The San Francisco Arts Commission invites artists and artist teams residing in the United States to submit proposals for up to five opportunities to create temporary public art projects that reimagine the landscape of monuments and memorials in the City.
Donor Name: San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
These projects are the culmination of Shaping Legacy, a three-year project that critically examines the monuments and memorials in San Francisco’s Civic Art Collection.
The proposed temporary public art projects may include a variety of disciplines and genres such as sculpture, performance, multimedia art or educational programs. Artists are encouraged to integrate sustainable materials and/or practices into their projects and consider environmental impacts.
The proposed temporary public art sites should be publicly accessible locations, such as Civic Center, public parks, plazas, community gardens, waterfront, sites of civic gatherings or spaces of cultural significance.
Shaping Legacy engages communities underrepresented in the City’s commemorative landscape and creates opportunities for artist-led activations in public space. The project supports artists and communities that are guiding us towards a future where monuments and memorials are spaces of inclusion, belonging and a recognition of the shared humanity.
Project Goals
- Artwork will reimagine the future of monuments and memorials in the City.
- Artwork will be accessible and encourage opportunities for social interaction.
- Artwork will center community, collaboration, local histories and stories.
- Artists will have a meaningful connection to the San Francisco/Bay Area and/or direct experience collaborating with local communities in the development and implementation of their previous artwork design(s).
- Artists will partner directly with SFAC on the development and implementation of the artwork concept and final design.
- Selection of artworks will represent a diversity of approaches and take place in different parts of the City.
Funding Information
- Artist Contract: $180,000 (per project).
- The selected works will represent a variety of artforms sited in different parts of San Francisco and are anticipated to take place from April 2026 to October 2026.
For more information, visit SFAC.
