Call Description

Introduction: 

The City of Florence is pleased to invite emerging, mid-career and established artists to submit work to the Public Arts Committee’s program, Art Exposed: A Rotating Outdoor Art Gallery. Florence is offering artists an opportunity to display their work on a .7-mile stretch of Highway 101, called ReVision Florence, for a two-year period.

Florence is host to over one million visitors a year, and the busy Oregon Coast Highway leads people to popular restaurants, galleries, and shops throughout the area. The Art Exposed program generates community pride, provides artists a display with high visibility, stimulates conversations about art, promotes Florence as a destination to view public art, and creates a sense of place for our community members and visitors, all while providing a venue for the purchase of public art.

The City of Florence’s Public Arts Committee is a dedicated group of volunteers composed of local artists, business owners, and long-term supporters of the arts. The Committee, since its inception in 2015, has installed 30 pieces of art, including a large-scale mural at the Highway 126 gateway entrance to Florence.

Currently, the Art Exposed program has eight pieces of art that are on display in Historic Old Town and six pieces in the ReVision Corridor of the Florence Urban Renewal District. Each location has specific dimensions and particular requirements. 

While on display, the pieces are for sale to locals and Florence visitors. The City has been successful in selling the pieces on display, making Art Exposed one of the most successful programs of Florence’s Public Art Program. This provides members of the local artist community, as well as national and international artists, an opportunity to display their art while the City provides marketing materials for the public.

Artists are offered a stipend of $1,500 to provide their work for a maximum of two years. During the two-year period, the art would be offered for sale, with the City of Florence keeping a portion of the sale proceeds to support the future of the Public Arts Program. The artist also has the opportunity to replace any sold art with a new piece during the two-year time frame. 

General Project Information: 

• Six (6) locations for art have been selected by the Public Arts Committee, located on Highway 101 between the Siuslaw River Bridge and the Highway 126 intersection in Florence. Details of the locations are listed in the Location Information section below and visuals are included in a downloadable Supplemental Materials document.
• Artists are allowed to submit one entry for each of the 6 locations.
• Each piece submitted will be part of a new application, and a $25 fee will be applied.
• Each artist will be provided a stipend for their piece of $1,500.00.
• Art displayed as part of the Art Exposed program must be available for sale to the public and be available for two years from date of installation (April 2026).
• Should art be purchased prior to the completion of the contract timeline, the artist shall be given first opportunity to replace art with a suitable piece to be approved by the Public Arts Committee. If the artist chooses not to replace the work, the Committee will decide whether to open the space to a new artist through a new call-to-artist.
• The City of Florence provides bases for the art to be installed upon (Pictures and descriptions of the bases are available in the Supplemental Materials) and Public Works crews are available to support installation with direction of the artist.
• All costs associated with transportation of the artwork to Florence, Oregon, will be the responsibility of the artist.
• All artwork must be the original design and artwork of the artists and suitable to be viewed by all ages.
• All artists must be over the age of 18 to apply.
• Selected artwork will be scheduled to be installed in April 2026. The schedule of installation will be adjusted based on location and artist, depending on the situation.
• The Committee determines by vote which location is most appropriate for the submitted piece, while also taking into account the artist’s preference in location.
• The deadline for submission is February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST (10:59 p.m. PST)

General Application Timeline: 

• Mid-December 2025 to Mid-February 2026: Call To Artists available for application through Call For Entry (CAFÉ), https://www.callforentry.org/
• February 15, 2026: Call-to-Artists closes for applications
• February 2026: Public Arts Committee and its Art Exposed Subcommittee narrows applications and chooses finalists for each space at special meeting
• February 2026: Public Arts Committee decides on final artist for each space at regular committee meeting
• March 2026: Artists are notified of committee decisions
• April 2026 and May 2026: New art is installed by artists, with assistance from Florence Public Works

Application Requirements

Submission Information and Requirements:

• When submitting, artists may specify the location for which they are submitting their piece of art (Please note that all locations have unique requirements). Artists’ preferred location will be taken into consideration as the Public Arts Committee votes.
• Artists are allowed to submit one piece per location.
• There is a $25.00 entry fee for each application.
   

Artists Must Submit the Following Information for Each Piece of Art: 

• Preferred Location Number and Name (Please reference Location Information section)
• Title of Work
• Date Created
• Short Description of Work
• List Price (Please note, the City of Florence collects 30% of proceeds if the piece is purchased while on display)
• Detailed list of materials used
• Height
• Width of Widest Point
• Width of Base
• Total weight of the piece
• Artist’s history using these materials
• Recommended Maintenance Procedures & Schedule (repairs of possible damage and cleaning)
• A maximum 150-word artist statement for use in marketing materials and signage
• Other pertinent information

Location Information: 

Art Exposed ReVision Florence is seeking large-scale, colorful art for a .7-mile stretch of Highway 101 at the entrance to the City of Florence on the Oregon Coast. In recent years, the City and the Florence Urban Renewal Agency completed a streetscape project that made the Highway District much more walkable and friendly for pedestrians. The Public Art Committee installed the Art Exposed Rotating Outdoor Art Gallery in six locations in 2024, and are ready to rotate these out for the next two years.

Location #1 – Highway 126 Intersection

This location is at the southeast corner of the intersection between Highway 126 and Highway 101. The eastern and northern entrance to the ReVision Corridor, this landscaped corner features a variety of native plants and is seen by millions of people every year as they stop in Florence or continue up and down the highways. The selected piece will be close to lodging and foot traffic in town and visible from Florence’s “Stitching Time, Weaving Cultures” mural. Uniquely, the area is near several traffic control devices, including stop lights and directional signs, and seating. All these will be considered as art is reviewed.

Maximum Dimension Requirements:

• Height: No more than 15 feet tall
• Width: No more than 6 feet wide
• Art must include plan to mount the piece and secure the base to a 4-ft steel plate on top of a concrete art plinth.

Location #2 – 8th Street Corner

On the west side of Highway 101 is a landscaped area at the south corner of 8th Street. This piece will be surrounded by native greenery and ADA-accessible sidewalks. This high-traffic area is near the post office, a financial institution, lodging, and local businesses. An artistic and functional art piece at this location will add a needed element of interest to this side of the highway.

Maximum Dimension Requirements:

• Height: No more than 12 feet tall
• Width: No more than 4 feet wide
• Art must include plan to mount the piece and secure the base to a 4-ft steel plate on top of a concrete art plinth.

Location #3 – Nopal Street

Nopal Street is one of the entrances into Historic Old Town Florence and the Port of Siuslaw’s Boardwalk. The site is part of the Highway and Antiques Districts, surrounded by local shops, restaurants, and a financial institution. This location features a paved plaza and seating area. The large-scale, circular art base has an 8-foot diameter and is 18 inches high, with a slight sloped surface, and features a steel plate to mount art.

Maximum Dimension Requirements:

• Height: No more than 15 feet tall
• Width: No more than 6 feet wide
• Art must include plan to mount the piece and secure the base 4-ft steel plate on top of a concrete art plinth.

Location #4 – Maple Street

At the entrance to Historic Old Town, the Maple Street location welcomes visitors driving, cycling, and walking. It is next to the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and the Florence Visitors Center, where more than .5 million people stop each year, looking for things to do around the area. This location includes a lit plaza with a seating area, large concrete art base, and bike rack, along with the nearby Maple Street Gateway Monuments. The circular art base has an 8-foot diameter and is 18 inches high, with a slight sloped surface. The base is within sight of another Art Exposed piece and across the highway from Location #5.

Maximum Dimension Requirements:

• Height: No more than 15 feet tall
• Width: No more than 6 feet wide
• Art must include plan to mount the piece and secure the base 6-ft steel plate on top of a concrete art plinth.

Location #5 – Laurel Street

The Laurel Street Plaza features a crescent-shaped art plinth and a seating area at the southern end of the ReVision Corridor. It abuts neighboring businesses and has a view of Florence City Hall, the Siuslaw River Bridge, and the Highway District, and is directly across the street from Art Exposed Location #4. This inviting area on the west side of Highway 101 is a confluence of neighborhoods and businesses and can inspire people to linger as they enjoy the native plants in the landscaping. People can transition into Florence by stopping at this site as they plan their next activities.

Maximum Dimension Requirements:

• Height: No more than 15 feet tall
• Width: No more than 6 feet wide
• Art must include plan to mount the piece and secure the base to one or more steel plates on top of a crescent-shaped concrete art plinth.

Location #6 – 1st Street

The southernmost location for the Art Exposed Expansion will be the first piece of art welcoming people into the City of Florence as they travel northbound from the Siuslaw River Bridge. This location off the sidewalk of Highway 101 features a sitting area and a view of the historic bridge and neighboring businesses in the Urban Renewal District. People beginning their journey through Florence will view this art piece as they head into Historic Old Town Florence, along Highway 101 to the commercial districts, and on to the many recreational, business, and cultural experiences that the area has to offer.

Maximum Dimension Requirements:

• Height: No more than 15 feet tall
• Width: No more than 3 feet wide
• Art must include plan to mount the piece and secure the base to a rectangular steel plate level with the sidewalk.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility and Design Guidelines

• All artists must be over eighteen (18) years old to be eligible
• There is no required theme for most locations; creativity and innovation of designs are encouraged.
• Artists must submit photographs of the specific art that is being entered, from multiple angles. Work-in-progress must be at least 75% completed and photographs of the work in progress must be submitted. Mock ups, models, drawings, or concepts are not accepted for this Call. If work is not fully complete, a process timeline must be included and show completion by time of install.
• Entries must be the original design and artwork of the entrant. Designs must not include any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, business names, corporate or organizational brandings or imagery of violence, drugs and alcohol.
• Entries must be suitable for viewing for all ages. Access links to the City of Florence’s Public Art Program and guidelines.
• Artwork submitted may not be used for advertisement or to promote a business, product, or viewpoint.
• Artists may submit work on their own or as part of a team.
• Artwork can be of any medium but must be able to withstand coastal weather conditions including wind and seasonal rain, as well as resistance to theft, vandalism, excessive maintenance, and repair costs. Please note: the sites in the ReVision Corridor are next to a major highway, with a traffic speed limit of 30 miles per hour.
• Artwork cannot exceed 500 pounds in total weight, except by approval of the City of Florence. Contact Economic Development Analyst Chantelle Meyer at chantelle.meyer@ci.florence.or.us for more information.
• Artists must present a plan and diagrams for mounting work. The City of Florence has several sizes of concrete art plinths with steel plates that can accommodate ¾-inch bolts or tack welding (See Supplemental Materials document and diagram entitled Art Base Installation Information).
• Each work will be evaluated to require that it does not present a hazard to public safety and must conform to ADA standards.

Evaluation Criteria:

Art submitted to the Art Exposed program will be evaluated on five criteria categories:

Visual Impact – Overall Quality

A perfect score will be given to an artist who has uniquely organized the art elements and content and has created a striking and memorable piece of work. If selected, this project has the power to “wow” the viewer.

 Interpretation & Criteria – Completeness / Effort

A perfect score will be given to an artist who shows unique and creative interpretation of the project and was continued until it was complete as possible. Effort was far beyond what was required, with great attention to detail.

Composition & Design – Organization

A perfect score will be given to a piece of art that shows and effectively utilizes knowledge of the elements and principles of design. The design effectively fills the entire space.

Craftsmanship – Made with Skill of Mediums and Overall Neatness

A perfect score will demonstrate a mastery of skill and a clear understanding and application of specific medium qualities. The design is beautiful and complete.

Adherence to Design Criteria & Eligibility Guidelines

A perfect score shows that all criteria of the call-to-artists have been met. Artist has demonstrated the best example of following directions for assignment.