Call Description

NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts are pleased to present the TRANSITional Art Project: Rahway Rail Station Exterior Fiber Art. This call is soliciting submissions from prospective fiber/textile artists to provide art to be exhibited as part of the temporary art installation at the Rahway Rail Station. Submissions will only be accepted from artists who live in Central NJ (Counties of Union, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, or Hunterdon). This exhibition will be unveiled in September 2025.  

NOTE: This is one of two calls for artists currently open for the Rahway Rail Station’s TRANSITional Art Project. Click the link below to access the other call, TRANSITional Art Project: Rahway Rail Station Photography Exhibition.  

About the Transit Arts Program: 

Recognizing that public art can have a significant beneficial impact upon the transportation system and the communities that it serves, NJ TRANSIT (NJT) initiated a Transit Arts Program in June 1994. The Transit Arts Program identifies opportunities for public art to be integrated into the system and establishes a process for artist selection and art fabrication. In 2019, NJ TRANSIT partnered with the NJ State Council on the Arts to create a temporary art program, showcasing local artists’ work, for several months, at various transportation hubs in New Jersey.  A Transit Arts Committee (TAC), stakeholders including members of the community, will review and score Artists’ proposals. 

Project Description:  

The NJ TRANSIT Rahway Rail Station is in Rahway, New Jersey, and serves as an important hub for commuters traveling in the state. It is situated at 1 Billings Place near the Rahway River and provides access to several major NJ TRANSIT rail lines, offering convenient service to New York City and other parts of New Jersey. The Rahway Station is served by both the Northeast Corridor Line and the North Jersey Coast Line.     

The project seeks to select one (1) artist (or artist team) who is a current resident of New Jersey and lives in one of the State’s central Counties (Union, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, or Hunterdon Counties). Preferential consideration will be given to artists with a strong connection to the Rahway community. Qualified artists are encouraged to submit their ideas for designing fiber/textile-based artwork on the archways of the exterior facade at the Rahway Station (the site is also known as the plaza).  

Please see the “view site details” link at the top of this call for images of the site.  

The project will be unveiled in late September 2025 and be on view throughout the Fall.   

Suggested themes: 

Artists are invited to explore the past, present, and future of Rahway’s industrial roots and the innovative spirit that continues to shape its identity. Celebrate the ingenuity, creativity, and industrial legacy that define Rahway.  

Important Considerations: 

Artists are encouraged to be considerate of the ridership and public nature of art in transit spaces. Artists must consider that the work will be situated in a public location and subject to the elements and potential vandalism. The NJ Transit TRANSITional Art Selection Committee (TASC) seeks artwork that is appropriate for public display and will not include images depicting violence, nudity, or that are sexual in nature in the project.     

The TASC will review each application received and will select one artist or artist team. In addition to the commission of their work, the artists’ name(s) and images of the project will be shared with the public through NJ Transit and the State Arts Council's social media and other communication platforms.   

Please consider the durability of the artwork, as the work must be on display for 3-6 months. Artists must work in a timely fashion with the NJ Transit team to ensure the work provided is installed on time, and is safe and appropriate for public display.    

Budget  

The TRANSITional Art Project will provide $8,000 to the selected artist or artist team, which can be used toward project costs, travel, supplies, and artistic fees as needed. Only one $8,000 stipend will be provided, so artist teams should allocate the artists fees between them from the total $8,000 budget. NJ TRANSIT will provide technical support for the installation, but the artist must coordinate with the NJT team as needed.

Timeline: 

Call(s) for Artists Open: April 3, 2025 

Call for Artists Close: May 8, 2025 

Jury Review Opens: No later than May 13, 2025 

Jury Review Closes: No later than June 6, 2025 

Selection Committee Meeting: Week of June 9, 2025 

Artist Notifications: No later than July 1, 2025 

Project Planning/Prep Period: July – August 2025 

Project Installation: Mid-September 2025 

Opens: TBD – Late September 2025  

(All dates are subject to change).

Application Requirements

All applications must be submitted through www.callforentry.org (CAFE), a free website for artists to use. Artists must register and set up an account in CAFE, and upload images of their work to their CAFE account in order to submit to this call. Submissions will not be accepted or reviewed through any other means.  

Artists should submit examples of their previously completed work, and a short narrative of their project idea for consideration. Work samples submitted will be the primary basis for the Selection Committee’s consideration of the artists’ ability and experience in undertaking similar projects. NJ Transit will work with the selected artist to approve a final design and install the artwork.  

Artists will need to submit: 

• 4 – 8 images of previously completed artwork of a similar nature (1 optional video submission)
• A brief artist statement and, if applicable, include a description of the artist's connection to the community of Rahway.
• A current artist bio (250 words or less).
• A brief narrative proposal (no more than 2 pages) describing the artist’s design idea for this project. Make sure to include the specifications of the design. If applicable, you could reference specific work samples you are providing to further describe the proposal. (For example: "Please see my provided work sample titled 'Fiber Art #72' for an example of this technique and material...").

Evaluation Criteria 

The Transitional Art Selection Committee will score each artist and their proposal based on the following criteria. 

• Artistic quality of proposed artwork.
• Appropriateness of proposed artwork to the site and objective of the project.
• Permanence, durability, maintainability, and use of high-quality materials.
• Absence of hazards to the public.
• Innovation in use of materials and techniques (fiber art).
• Willingness of the artist to carry out the project in coordination with the project team or any ongoing/pending construction by NJ TRANSIT.
• Ability of the artist to create and install the artwork within the established timeframe.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and current residents of New Jersey living in one of the State’s central counties (Union, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, or Hunterdon Counties). If selected for the commission, artists will be expected to provide evidence of this eligibility. We encourage artists with a strong connection to the Rahway community to apply.  

Artist/Teams must be able to work effectively and collaboratively with the NJ Transit Arts Team to further develop their initial proposal idea to a final approved design. Artists should consider the project timeline prior to submitting a proposal. Projects are intended to be completed in the Summer 2025 and installed in Fall 2025, meaning artists will have 4-6 weeks total for final design iteration and approval in collaboration with NJ Transit’s team after notification of selection.  

Please do not apply to this call if you do not meet the eligibility criteria. Eligibility will be verified. No jurors will review ineligible submissions.

Contract: 

Upon selection and final design approval, the artist must complete a contract with NJ Transit for stipend payment.  

Questions?     

Technical assistance using CAFÉ is available at:  https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/    

Please use CAFÉ help resources for assistance setting up a CAFÉ account, and submitting through the CAFÉ platform.   

Direct any questions about the space or project to Christine Blanco, Manager of New Jersey Transit’s Transit Arts Programs at cblanco@njtransit.com or by phone 973-491-8243.  

Please direct any other questions regarding this opportunity to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Public Art Team:  

PublicArtsInclusion@sos.nj.gov