Public Art Open Call: Houston's MacGregor Park

The Houston Parks Board has announced an open call for a two-site public art installation at MacGregor Park, a 100-year-old regional park in a historic African American neighborhood that connects to the Bayou Greenways system. The two sites are an interior wall in the Homer Ford Tennis Center and an exterior wall outside the basketball pavilion. The combined budget for both sites is up to $230,000.

Proposed materials, such as metal, mosaic, or paint, should be suitable for heavy traffic and Houston's climate. Proposals should visually connect the two spaces and consider the park's history as well as the future residents who will gather there. All work must be family-friendly.

The call is open to Houston-based artists and creative teams aged 18 or older. Preference will be given to artists with ties to the park, the Third Ward, and surrounding communities. Submissions should include an artist statement, budget estimate and project timeline, CV or resume, description of relevant experience, portfolio of past work, a proposal narrative with material specifications and optional preliminary renderings, a statement of interest specific to the location, a statement of local connection, and references.

Submissions will be reviewed by a stakeholder panel that includes community representation. Finalist presentations take place on Friday, September 18, with selected artists notified on Tuesday, September 29. A virtual information session will be held on Tuesday, June 23 at 2 p.m. The submission deadline is Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m.