Call for Creatives: Design for Midtown Outdoor Art Gallery Banner Program 2026
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Midtown Banner Program | Round 1: Concept Phase
Open to: Houston-based Individual Artists
Deadline: April 20, 2026, by 11:59 PM
Up to 42 designs will be selected
Artist Support + Award:
- $150 honorarium per selected design
- Professional photography and video
- Participation in a “Meet the Artist” feature
SUMMARY
The Midtown Cultural Arts District is launching an open call for Houston-based artists and designers to create original concepts for its 2026 Midtown Outdoor Art Gallery Banner Program. This initiative transforms Midtown into a vibrant, temporary outdoor gallery by displaying artist-designed banners along key corridors throughout the district.
Artists are invited to submit up to four written concept proposals that reflect Midtown’s identity as a dynamic, walkable, and culturally rich urban community. Concepts should incorporate bold visuals, vibrant color palettes, and themes that celebrate local history, community connection, seasonal moments, and public life in Midtown.
The selection process includes two rounds:
- Round 1 (Concept Phase): Artists submit written concepts (March 23 – April 20)
- Round 2 (Design Phase): Selected artists develop final, print-ready designs (April 23 – April 29)
Final designs will be reviewed by the Midtown Board of Directors, with fabrication and installation taking place from May through July 2026. Installed banners will be featured across the district, with artists invited to attend and participate in documentation.
Selected artists will receive:
- A $150 honorarium per selected design
- Professional photography and video documentation
- Participation in a filmed “Meet the Artist” feature promoted by Midtown
Midtown will cover all production, installation, and marketing costs. Final artwork will become the property of Midtown Houston for ongoing use and promotion.
This opportunity is open to Houston-based artists and designers (18+) and aims to celebrate the city’s creative community while enhancing Midtown’s public spaces through accessible, artist-driven placemaking.
About Midtown Houston + Banner District:
Midtown Houston is a bustling inner-city community with prominent cultural landmarks, with vibrant walkable neighborhoods. Midtown received a Cultural Arts and Entertainment District designation from State of Texas Commission on the Arts in 2012. Since that time, we have experienced exponential growth in our business, residential and cultural arts community with more than 90 arts organizations and four parks, we truly are the center of it all. We have distributed $120,000 as part of our midtownHOU Arts Micro Grants Program to local artists and arts organizations. This year we are celebrating 13 years of bringing public art to Houston.
Midtown Banner District: Midtown is a designated City of Houston as a Banner District, which gives us the opportunity to create an Outdoor Art Gallery
What is a Banner District? A banner district is a designated geographic area within the city where a specific type of banner signage is permitted. These banners serve as identification for the district itself along its major corridors.
Purpose : Banners must be:
- for noncommercial nonpolitical purposes.
- shall use a word or words only as a part of an artistic composition.
- Banners are not meant to be used as an advertisement of a business, a product or other private or personal message.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
What Banners will be considered for temporary public Outdoor Art Gallery display. Banners will be single, vertical, double-sided images, with one banner displayed per light pole. Banner size is 2 ft x 4 ft (24” x 48”).
When These are temporary public art installations that will be placed to highlight the community or as a seasonal display.
Where Banners will be installed in various locations throughout the district.
Who This project is funded by the Midtown Management District committees: Urban Planning, Cultural Arts, Economic Development, and Marketing.
Why This artistic design project highlights seasonal moments and the urban nature of the community while enhancing Midtown’s artistic, placemaking, and economic development efforts.
Project Support Midtown Cultural Arts District will cover the cost of supplies and labor to install and maintain the project. Artists/designers will be selected by a panel of judges familiar with the community. Midtown will also provide professional photography and video, as well as marketing and promotion of both the project and selected artists.
All photography and video produced will be the property of the Midtown Management District.
Brand Concepts Concepts should reflect Midtown’s identity, including:
- An urban, vibrant community that supports culture, public art, green space, and creative expression
- A historic neighborhood rooted in Third and Fourth Wards that continues to evolve
- A welcoming, connected place where residents, businesses, and visitors can thrive
Project Goals Based on submitted concepts, this project will select artists/designers to create final banner designs for an Outdoor Art Gallery displayed on light poles throughout Midtown. The goal is to engage the community and visitors, celebrate local culture and history, and highlight seasonal themes.
Concept Submission Guidelines Artists/designers may submit up to four written conceptual ideas. Please include color palettes in your descriptions and/or work samples. Consider the following:
- Create a cohesive story that resonates with Midtown
- Use visually striking imagery
- Incorporate vibrant colors and bold designs
- Reference local landmarks and community identity
- Highlight seasonal or holiday themes
Artists selected through a blind review process will be invited to submit final, high-resolution, print-ready designs. Templates and specifications will be provided. Artists are encouraged to visit the district to better understand the scale and context of the project.
REQUIREMENTS
Final banner artwork/designs will become the intellectual and artistic property of Midtown. Banners will be printed multiple times, rotated throughout the district, and may be shared digitally.
Selected artists/designers will be required to provide:
- An artist/designer bio
- A statement describing the meaning of the design
- A W-9
- A signed agreement granting Midtown usage rights
- Participation in professional photography and video documentation
Artists must also participate in a filmed “Meet the Artist” interview. Details will be provided, and artists are encouraged to invite their community. The final video and related media will be shared on Midtown’s social channels and will remain the property of the Midtown Management District.
TIMELINE:
- Monday, April 20 – Deadline to submit concepts
- Tuesday, April 21 – Concepts shared with Cultural Arts Committee
- Wednesday, April 22 – Review concepts and select artists to advance to Round 2
- April 23 – April 29 – Round 2 design development period
- Wednesday, April 29 – Final high-resolution, print-ready designs due
- May 6 – Designs shared with Board of Directors
- May 8 – July 22 – Fabrication, installation, and logistics
- Installation Period – Banner installations at various locations; artist presence encouraged (photography and video documentation will take place)
TBD – Meet the Artist: Selected artists will participate in a professionally recorded interview at a Midtown business, sharing their work and inspiration. This content will be featured on Midtown Houston’s social media channels.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Age 18 or older
- Eligible to work in the United States
- Local Houston artists or 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.
- The artistic work or design must be your original work. You may not submit other people’s work.
- Neither Board Members or 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 to Arts District (Fresh Arts) or their Board of Directors.
WHAT MAY NOT BE FUNDED - The funding for this project is made possible by the Midtown Management District and the Midtown Cultural Arts District. 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
Additional information about Midtown Houston
SELECTION + DESIGN PROCESS:
Round 1: Concept Phase Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of arts professionals, community members, and cultural partners. Final selections will be made through a juried process. Applicants advancing to the next stage will be invited to submit full sketches and renderings of their proposed designs. A total of 42 designs will be selected.
Round 2: Design Phase (April 23 – April 29) Selected artists will develop final, print-ready designs.
Selection criteria include:
- Artistic Quality and Creativity
- Alignment with Midtown Identity
- Clarity of Concept
- Visual Feasibility for Banner Design
- Community Relevance
Please note, that Fresh Arts is facilitating this call on behalf of Midtown. For all application questions contact: csnipe@midtownhouston.com