2026 Open Call for Art on the Parkway- Individual Applicants

2026 Open Call for Art on the Parkway (Individual Applicants)
APPLICATION DEADLINE - Friday, March 6th at 11:59pm EDT.

Art on the Parkway is a juried open call organized by the Association for Public Art (aPA) in partnership with the Parkway Council and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR). It invites artists, designers, and other creatives to propose a temporary public art installation in Maja Park on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This year’s project will be commissioned in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and America’s Semiquincentennial celebrations that will take place in Philadelphia during the summer of 2026.

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is one of Philadelphia’s grandest civic spaces with a rich array of art and architecture—including many sculptures acquired and maintained by the Association for Public Art. We invite proposals for America’s Semiquincentennial that consider and expand on the idea of Art as Catalyst. More specifically, we are looking for public artworks that contribute to a place for people with different backgrounds and perspectives to engage, encounter new ideas, and increase mutual understanding. Creative works that inspire, motivate, or energize are encouraged, as are artworks that embrace experimentation, challenge norms, or inspire action.

This commission will be a part of the Parkway Council’s Parkway to Park summer festivities on the Parkwayd, and must be durable and suitable for display in a public park open to the elements for the four-month exhibit period from late June-October 2026. Art on the Parkway is open to individuals or collaborative teams who live or work in the Greater Philadelphia area. Students are not eligible. More information on eligibility and durability standards can be found in the Art on the Parkway FAQs.

Please complete and submit the application below by the deadline. We encourage applicants to apply early. Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet eligibility requirements will not be reviewed. You will receive a confirmation email (from Jotform) when your application has been submitted. For questions or problems with submissions, please email opencall@associationforpublicart.org.

Please note that this application is intended for individual applicants only. If you are applying as part of a team, please use the following form: https://form.jotform.com/252934772856168.

Photo: 2025 Art on the Parkway Commission, Bar None by Nicolo Gentile. Photo by Constance Mensh.
Contact Information

Please fill out all required fields.
Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast Name
Preferred Name*
Pronouns*
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Email Address*

Confirmation Emailexample@example.com
Eligibility Questions

Please fill out all required fields.
Are you 21 years of age or older?*

YesNo
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age or older in order to apply.
Do you currently live or work in the Greater Philadelphia area?*

YesNo
Applicants must currently live or work in the Greater Philadelphia area, including the Delaware Valley, which encompasses 11 counties across three states: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem in New Jersey; New Castle in Delaware; and Cecil in Maryland.
Are you currently enrolled as a student?*

YesNo
This opportunity is limited to artists who are not enrolled in a program of study during the time of the application. Therefore, students of any age who are enrolled in a degree program at a college or university and graduating after the submission deadline of March 6th would not be eligible to apply.
Are you able to successfully complete your proposed project by June 25, 2026?*

YesNo
The project must be completed on or before June 25, 2026.
Proposal

Please fill out all required fields.
Project Title*
Project Proposal*

0/300

Project Budget*

	Amount	Comments
Artist or Professional Fees
Travel
Materials and Supplies
Fabrication
Delivery Fees
Installation
Deinstallation
Other (please specify)

Total Project Budget*
Please ensure this amount does not exceed $20,000. We understand there may not be expenses in all categories.
Three (3) Conceptual Proposal Sketches or Renderings*

Please upload a single PDF with three (3) sketches or renderings, The file format should follow Lastname_Sketches. Each digital image should be 1200 px on the longest side at 72 dpi resolution and then combined as a single PDF document not to exceed 10 mb. The design sketches should also include descriptive text for each image in the PDF document: artist name, project title, date, dimensions, and proposed medium.
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Six (6) Digital Images of Recent Work*

Please upload a single PDF document with up to six (6) digital images of recent work. The file format should follow Lastname_RecentWork. Each digital image should be 1200 px on the longest side at 72 dpi resolution and then combined into a single PDF document not to exceed 10 mb. Please include descriptive text for each image in the PDF document: artist name, artwork title, date, dimensions, medium, location and a photo credit.
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Résumé/CV*

Please upload a single PDF document not to exceed 3 mb. The file format should follow Lastname_Resume. Include information about your education, professional experience, exhibition history, honors and awards, etc. Successful applicants should be able to demonstrate their ability to realize their project proposal based on prior experience.
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2026 Open Call for Art on the Parkway (Individual Applicants)

Contact Information

Eligibility Questions

Proposal