Call Description

Call for Artist Exhibitions at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts (2026-27 Season)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 23, 2026, by 11:59 pm (PST)

Submit online via CaFE at  www.callforentry.org

BACKGROUND

The City of Mountain View’s Visual Arts Committee (VAC) invites artists and artist teams working in a variety of media to exhibit their work in the lobby of the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (MVCPA) at 500 Castro Street, Mountain View, California, 94041, for the 2026-27 season.  Exhibits are on view for approximately eight weeks and are seen by thousands of visitors attending MVCPA performances and events (learn more at mvcpa.com). Learn more about the City of Mountain View VAC and public art program at econdev.mountainview.gov/public-art.

ELIGIBILITY

The call is open to all professional artists and artist teams who meet the following criteria:

• Are 18 years or older (artists under 18 may apply with an adult sponsor).
• Reside in one of 11 San Francisco Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.
• Have not exhibited at the MVCPA within the past three years, unless proposing a substantially new body of work.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

All applications must be submitted online via CaFÉ at  www.callforentry.org, an online application system for Call for Entry.  There is no charge for artists to apply or use CaFÉ.  Applications that are emailed, mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered will not be considered.

All applications must include the following:

1. Current Resume: Upload a current resumé, no more than two (2) pages in length to outline experience and background.
2. Artist Website: Provide links to your website and/or active artist social media accounts, if applicable.
3. Images of Work:  Five to ten images with annotations (include title, date, medium, dimensions, weight of artwork) of the artists/artist team’s work that is to be displayed.  All images must be of art that would be exhibited for approximately eight weeks during the 2026-27 season (see below for exhibit installation requirements).

For assistance using CaFÉ, please contact WESTAF at 303-629-1166 or cafe@westaf.org.

Apply early. Applications will be accepted through January 23, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (PST). Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

EXHIBIT INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

Please review the following installation requirements carefully before applying.  See Attachment 2 (MVCPA Visual Art Exhibition General Information) for additional details.

• All artwork must be able to be hung on the MVCPA’s system. Only artwork that is framed or properly wired, and ready for installation, will be accepted.  
• Art is hung along gently curved walls composed of 96-inch panels with visible seams. Works are hung from a picture rail approximately eight feet from the floor.
• Maximum dimensions per piece: Width:  60-inch (some flexibility for soft goods), Height: 84-inch, and Depth:  6-inch.
• Artwork should weigh no more than 20 pounds. Exhibits containing multiple heavy pieces must account for the total load on the hanging system. The MVCPA reserves the right to determine appropriate load distribution.
• Additional exhibition space may be available in the Mountain View City Hall Community Development Department Lobby. Maximum wall space: 7-feet wide by 4-feet high; Alcove space: 4-feet wide by 2-feet high.

EXHIBIT SCHEDULE

The first exhibition is scheduled to begin on April 21, 2026. Each exhibition will remain on display for approximately eight weeks, depending on the number of artists selected. Exhibit hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and one hour prior to public performances. While the City cannot guarantee availability, Artists may indicate in their application if they are interested in hosting a reception during their exhibition.

SELECTION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

City staff will review applications for completeness and eligibility before opening the review process to the Visual Arts Committee. Incomplete or ineligible applications will be declined. The VAC will score applications on a scale of one to seven (1-7), with seven being the highest score. Artists selected will work with City staff on contract and exhibit timelines.

AWARD OF CONTRACT

The City of Mountain View reserves the right to accept or reject any submittals and to alter or extend the selection process as needed.  This Call for Artists does not constitute a binding contract or agreement between the City and the artist.  Award of a contract is contingent upon a recommendation by the Visual Arts Committee and execution of an agreement with the City (see Attachment 1, Sample Agreement). 

Selected artists will be required to obtain a Business License with the City of Mountain View and provide City staff with a Form W-9 (or equivalent) before entering into an agreement with the City of Mountain View. 

STIPEND

Selected artists or artist teams will receive a stipend of $250 following completion of their exhibition.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions regarding the application process, eligibility, or exhibit installation, contact City of Mountain View staff:

• Email: vac@mountainview.gov | Phone: 650-903-6923

For CaFÉ technical support, contact WESTAF:

• Email: cafe@westaf.org | Phone: 303-629-1166 | www.callforentry.org

Please note: City staff are available to assist with questions during regular business hours, generally Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (PST). For technical support with the CaFÉ application, WESTAF staff are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (MST).

We strongly encourage applicants to APPLY EARLY to ensure adequate time to address any questions or technical issues before the deadline.

Application Requirements

All applications must be submitted online via CaFÉ at  www.callforentry.org, an online application system for calls for entry.  There is no charge for artists to apply or use CaFÉ.  Applications that are emailed, mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered will not be considered.

All applications must include the following:

1. Current Resume: Upload a current resumé, no more than two (2) pages in length to outline experience and background.
2. Artist Website: Provide links to your website and/or active artist social media accounts, if applicable.
3. Images of Work:  Five to ten images with annotations (include title, date, medium, dimensions, weight of artwork) of the artists/artist team’s work that is to be displayed.  All images must be of art that would be exhibited for approximately eight weeks during the 2026-27 season (see below for exhibit installation requirements).

For assistance using CaFÉ, please contact WESTAF at 303-629-1166 or cafe@westaf.org.

Eligibility Criteria

The call is open to all professional artists and artist teams who meet the following criteria:

• Are 18 years or older (artists under 18 may apply with an adult sponsor).
• Reside in one of 11 San Francisco Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.
• Have not exhibited at the MVCPA within the past three years, unless proposing a substantially new body of work.