Call Description

The Amargosa Creek Trail recharges Palmdale’s groundwater basin while offering a natural space for residents, featuring a 50‑acre Nature Trail with century‑old Joshua and Juniper trees, plant placards, storyboards, defined trailheads, seating, educational signage, fitness equipment, and a bicycle repair station. Additionally, four sculptures by different artists will be placed along the trail on concrete pads for three years, enriching the natural setting with art. Afterward, a new set of sculptures will rotate in, continuing the tradition of refreshing the trail’s cultural experience. Applications are open to artists residing in the State of California.

The all-inclusive budget for this project is $10,000 per selected artist. This amount covers the artist’s fee as well as expenses related to the installation plan, artwork engineering, welding certification (if applicable), transportation, installation, lodging, removal at the end of the three-year installation period, and overall project completion. Each selected artist will be required to provide insurance as specified in the agreement and must obtain a current City of Palmdale business license, in accordance with the Palmdale Municipal Code. All deliveries must be Free on Board (FOB) to the installation site in the City of Palmdale. The City will retain a general contractor to manage the unloading and installation of the four sculptures at the Amargosa Sculpture Garden, in accordance with the specifications outlined in the stamped engineered drawings of each artwork. The sculptures will be on loan to the City of Palmdale and will be on display for a period of three years.

LINK FOR CITY OF PALMDALE BUSINESS LICENSE

Please refer to the hyperlink below to access the sample agreement and insurance requirements.

Public-Art-Loan-Agreement-and-Insurance-2026

Artists must submit images of sculptural works that are available and ready for installation. The sculptures must be original designs that are family-friendly and suitable for viewing by all ages. Artwork should be respectful of the broader community context. Proposed pieces may not depict sexual conduct, sexually explicit nudity, or promote any activity that is illegal under the laws of California or the United States. All artworks must also meet public safety standards, ensuring they pose no hazards to visitors and are appropriate for placement in an open, publicly accessible environment. The Panel will recommend sculptures that best meet the City’s objectives for this project. The Public Art Commission reserves the right to contact artists prior to final selection for clarification of their proposed artwork.

Sculptures can be of any medium, but artists should consider structural and surface soundness and materials that will withstand outside and uncovered weather conditions as well as inherent resistance to theft and vandalism.  Artworks must be constructed of durable materials that are able to withstand the harsh weather conditions of the desert (high winds up to 110 mph and extreme temperatures). The selected artists will be required to outline their history with the material as well as the suggested maintenance schedule.  Sculptures are intended to be on display for three years.  If the proposed sculptures are kinetic or interactive, they must be safe for public use and require no maintenance from City staff.  Sculptures must fit within an 8’ by 8’ footprint and should be no more than 17’ in height.  Sculptures should weigh no more than 3,000 pounds.  Sculptures must be installed in a manner with sufficient anchoring to prevent the sculpture from being removed, tipped, broken or overturned due to wind, snow load, or seismic activity.  Sculptures must comply with standard engineering practices and requirements.  If selected, the artist’s designs and proposed installation plans must be formally reviewed by a California licensed engineer (hired by the artist).  Blueprints and final renderings will be required, if selected.  Any welds must be inspected by a California certified welder (hired by the artist). Artwork will be evaluated to require that it does not present a hazard to public safety.

Important Dates:

July 10, 2026:                       Applications due

July 13, 2026:                       Artist Selection Committee meeting

July 23, 2026:                       Artist Selection Committee review completed

July 30, 2026:                       Artist interviews, as needed

August 27, 2026:                  City review

September 8, 2026:              Preliminary artist notification

September 22, 2026:            Public Art Commission meeting

TBD:                                      Installation of sculptures

The City of Palmdale is located in northern Los Angeles County and lies in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.  The City is a High Desert community sprinkled with Joshua Trees and featuring quick access to state parks and monumental desert landscapes. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles basin to the south, providing relatively quick access to the cosmopolitan amenities of Greater Los Angeles.  These characteristics and more make Palmdale an ideal place to live, work, and play, with endless possibilities to enjoy the outdoors while hiking, biking, and running.

The climate in Palmdale is very hot and dry in the summer, and chilly to cold in winter, with snowfall possible.

ARTIST RESOURCES / PALMDALE COMMUNITY:

Links regarding the community and history of the Palmdale area:

·         City of Palmdale

·         Palmdale Public Art

·         Visit Palmdale

·         Discover Palmdale

·         Local History

Application Requirements

A complete application includes the following:

·         An artist’s resume

·         6 – 10 examples of the artist’s work will be accepted. Visuals of completed sculptures proposed for this site, as well as previous work demonstrating relevant experience, may be submitted.

·         Three professional references.

·         An artist statement that highlights your experience with sculpture design, fabrication, and installation, and explain how this background informs your interest in this project. The statement should describe your proposed sculpture(s), including materials, whether the work is kinetic, and its approximate height and weight. Artists should also address their experience working with the materials proposed. If available, please include engineered drawings and welding certificates.

Eligibility Criteria

The Panel will review and score submissions based on the following criteria:

·         Artistic Merit: Demonstrates strong creativity, artistic engagement, and consistent craftsmanship.

·         Project Suitability: Reflects an approach appropriate to the project’s context and aligns with the mission and goals of the Public Art Program and the City.

·         Material Integrity: Proposed artwork is fabricated from durable materials capable of withstanding harsh desert weather conditions.

·         Public Safety and Compliance: Proposed artwork meets public safety standards and poses no hazards to visitors.

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·         Artist eligibility: Applicant is 18 years of age or older and may apply individually or as part of a collaborative team.

·         Residency: Artist resides in the State of California.

·         Artistic quality: Artist’s past work reflects consistent quality and craftsmanship.

·         Project suitability: Proposal reflects an approach appropriate to the demands and context of the project.

·         Site responsiveness: Artist demonstrates the ability to respond to the distinctive characteristics of the site and the community it serves.

·         Team collaboration: Artist shows the capacity to work effectively as part of an overall project team.