Introduction: The City of Tustin Public Art Commission, in partnership with the City of Tustin Parks and Recreation Department, is seeking submissions from artists for a permanent outdoor installation. Submissions can take the form of functional or non-functional art.  One sculpture will be chosen for placement along the entry walkway, adjacent to a playground area at Centennial Park in Tustin, CA. The selected artist or collaborative group will receive compensation between $10,000 to $20,000 for the artwork.

Artists may submit up to two sculptures for consideration. Those selected will be required to enter into a contract with the City of Tustin, agreeing to all terms outlined in this Call for Artists. Please note that no additional or contingency funds will be provided.

Exhibition Guidelines: 

1. This call for artists is open to Southern California’s emerging and professional artists.
2. Work must be suitable for outdoor installation in mediums of stone, bronze, steel, wood, etc.
3. Work must be suitable for viewing by all ages.
4. Work may not be created for advertisement or to promote business, product, or viewpoint.
5. Selected works must be structurally capable and designed to be secured by a steel plate to an existing ground level pedestal of 7’ x 7’ designed to support up to 1,250 lbs. and 3’ to 10-12’ in height.
6. The work should be designed to consider structural and surface soundness with materials that can withstand outside (high winds, rain, extreme temperatures), climbing, and uncovered weather conditions as well as inherent resistance to theft, vandalism, and excessive maintenance and repair costs while also withstanding a high traffic environment.
7. Work must be installed with sufficient anchoring to prevent the work from being removed, tipped, broken, or overturned due to wind or an earthquake. The City reserves the right to review and approve the artist’s installation plan and may request additional information including engineering specifications from a California-licensed engineer (hired by the artist) to address safety concerns the City may have.
8. An area on or near the artwork will be specified for use in presenting a plaque.
9. The work must be designed to be maintenance-free containing the artist’s name as well as the title of the piece and take into consideration the safety of the audience of all ages.
10. All entries must be existing works, completed prior to submission. No incomplete work or project proposals will be considered.
11. Delivered artwork that differs significantly from the approved application will not be accepted.

Selection Process:

1. The Public Art Commission will select sculptures for a final review and recommendation to the Tustin City Council.
2. The Tustin City Council will have the final decision-making authority on the selection of the art sculptures.

Selection Criteria:

1. (80% selection weight) Submittal of work as outlined in this Call for Artists.  Attention to context, architectural, historical, geographical, and cultural.  Strength and artistic merit of past artworks, the creativity of approach, fabrication/installation experience, and the ability to create safe site-specific works.
2. (20% selection weight) Submittal of an installation plan, a letter of interest that includes experience (particularly for public art), motivation to display in Tustin, and a resume that provides at least two references, artist statement, and images of completed work that meet the pedestal installation and Call for Artist criteria.

Artist Responsibility:

1. The artist will be responsible for transportation to Centennial Park and responsible for ensuring that the work is properly prepared to meet the existing pedestal configurations as specified in the Call for Artists.
2. The artists selected will be responsible for providing plaque information to be attached by the city to the existing structure pedestals. The information required would be the artist’s name and the title of the work. This same information will be posted on the City of Tustin website with a link to the artist’s website.

Estimated Timeline:

March 11, 2025 – Announcement of the Call for Artists

April 7, 2025 – Deadline for receipt of application materials (no exceptions)

May 2025 – Complete review process, notify artists

June 2025 – Installation of sculptures

Terms:

1. The City of Tustin will not accept responsibility for the loss or damage of the artist’s submission materials.
2. The City of Tustin Public Works Department will assist the exhibiting artists in the placement of work.
3. The City of Tustin will be responsible for all maintenance and repairs from vandalism or accidents once the piece is installed.

Application Requirements:

1. Completed application form, to include the value of the sculpture
2. Current professional resume (not to exceed two pages)
3. A sculpture installation plan
4. A one-paragraph artist statement and a brief artist biography
5. Four photographs (5x7 or larger), one from each quadrant of work submitted
6. A stamped self-addressed envelope must be included if the return of submission materials is desired                                      

Questions:  Questions regarding the project should be directed to the City of Tustin Parks and Recreation Department via email to: Director, Chad W. Clanton, publicart@tustinca.org. 

Application Requirements

Application Requirements:

1. Completed application form, to include the value of the sculpture
2. Current professional resume (not to exceed two pages)
3. A sculpture installation plan
4. A one-paragraph artist statement and a brief artist biography
5. Four photographs (5x7 or larger), one from each quadrant of work submitted
6. A stamped self-addressed envelope must be included if the return of submission materials is desired

Eligibility Criteria

See above in long description.