OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS + IDEAS

• Locations: 4th Street from M St SW to G St SW, and I St SW from South Capitol St SW to 7th St SW (see map below)
• Deadline to Apply: January 7, 2026 (new date)
• Installations Begin: Spring/Summer 2026
• Honorarium: Up to $10,000 per project (includes artist fee + materials)

WHAT IS ART RX

Art RX is a creative call to action. It’s an open invitation for artists and cultural thinkers to help shape public space through imagination, experimentation, and collaboration. Rooted in the belief that artists offer vital perspectives on the social and physical challenges facing our communities, Art RX provides a platform for using art as a tool for real-world solutions.

This program is designed to be flexible and inclusive. We’re seeking ideas that use art as a solution to foster community connection, support public health, spark dialogue, or reframe neighborhood narratives. Whether playful, poetic, provocative, or reflective, your proposal should respond to the neighborhood’s physical and social fabric and address a problem that aligns with the Southwest community.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking artists, creative problem solvers, and cultural visionaries to introduce high-impact public art solutions that respond to the built environment and celebrate the neighborhood’s identity through creative expression. At the heart of this project is a commitment to meaningful community engagement. 

This open call is intentionally broad and non-site-specific. Whether you have a fully formed concept or a bold idea still in progress, we want to see it—along with your creative track record.

THE CONTEXT

Perfectly positioned just south of the National Mall and bordered by the Washington Channel and South Capitol Street, Southwest DC is home to world-class museums, The Wharf, federal offices, performance venues, local purveyors, and award-winning restaurants. A proud, tight-knit, diverse neighborhood is the heart of this unique community.

The SWBID is guided by an essential truth: people make places, and places make people. Our work centers neighborhood voices and fosters collective prosperity through empowered, inclusive placemaking. Art RX is part of this mission—an invitation to artists to help shape the future of Southwest through creative collaboration.

The intersection of 4th St SW and I St SW is the heart of the neighborhood that serves as the economic “main street” for the community. A grocery store, vet, dentist, churches, local restaurants, and other businesses line this block. 

Many of Southwest’s cultural hubs are just off of I St (from 7th St SW to South Capitol St SW), including the Rubell Museum, Westminster Church (with weekly Jazz and Blues concerts), Arena Stage, and Theater Alliance. For many years, the city and BID have talked about making I Street an “arts corridor”.

This call is part of a multi-year activation strategy designed to bring more life, joy, and experimentation into public spaces. We want to see art as a part of the solution.

PROJECT GOALS AND DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

Projects should focus on the 4th Street corridor, from M Street SW to G Street SW, and the I Street corridor, from 7th Street SW to South Capitol Street.

There is no project that is too large or too small. We welcome all ideas and proposals that reflect the goals below:

• Uses art as a solution and responds to the needs of the Southwest community
• Activate overlooked or underused public space
• Invite participation, dialogue, or reflection
• Are temporary or permanent installations 
• Reflect or reframe neighborhood histories or futures
• Partner with the community
• Are reflective of the timeline and budget

We encourage artists to explore infrastructure creatively — crosswalks, tree wells, fences, sidewalks, blank walls, storefront windows, transit zones, and more. 

Proposed projects should align with the identified four strategic priorities in our Public Art Framework, which include:

• Cultivating an overall sense of belonging and well-being
• Nurturing an arts and cultural ecosystem
• Making it safer, easier, and more fun to navigate Southwest and to leverage its incredible cultural assets
• Contributing to identity building and neighborhood storytelling

Artwork may not:

• The art may be representational or abstract, but may not contain advertising, religious art, sexual content, negative imagery, or convey political partisanship.
• Artwork must not include any form of advertisement, logos, or copyright-protected images.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Once a final artist(s) is/are selected, they will have the opportunity to work with a community engagement ambassador to delve deeper into the project’s intent and the benefits it will provide.  

Through this process, the artist(s) will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with community members through workshops, listening sessions, or other inclusive outreach strategies. This process is designed not only to inform the final proposal but to build trust, foster connection, and ensure the work resonates deeply with its audience.

Artists should be open to evolving their initial concepts based on community input and should view this phase as an integral part of the creative process. The final project will be shaped by this collaborative engagement, resulting in a work that is both artistically compelling and deeply rooted in the community.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

We invite proposals from:

• Individual artists or artist collectives
• DC-based, national, and international creatives
• Creators at any career stage (emerging artists welcome!)
• Interdisciplinary teams (designers, performers, educators, etc.)

No prior public art experience is required — only a clear vision and a readiness to work.

HOW TO APPLY

Phase 1 – Idea Submission

We request that artists submit an idea or vision for the project. This can be a half-baked idea, a draft concept, or a sketch of an idea. If available, we will also look for a portfolio of work to demonstrate interest in the project and prior qualifications. A panel of community stakeholders will review the applications and select 3-5 finalists to proceed to Phase 2. Fill out the GOOGLE FORM with the following: 

• Contact information, including name, email, phone, and social media handles
• Single PDF of the following
  • Statement of interest and intent stating vision for the project, expression of interest, artistic approach, and previous experience (500 words max)
  • One page max summary of your project as a conceptual narrative, sketch, or other way to convey the concept of your proposed idea.
  • Resume of lead artist and other participating members
  • Artist’s portfolio featuring similar work samples, including photos, roles, budgets, and clients. Please provide 4-6 related projects. If you are a new artist with less experience, please indicate that in your letter of interest and provide a sample of any relevant work.

Phase 2 – Full Project Proposal (select finalists)

Once finalists are selected, they should submit a full proposal, including site-specific and detailed renderings of their artwork, along with their budget, timeline, and other relevant details. We will select 1-2 finalists based on the proposed budget and scope. 

We are especially interested in artists who are open to process and evolution — final concepts will be refined with support from the community, curatorial team, and other local stakeholders.

TIMELINE (new dates)

• Deadline to Apply: January 7, 2026
• Finalists Notified for Phase 2: January 23, 2026
• Selected Finalists Submit Final Designs: Feb 25, 2026
• Installations Begin: Spring/Summer 2026

COMPENSATION & SUPPORT

Artists selected to submit proposals for phase 2 will receive a $250 stipend for their time.

Selected artists will receive:

• Up to $10,000 per project (artist fee + materials)
• Permitting and site coordination assistance
• Community engagement guidance
• Community and city agency introductions
• Promotion, documentation, and media support

REVIEW CRITERIA

A review committee of project stakeholders will select artists based on the criteria below: 

• Intent: The letter of interest should be relevant and should clearly explain the interest in the project
• Artistic content: showcases high-quality artwork and designs, exhibits creativity in previous work 
• Capacity: understanding of project goals, purpose, and budget; experience with related projects
• Connection to community: reflective of the site and neighborhood
• Priority will be given to DC-based artists in the event of identical scoring

QUESTIONS?

For additional questions, please email Jessie Himmelrich, Director of Public Space (jhimmelrich@swbid.org) 

Download the RFP here to share as a PDF.

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