2026 Santa Clara Community Park Public Art Call to Artists From City of Eugene Cultural Services

Overview

The City of Eugene and Eugene Parks Foundation invite local artists to contribute their creative vision and propose permanent public art installations in the form of nine approximately 12.875" x 12.875" x 1" square pieces that will seamlessly integrate with the playground at Santa Clara Community Park located at 860 River Loop 2, Eugene, OR 97404. 

This project offers an exciting opportunity for an artist to create site-specific work that enlivens, beautifies and creates joy in this playground, contributing to a sense of belonging for children and their families. 

The following aspects will be considered with regard to the commissioned work:   

We welcome submissions from emerging and experienced artists seeking to make a lasting impact on the community through public art. The project budget is not to exceed $17,000, including, but not limited to, all costs associated with community engagement, design development, materials, fabrication, transportation, travel, insurance and installation. 

Once selected, artists will be required to submit 1) project budget, 2) maintenance procedures and anticipated costs to ensure the longevity and environmental conditions surrounding the work and 3) engage with community and a design review panel to develop design for review and final approval.  

Deadline

Submissions must be received through Artwork Archive by 11:59 p.m. (PST) Friday, August 7, 2026 . Submissions will only be accepted via Artwork Archive. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered. 

Budget

The project budget is not to exceed $17,000, including, but not limited to, all costs associated with community engagement, design development, materials, fabrication, transportation, travel, insurance and installation. 

Site Details 

Phase one of Santa Clara Community Park’s development is now complete, and includes the addition of a large playground, restroom, parking lot, outdoor community gathering space, picnic shelter, open lawn, multipurpose field and tree planting. The Eugene Parks Foundation has contributed funding to a spray play feature for the park.

A pedestrian bridge connects the north and south parts of the park. There are soft-surface walking trails and bike/pedestrian path connectivity through the park, which will eventually meet the bicycle and pedestrian West Bank Path extension project.

Future phases of park development will include a community center and pool, court sports, additional shelters, dog park and a community garden. Learn more about the Santa Clara Community Park Master Plan .

Phase one of the Santa Clara Community Park development was funded by the voter-approved 2018 Parks and Recreation Bond and Levy  and Parks and Open Space System Development Charges. The project was also awarded a grant of $528,000 by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department through the Local Government Grant Program.

Artwork Materials 

Because this project is in an outdoor, highly active location, the use of long-lasting durable materials is required. Materials used may include tile, ceramic, metal, mosaic, aluminum printing, painted panels and UV/anti-graffiti coating. Additional consideration will be given to the following:

Community engagement for this project will help ensure the artwork reflects the values, stories and daily experiences of the people who live in nearby neighborhoods. By connecting with community members, the artist will gain insight to help shape a design that is meaningful and grounded in local identity. During the design development process, the artist will engage directly with the community to seek inspiration and refine the design. These efforts will be supported by City of Eugene. Ideally, this collaboration with community strengthens the project’s relevance, support and long-term impact.

Application Support

Virtual Info Session
Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 4-5pm  

Public Art staff will provide an overview of the Call to Artists, application materials, and submission requirements. Attendance is not required.  This will be recorded and posted following the info session.

Link to Join via Zoom 

If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact Reed Davaz McGowan, City of Eugene Public Art Manager: [email protected] or 541-682-6314. 

There are no entry fees; 2026 Santa Clara Community Park Public Art Call to Artists submissions are free. 

This commission is open to all professional artists, 18 and over, who are located and working within Lane County, Oregon . Collaborative proposals from multiple artists or artist teams are welcome.

Submissions will be considered from all artists meeting the aforementioned criteria, regardless of race/ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, housing status, familial, marital/partnership status, physical ability or other protected classes.

Artists must submit the materials listed below. All materials must be submitted via Artwork Archive by the stated deadline. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to mitigate any delays due to technical difficulties. Application or Artwork Archive support from Cultural Services Staff will not be available after 5 p.m. Friday, August 6, 2026.

Your application will be reviewed with consideration of your narrative responses to questions and up to five work samples. Draft designs are not a required part of submission requirements and will be a project deliverable.

Project work samples. Uploadup to five work samples of past projects, particularly projects of comparable size and scope. Include up to four images related to each piece, including back and side views for 3D pieces. Most file types are accepted, with a 30 MB limit for each. Pop-up windows may need to be enabled in your browser’s privacy or security settings to add images to your piece. Include the title, medium, dimensions and year completed in the designated Artwork Archive fields. If applicable, include the project budget, location and key partners in the piece description. Teams must remain within the limit of five work samples. Work samples should represent each team-members’ work. Work samples are recommended to be projects from within the previous 5 years.  

Once selected, artists will also be required to submit 1) project budget, 2) maintenance procedures and anticipated costs to ensure the longevity and environmental conditions surrounding the work and 3) engage with community and a design review panel to develop design for review and final approval.  

Selected artists will be notified by mid-August.  All applicants will be notified of the final decision via email. Please note that by submitting your proposal, you agree to grant the city of Eugene and Eugene Parks Foundation the right to review and evaluate your work for this project. However, ownership and copyright of your artistic concept remain with you until a formal agreement is reached. We look forward to reviewing your creative proposals and collaborating with talented artists to enrich the Santa Clara Community Park experience.