Call for Creatives: National Arts and Humanities Month

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 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

  • Deadline to apply: Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 11:59PM
  •  Artist/Designer Honorarium: $1,500
  •  Applicant Notification: Monday, September 21, 2026 via email
  •  Questions: opportunity@fresharts.org 

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PROJECT SUMMARY

Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District is seeking artists and or graphic designers to create a unique design or artwork honoring National Arts and Humanities month. Through the Request for Proposals process, ONE proposed design will be selected and the finalist will receive $1,500 for their design, and their presence for installation and artist talk. 

October is National Arts and Humanities Month. This celebration was started in 1985 by the National Endowment for the Arts and since has evolved into an all-encompassing month-long celebration.

Houston has 7 state designated cultural arts districts. Each with its own identity and cultural heritage. If you tour each one of the 7 Cultural Districts you will learn about our deep commitment to art and heritage. You will see who we are as a city and know us from our heart.

Artists/ designers and, enthusiasts are invited to create a large-scale public art design project that highlights something emblematic from each of our 7 esteemed Cultural Districts. One letter per cultural arts district represented in the order of their establishment.

  1. (M)  Theater District Houston – Spanning 17 blocks in Downtown, this area has been the focal point of performing arts since the 1966 and features resident companies like the Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet and other major performing arts groups.
  2. (I)  Houston Museum District – Formally recognized through Texas legislative efforts and local zoning, this long-established district includes 19 institutions, such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Contemporary Art Museum, Asia Society, Czech Museum, and the Children’s Museum across a 9-square-mile radius. 
  3. (D) Midtown Cultural Arts & Entertainment District – Designated in September 2012, making it the very first management district in Texas to earn the title. It is Houston’s urban core. Home to 17 major arts organizations and over 200 presenting groups, this walkable community truly is in the middle of it all.
  4. (T) Arts District Houston – Established in 2017 and located along the Washington Corridor, this district spans the 1st and 6th wards and houses the highest concentration of working artist studios in Texas. Dedicated to building a vibrant creative economy their  creative campus boasts over 300 studios. 
  5. (O) Fifth Ward Cultural Arts District – Designated in September 2020, this urban frontier is a beautiful historic masterpiece that focuses on African American heritage, and historic preservation. The community is a living center of art, culture, dance, community murals and more! 
  6. (W) Third Ward Cultural District – Also designated in September 2020, affectionately known as "The Tre." This community is the epicenter of Black history, legacy, and creative expression. Beginning with the land purchased for Texas’ first public park, Emancipation Park right through to the annual Juneteenth Celebrations held there, this community is our heart.
  7. (N) East End Cultural District – Designated in September 2020, East End is regarded for its rich Hispanic heritage and largest collection of outdoor murals in the city. With more than 30 arts and cultural institutions representing every medium this is where great work is made daily. 

Midtown Art Location

The iconic Midtown Sign located on the stage at 415 Gray Street in Bagby Park.

Midtown Sign Wrap at Bagby Park 

Please note the Midtown Logo should be situated as the dot of the letter “I”. The logo will not be covered with any artwork, and it should not be included as part of the artwork or wrap process.

  • Create artistic elements inspired by Midtown and Houston.
  • On letter N at the bottom right leg of the letter the #midtownhouston must appear.
  • The artist should include their signature as part of the artwork.
  • Include a border edge around each designed letter that compliments the artwork.

Midtown will pay the artist fee total $1,500 for their winning designs. We will cover the cost of professional photography, and a professionally recorded artist interview about their work and inspiration. Marketing package value: $2,500

Special Note

Artists / designers follow the guidelines provided. We strongly recommend a site visit to the area to determine the scale and exact location of the project.

Detailed Parameters

The Midtown letters sign wrap is 3M Vinyl Wrap. It is a full color digital printed produced with OEM Mimaki Inks with True Solvent UV nonfading inks 3M IJ180-V3 with 3M Matching Lamination ControlTac Technology. This will be professionally installed by certified technicians.

Midtown Sign Dimensions, Scale and Resolution

SIGN DIMENSIONS: The attached template is for artists to use to create designs on the midtown sign. Do not change the size of the template, it is already to scale.

The sign consists of the word “midtown” in metal/ steel lowercase letters that are approximately 8 feet tall and span approximately 81 ft across a raised concrete stage. There are multi-color LED lights below each letter, that are turned on nightly. 

We encourage you to do a site visit and view past installations for an understanding of the size and scale of the project.

 DESIGN TIP: The best design fits on the letters. Keep that in mind when designing the artwork.

If you are selected you will be asked to provide a low-resolution PDF or JPG proof alongside the final high-resolution print files.

Eligibility

  • Age 18 or older
  • Eligible to work in the United States
  • Local Houston artists / graphic designers are eligible to apply
  • Candidates are eligible regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability.
  • Neither Board Members nor family members of the Midtown Management District, the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District, the Midtown Redevelopment Authority, TIRZ #2 or the Midtown Parks Conservancy are eligible to apply. Additionally, employees or family members related Arts District (Fresh Arts) or their Board of Directors; Got Signs -by Xtickers Designs Inc.– employees or family members are also NOT eligible to apply.

WHAT MAY NOT BE FUNDED 

This project is made possible by the Midtown Cultural Arts District with funding provided by The Houston Endowment. This project is to take place in the Midtown Houston community at Bagby Park. It may not be virtual in nature. This project may not include obscene or profane material as defined in Section 43.21, Penal Code of Texas. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.43.htm 

Attached: Additional information 

Written: Please include a written document that shares your inspiration and significance of the design

Submissions will be accepted through Sunday, September 13, 2026. All artists will be notified of their application status on or before Monday, September 21, 2026, by email through the Submittable portal. From September 21 - 22 the concept will become a final design.

Please note: the selected artist will turnaround and submit a final print-ready design no later than 3 pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. 

PROJECT DETAILS

  • What: Large-scale temporary public art display using 3M vinyl face wrap on the iconic Midtown sign in Bagby Park.
  • When: The sign wrap will be printed and installed by a third party on September 28, 2026. The public art installation will be on view through November 19, 2026.
  • Where The iconic Midtown sign in Bagby Park
  • Who: This project is coordinated by the Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District.
  • Why: We believe in public art and providing opportunities for artists to work and be seen

Call to Creatives for Concepts: Since 2022 the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District has invited artists/graphic designers to participate in the creation of a large-scale public art project based on specific themes. We are seeking concepts for artwork and designs that are thoughtful, creative  and celebrate the who we are as Houstonians. 

Concepts should include:

  • A concept statement.
  • A clear focused direction in the way you want the final artwork to appear.
  • A color palate.
  • Visual references are helpful.
  • Mood board / sketches that illustrate the intended atmosphere.

The final artwork/design must be original and of the artist/designer’s hand. NO appropriated artwork or designs will knowingly be selected. 

ARTIST PARTICIPATION:

We hope the selected artist is available to participate in an artist’s talk on installation day (September 28). We encourage you to bring your family, friends, and work associates. There will be professional photography and video of the artist’s talk. If not we do want to film a Meet the Artist video at a later date–This interview will be made available on Midtown Houston social media and shared with the artis.

 ADDITIONAL PROJECT INFO:

  • Midtown Houston will cover the cost of professional photography, video, marketing, and promotion of the project and the artist.

 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Contact Information: Required information includes name, email address, and cell phone (hidden from reviewers).
  2. Letter of Interest: Describe your interest in this project and how your design honors this artist call. 
  3. Proposed Design: You may upload your proposed sketch or design (up to four attachments). The design does not need to be "print ready". We understand this is an idea / concept.
  4. Relevant Work Samples: Up to four (4) images of prior works that demonstrate your artistic style and the caliber of your work. Due to the blind voting process, please avoid including any identifying information such as name or handle.

 REVIEW PROCESS + SELECTION CRITERIA:

Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel, which will include Midtown Houston representatives, and selected through a blind voting process. Selections will be based on the following criteria:

  • Project Alignment: The letter of intent and proposed design clearly communicate the artist’s interest in the project and align with the overall goals of the project.
  • Artistic Excellence: Submitted images demonstrate the caliber of the artist(s) previous work and artistic style.

PROJECT TIMELINE:

  • August 7 - November 20: RFP Application Period (Deadline: September 13 at 11:59 PM)
  • September 21: Artist notified via Submittable. NOTE: Tight turnaround time (1 business days) to deliver final files. 
  • September 22: Print-ready design due to printer.
  • September 28: Sign Wrap install by a 3rd party.
  • September (TIME TBD):The selected artist will participate in a professionally recorded Meet the Artist video and photo shoot at Bagby Park to discuss their work and the inspiration behind it.
  • November 20: Sign Wrap removed by a 3rd party.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

Acceptable design files for the application process include PDF and JPEG; however, the final design must be provided in high-resolution format (PDF, AI, PSD, EPS, TIFF). The selected artist will be given approximately one week from the date of notification to provide the final print-ready design. Additional technical requirements will be provided to the artist upon selection.

About Midtown Houston:

Midtown Houston is where creativity, culture, and community converge in the heart of the city. Designated as a Cultural Arts and Entertainment District by the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2012, Midtown has blossomed into a vibrant, walkable neighborhood known for its iconic cultural landmarks, six lush parks, and more than 90 arts organizations. From local galleries to sidewalk festivals, the arts aren’t just a feature of Midtown, they’re part of the fabric. Over the past 3 years the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District has invested over $1.1M into public art projects, local artists and arts organizations, bringing bold public art and creative placemaking projects to life across the district. Whether you're here to explore, create, or connect, Midtown Houston is a place that celebrates expression, champions diversity, and always makes space for every voice in our evolving story.

Additional Information About Midtown Houston:

Questions regarding this application should be directed to Fresh Arts at opportunity@fresharts.org

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
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