Calling All Artists! Want to See Your Work at the New Bus Rapid Transit Stations?

The deadline for artists to apply to work on the East Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project has been extended until Dec. 9, to provide more opportunities for artists to participate in this landmark project. 

What's Bus Rapid Transit? View the video above to learn more, or visit Your Guide to Bus Rapid Transit.

Each of the 34 stations along BRT’s 9.5-mile route, from Downtown Oakland to San Leandro BART, will receive artistic treatments created by one to three lead artists working with other artists or artisans from a pre-qualified pool.

Participants will be chosen based on responses to the Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), which are now due Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. PST. The extended deadline for the RFQ’s will not impact the construction schedule of BRT, which is planned to begin operations in late 2017. 

Responses are being sought on two related but different RFQs: one for a highly qualified lead artist (or artist team), and another for a pre-qualified pool of artists and artisans who can work with the lead artist to create community-enhancing treatments for the BRT Stations.  It is an opportunity for all the artists to further their careers by gaining experience and the ability to compete for other larger projects.

“I strongly encourage talented and ambitious artists to jump-in on this. The new infrastructure will transform the transit experience from downtown Oakland to San Leandro, and artists have a rare opportunity to capture the imaginations of riders and residents with iconic artwork,” said Steven Huss, Cultural Arts Manager for the City of Oakland.

Margot Dunlap, Executive Director of Pro Arts, said, “Artists can and should contribute their talent and expertise to our urban environment”

Examples of artistic enhancement of the bus stations may include panels integrated with railings along the sloped paths to the raised platforms, and customization of the upper windscreen panel of the shelter structure. Artists will be selected by a group of judges made up of project and design professionals, representatives from partner agencies, arts professionals, and community members.

After selection, the artists will meet with the communities along the route to inform their work. AC Transit has chosen an artistic theme for the overall route: Honor the Past and Celebrate the Future.   The chosen artists will create their works based on their interpretation of the theme as well as input from the community. Either one artist for the entire corridor or one for each of three station groupings, will be selected. 

The pre-qualified pool of artists and artisans will include all applicants who demonstrate the necessary qualifications. The RFQs can be found at http://is.gd/actbrtrfqs or from the front page of http://actransit.org, and submissions are due Dec. 9 at 2:00 p.m. PST.

On Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m., there will be a webinar/workshop for artists who are interested in applying as Lead or Supporting artists. Please click here if interested in attending the webinar/workshop.