the communities Metro serves throughout the Washington metropolitan region.

Whether you are an emerging artist or an established professional, we encourage submissions from a wide range of artistic disciplines and perspectives. Artists from historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.  

Opportunities for artwork

Selected artworks may be featured in a variety of temporary formats, including:

• Barricade and Construction Wall Art
  During station improvements, capital projects, and facility upgrades, temporary construction barriers provide opportunities for large-scale visual artwork that enhances the customer experience while showcasing local creativity. These often appear as vinyl wraps or printed panels. Artwork should be received in a modifiable digital format to allow for printing on either vinyl, corrugated plastic, or aluminum panels. 

• Digital Screen Activations
  Artwork, animations, photography, poetry, and other digital media may be displayed on screens throughout stations, transit hubs, and Metro facilities, creating dynamic experiences for riders and visitors. Some screens are custom in size and will require the artist to format for different screen dimensions if selected. Digital artworks are limited to twenty seconds of run time and should be editable to meet this requirement. 

• Station and Facility Installations
  Temporary exhibitions may be installed in station mezzanines, corridors, customer spaces, or other public-facing areas across the Metro system. Artwork may be two dimensional or three dimensional. Temporary artworks may be on public view for a period of up to three years and may require the review of a Community Advisory Committee. Please see the Selection Process section for more information. 

• Community and Special Event Activations
  Artworks may be featured as part of commemorative events, cultural celebrations, public engagement initiatives, anniversary programs, and other special projects. Artists with hands-on making activities or a socially-engaged practice should consider this opportunity. 

• Emerging Opportunities
  As new spaces and technologies become available, Metro may develop additional temporary art opportunities that support creative placemaking and community storytelling throughout the transit network. 

Eligibility

The Art in Transit Open Call is open to:

• Artists and creatives residing in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Priority will be given to artists inside Metro’s registered service area.
• Individual artists and artist teams.
• Emerging, mid-career, and established artists.
• Practitioners working in visual, literary, performing, digital, and interdisciplinary arts.
• Artists who are 18 years of age or older.

Artists from historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Artistic disciplines

Applications are accepted from artists working in the following disciplines:

• Poetry
• Sculpture
• Painting
• Photography
• Design
• Illustration
• Music
• Interdisciplinary Arts
• Other creative disciplines

Submission requirements

Applicants will be asked to provide:

• Name and contact information
• City and state of residence
• Zip Code 
• Ward (for District of Columbia residents)
• County (for Maryland and Virginia residents)
• Artist bio (maximum 50 words)
• Artist statement (maximum 100 words)
• Artistic discipline(s)
• Five work samples 
• Still images: JPEG or PNG
• Link to website, online portfolio, social media page or video channel 
• Current CV or resume (maximum two pages)

Selection process

Submissions will be reviewed by Metro's Art in Transit program team and may be considered for current and future temporary public art opportunities. Selection considerations may include:

• Artistic quality and creativity
• Relevance to project goals and site conditions
• Technical suitability for the intended format
• Representation of diverse artistic voices and communities
• Demonstrated experience through submitted work samples and qualifications

Submission through this open call does not guarantee selection for a project. 

In some instances, a Community Advisory Group may be convened for final selection of a multi-year temporary project. This panel would include representatives from WMATA and Art in Transit, local community members in the jurisdiction of the final artwork, and regional subject matter experts in public art and creative placemaking. Artists will be notified when a Community Advisory Group convenes for review. 

If selected for a Metro project, the artist will be required to submit a quote for services. A budget will be provided to cover the cost of an artist fee and any potential labor associated with file preparation. 

Notification and communications

All applicants must acknowledge that Metro will communicate regarding this open call and potential opportunities via email. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the email address provided remains current and capable of receiving communications from Metro.

Ready to apply? Complete the submission form below to be considered for upcoming Art in Transit temporary public art opportunities.