LA RIVER HEADWATERS - CANOGA PARK

LA River Headwaters - Canoga Park Civic Art Project

LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE SEEKS ARTIST FOR ARTIST DESIGNED INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE AND HARDSCAPE ELEMENTS.
PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture’s Civic Art Division invites artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for the LA River Headwaters - Canoga Park Civic Art Project. The opportunity is for a site-specific artwork composed of multiple artist-designed interpretive signage and hardscape elements along a quarter-mile trail.

This is the first civic art opportunity along the Los Angeles River. This project highlights themes outlined in the 2022 LA River Master Plan and input from 2021- 2022 Headwaters Area Project Community Engagement Plan meetings. The Department of Arts and Culture seeks to prioritize the histories and natural environment of the river, in particular as they pertain to the First Peoples.

In creating this artwork, artists are encouraged to explore shared resources and the spaces required to deepen our connection with the LA River. How can we bridge our past with our future? How can we become better stewards of the land and enhance our natural environment?

The County of Los Angeles recognizes that we occupy land originally and still inhabited and cared for by the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples. We honor and pay respect to their elders and descendants -- past, present, and emerging -- as they continue their stewardship of these lands and waters. We acknowledge that settler colonization resulted in land seizure, disease, subjugation, slavery, relocation, broken promises, genocide, and multigenerational trauma. This acknowledgment demonstrates our responsibility and commitment to truth, healing, and reconciliation and to elevating the stories, culture, and community of the original inhabitants of Los Angeles County. We are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on these ancestral lands. We are dedicated to growing and sustaining relationships with Native peoples and local tribal governments.

Please review the Call for Artists on our website for full details prior to completing your submission.

Deadline to Apply: August 27, 2026 5:00 PM PST
Artist Application:
Artist or Artist Team Name
Contact First Name
Contact Last Name
If selected, Artist or Legal Entity name that will enter into the contract.
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Primary Phone
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Email
example@example.com
Eligibility - Do you/your team reside or work within the United States of America? Although the artwork is site-specific, the Department of Arts and Culture has opened the Call nationally to acknowledge the potential challenges of displacement and migration for any potential artists.
Eligibility - Do you/your team have demonstrable involvement with Native American communities?
If yes, please describe your involvement with Native American communities.
Eligibility -Previous Department of Arts and Culture Commissions: Have you been commissioned by the Department of Arts and Culture Civic Art Division in the last five years for a project with a budget of $290,000 or more?
If yes, please describe your previous commission.

Artist Application - Questions
ARTWORK THEMES distilled from community engagement efforts:
- History and significance of the LA River, including the ongoing relationship of First Peoples and the LA River;
- Local riparian flora and fauna;
- The benefits of flood protection, water conservation; and/or
- The LA River as a resource for the enjoyment of the natural environment.
A. What has been your connection to the project themes (if any), including your involvement with Native American communities.

300 words maximum 0/300
B. Brief description of your artistic practice and your method of developing high quality, innovative and meaningful artwork.

300 words maximum0/300

File Uploads
Resume/CV
Resume/CV: Upload your resume in PDF format. Please provide 1-2 pages (maximum) outlining your professional art qualifications, which may include previous projects, experience, education/training and other related credentials. For Artist teams, include a brief bio describing your collaboration.

(PDF file format only)
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Images

Please provide up to 10 images of existing artworks in JPEG or PDF file format. Do not insert multiple photos into one image. Applicants may upload more than one photo of an individual artwork (showing different angles or details). Please do not composite more than one image per image file. Include the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.
Image 1: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 1: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 2: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 2: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 3: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 3: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 4: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 4: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 5: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 5: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 6: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 6: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 7: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 7: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

0/100
Image 8: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 8: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 9: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 9: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Image 10: Image upload.

pdf, jpeg, or jpg file only
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Image 10: List the date of completion, project budget, artist collaboration (if applicable), client/agency (if applicable), medium, location (if applicable), brief description of the project.

100 words maximum0/100
Preference Program Participation (If applicable)

Artists who have certification in one or more of Los Angeles County’s Preference Programs (Local Small Business Enterprise, Social Enterprise, or Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise) must provide a copy of their certification with their submission materials.
Upload a copy of your Los Angeles County Preference Program Certification if applicable. If this does not apply, please go to the next question.

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Certification of Application and Attestation of Standard County Terms and Conditions
1. Certification of Review of Call for Artists
2. Certification of Truth and Accuracy
MonthDayYear
Date
3. Certification of Compliance with Standard Terms and Conditions
Signature

LA River Headwaters - Canoga Park Civic Art Project

Artist Application:

Artist Application - Questions

File Uploads

Resume/CV

Images

Preference Program Participation (If applicable)

Certification of Application and Attestation of Standard County Terms and Conditions

Demographic Questions