CALL FOR ARTISTS: FY27 Youth Arts Education & Temporary Public Art Projects
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APPLICATION DEADLINE: SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST
OVERVIEW
Clark County Parks and Recreation Department’s Public Arts Office is seeking eight (8) artists who are interested in public art (but have not worked in the field before or have limited experience), to participate in a professional development and mentorship program. This project is open only to artist residents of Clark County, over the age of 18, who are not part-time or full-time Clark County employees or currently under contract for any Clark County Public Arts project larger than $50,000. Any artist that has participated in this program for the previous 3 years is not eligible.
Artists will be selected through a competitive process and will participate in training with the guidance of public art staff. Selected artists will create a concept and proposal for the project, lesson plan, and lead workshops with youth to create a temporary public sculpture at Clark County facilities. The goal is to create a professional and thoughtful traveling temporary public art installation with elements created by the children enrolled in the program. In return, the artist develops skills in workshop facilitation, community engagement, public art creation, collaboration, project management, and learns how to maintain artistic creativity and vision while attending to the demands of the public process.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Since 2018, the Youth Arts Education: Temporary Public Art Program has been actively organizing artist involvement. The program's dual purpose lies in educating both artists and youth about public art, while concurrently enriching the skill sets of the participating artists.
GOALS
The Public Arts Office is tasked with creating permanent public art. All programs are offered to help local artists achieve creating public art.
· To be the leading resource for positive recreation and leisure choices in Southern Nevada.
· Create a professional and thoughtful traveling temporary public art installation with elements created by the children enrolled in the program.
· To give artists who need experience to create 3-Dimensional public art and facilitate a workshop that includes community engagement. Develop artist’s skills for engaging in public art and teaching.
· Produce and promote work by Clark County artists, develop skills for teaching, engaging community, and producing public art.
· Creating fulfilling opportunities for the community through diverse experiences. Work that is responsive and sensitive to the community it is located in.
ABOUT THE FACILITIES
Clark County Parks and Recreation provides Southern Nevada with recreation and community centers, with a variety of amenities to provide recreational experiences for visitors and residents alike. Each recreation and community center has its own unique space and community. Our recreation and community center locations also extend to rural communities in Unincorporated Clark County.
This fiscal year, there will be sixteen (16) Clark County community and recreation centers participating in this program. Each center will have one artist facilitate a workshop with youth participation that includes their contribution to the temporary public art sculpture or installation. Each artist is paired with two centers, and will exhibit at both centers, as well as in a group exhibition at the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center.
PROJECTED TIMELINE
The Youth Arts Education & Temporary Public Art project will run from July 2026 to June 2027.
The program is split into Fall and Spring sections, with four artists being chosen for each season.
SPRING TIMELINE:
December 2026 - Artist Training Workshops (ONLINE), Lesson Plan & Design Proposals sent.
January 5, 2027 - Proposals approved.
January-March 2027 - Workshops Completed
March 2027 - Construction of Project
March 2027 - Artwork Installation 1
April 2027 - Artwork Installation 2
May 2027 - Exhibition with Reception at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center
June 2027 - Deinstallation of exhibitions and installations.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Artists will attend four trainings:
· Professional Practices: preparing professional documents for public art
· Program Management: creating budgets, timelines, and collaborating with the public
· Workshops: writing lesson plans, creating and leading a workshop, teaching strategies
· Fabrication and Installation: how to create three-dimensional sculptural installations
After the training, each artist will
· Develop a three-dimensional public artwork that draws on the themes outlined in the call.
· Develop a proposal, rendering, budget, and timeline for their project
· Create a lesson plan for a workshop with children at two (2) sites
· Meet with County staff to discuss classroom and installation logistics
· Lead a workshop to youth at two (2) Clark County locations
· Create a temporary 3-dimensional public art project
· Install and maintain their work at the two (2) sites assigned to the artist.
· Ensure the installation is safe and remains intact throughout the duration of the exhibit.
· Exhibit their work in a gallery setting at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center
· Attend the reception for the group exhibition.
· Deinstall work and return all spaces as normal.
Artists are required to:
· Complete all milestones according to the contract.
· Communicate effectively with County staff to ensure project milestones are met.
· Create a unique, quality three-dimensional public artwork
· Incorporate feedback from County staff.
· Handle all aspects of installation and transportation.
· Professionally represent their work, and Clark County Public Arts at related activities.
· Present a proposal for a temporary sculpture/installation including a rendering of the project, budget, timeline, and workshop lesson plans.
· Create work that follows the proposal, unless otherwise approved.
THEMES FOR FY27:
The artist will create a proposal and project based on the themes outlined in the call.
The artist can choose to gather inspiration from the history and/or environment of the site, or draw from the themes of miniatures, imaginary friends, and/or food.
Artists are encouraged to use alternative and recycled materials. Artists are also encouraged to use video, sound, performance, and multimedia to create and affect the installation space.
PROJECT BUDGET/MILESTONES
The commission shall not exceed $3,000 per artist. The budget will cover all costs of the project to include but not be limited to artist’s fees, design, meetings with staff, workshop instruction, installation, de-install, storage, travel, and all necessary materials/supplies for the project. Artist will invoice the County for the specified amount for each completed milestone.
MILESTONE 1: Training Workshop, Approved Design Proposal, and Lesson Plan - $500
The artist attended the training workshops 1 & 2 with County staff.
The artist developed a lesson plan for the workshops, and a design proposal for the sites. The proposal is approved by county and sites.
This payment can cover expertise, labor, and materials for the workshop.
MILESTONE 2: Workshop 1 - $300
The artist attended the training workshops 3 & 4 with County staff.
Completion of youth art workshop at site 1. This payment can be used to purchase additional materials to complete the final fabrication of artwork.
MILESTONE 3: Workshop 2 - $300
Completion of youth art workshop at site 2. This payment can be used to purchase additional materials to complete the final fabrication of artwork.
MILESTONE 4: Artwork Installation 1 - $450
Completion of Installation at Site 1. The art installation will be displayed in an assigned County facility, and all proper paperwork and inspections have been reviewed and resolved.
MILESTONE 5: Artwork Installation 2 - $450
Completion of Installation at Site 2. The art installation will be displayed in an assigned County facility, and all proper paperwork and inspections have been reviewed and resolved.
MILESTONE 6: Artwork Installation 3 + Reception at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center - $600
Completion of Installation of work at a group exhibition at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center.
Attends reception at Winchester.
MILESTONE 7: De-install of all exhibits - $400
Completion of deinstallation of all installations at all sites. The artist will de-install the work from the assigned location, and ensure the space is cleaned and returned to normal.
OUT OF TOWN TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT (One Artist)- $500
One artist assigned to a facility that is in Overton, Nevada (Fall) will receive payment for travel after completion of MILESTONE 4.
PROGRAM TRACKS:
Track A: Traveling Installation
· One installation that travels from one site to another. Then arrives at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center as its last destination.
· This installation can be completed or changed at each site.
· Pros: only one project to focus on, can complete both workshops in advance of construction of art
· Cons: Lengthened time between workshops and installations, depending on schedules and requests of sites there may be insufficient time to complete the work
Track B: Two Individual Installations
· Two separate installations at two different sites. One or both arrives at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center as its last destination.
· Pros: shortened time between checks, can have both projects and workshops going at the same time and complete work for both sites and installs.
· Cons: Two separate installations mean double the time for creation.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will be submitted through the Clark County Public Arts Submittable Portal and evaluated for preliminary review. Staff reviews applications for errors and applications that do not follow directions do not advance. The work is then sent to a Jury of experts for review.
Semi-finalists will be identified and interviewed. During the interview, artists will share information on previous art experience. The questions will be about project feasibility, interest in the project, experience, the artist’s goals, and potential project proposal. This interview will help us gauge professionalism and facilitation skills.
Artists will be notified once all selections have been completed.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The evaluation will be scored by the stakeholders assigned to this project.
1. Attend Application Workshop or Watch Application Video
Artists must attend the online Youth Public Art Application Workshop or watch the online Youth Public Art Application Workshop video.
Recording Link: https://clarkcountynv.webex.com/clarkcountynv/ldr.php?RCID=eabe5a70e3806a56b2635ed71cac4bed
Password: Rj7srUBN
2. Keyword
Please watch the Application Workshop to receive the keyword requested.
3. Experience
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV), up to two (2) pages. List any information relevant to the call including any exhibitions, teaching, or other experience. Formatted as one PDF File.
4. Letter of Intent
Provide a Letter of Intent describing why you would like to take part in the Youth Public Art Project, what your connection is to the area, and if you are to be selected what your proposed project might be.
Limit to one (1) page. Format as a PDF File.
5. Previous Works
Artists must submit five (5) examples of previous relevant artworks. Artwork that contains offensive language, overtly political, religious and/or sexual content of imagery, including nudity, and copyright infringement shall not be considered. Each image must have numbers that correspond with the annotated image list and feature a single work. Multiple vantage points of sculptural work are considered one work and can be included as detail images. Composites of various artworks in a single image will not be considered.
Only include images that are relevant to this project.
Format all images as PNG or JPG. Ensure images are high quality, no more than 5MB.
Total of five (5) image files.
Title image files: ArtistName_Number_Title.jpg.
For detail images title the files: ArtistName_Number_Title_detail.jpg
Example: JohnSmith_1_Skyline.jpg; JohnSmith_1_Skyline_detail.jpg; JohnSmith_2_Sunset.jpg; etc.
6. Annotated Image List
Include an Annotated Image List. Each example listed shall include a thumbnail of the corresponding image:
- Title of Artwork
- Artist Names (if collaboration or different lead name)
- Year of Completion
- Dimensions
- Medium / Materials
- Brief Description, if applicable.
- Format all pages as one (1) PDF File. Total of one (1) page.
7. Preference of Fall or Spring Program
Indicate your preference of Fall or Spring Program. See the timeline above for details about the program dates. The committee will do its best to accommodate requests.
Only applications that have all requirements will be accepted. Embedded files and links will not be accepted unless permission is granted by staff. Reach out to staff before the deadline for help if you have problems.
Semifinalists will be notified June 15, and required to submit the following by July 1:
1. Video Interview
Artists will record themselves answering a series of questions for the jury to review. This will help the jury gauge your readiness and professionalism. You are encouraged to look professional, prepare your answers in advance of recording, and give us insight into your experience.
Potential Questions to prepare for:
- "Why are you uniquely suited for this project?”
- “If selected, what would you do for this project?”
- “Describe your experience with public art.”
2. Headshot
Submit a professional headshot of the artist as .png Guidelines:
· Shows the artist’s face clearly and visibly
- White or neutral background OR artist’s work as background.
- Do NOT include selfies, photos in cars, bathrooms, or other locations.
3. Artist Bio
Submit an artist biography as a .doc file. An artist biography is a type of writing that sums up the artist’s career while adding information that may not be learned from a resume. Guidelines:
· 250-500 words
· Describes the artist’s education, if applicable.
· Discusses briefly the kind of work the artist makes.
· Talks about the motivations behind the artist’s work.
· Lists any relevant experience, exhibitions, or workshops.
4. Reference
Please provide an email of an individual willing to provide a reference for you. References may be contacted as part of the final process.
Only applications that have all requirements will be accepted. Embedded files and links will not be accepted unless permission is granted by staff. Reach out to staff before the deadline for help if you are having problems.
If you have additional application questions, please contact: CCPublicArt@ClarkCountyNV.gov