open call for public art projects

The City of Austin Art in Public Places program (AIPP) of the Cultural Arts Division, Economic Development Department is seeking up to three emerging artists to design, fabricate and install artworks ($44,000 each) for the new Dougherty Arts Center (DAC) located between Toomey and Riverside Roads along Lamar Blvd behind the Zach Scott Theatre in Austin, Texas.

The mission of the Dougherty Arts Center is to support emerging through established artists who create, showcase, and experience the arts first-hand. The DAC considers itself Austin’s cultural living room where people of all ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic statuses, nationalities, and religions gather to create community through the arts. A new building will radically expand DAC’s ability to carry out its mission of supporting arts access for all. The new Center will amplify its position as a hub of creativity while increasing efficiencies calibrated to its function with expanded programming. It will be a sustainable model of Austin’s park network, conveying the mission of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department to create community through the arts.

Interested artists should understand the significance of this strong multi-generational and multi-cultural, historic and education-oriented arts space. The selected artist/artist team should be mindful of the context of the surrounding nature, the architecture of the building and its authenticity to Austin as an experience. Completed final artworks should nod to the artistic and creative activities that happen in and around the building.