Public Art Opportunity
County of Erie (New York) Art in Public Places (AIPP)
Call Open: March 16, 2026
Deadline for Submissions: April 20, 2026, 12PM NOON
Please Note: Only Erie County residents are eligible to apply
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The Erie County Art in Public Places Committee seeks professional artists or artist-led teams to design, fabricate, and install public art at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Artists and artist-led teams are invited to submit public art proposals. Proposals should include and consider the location, the history, and future of the site.
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
In 2023, the Erie County Legislature passed a Local Law that provides ongoing financial support for public art. The law seeks to make art more accessible to county residents and visitors and foster a sense of community connection and civic pride. The Art in Public Places Committee was established to support the initiative by commissioning, selecting, placing, and preserving public art in a variety of media throughout the County.
The Art in Public Places Committee is committed to enhancing Erie County’s public spaces with the inclusion of artwork that reflects the diversity and creativity of the local community. This initiative provides local artists with an opportunity to contribute to the aesthetic and cultural landscape of the region while promoting public engagement with the arts.
PROJECT LOCATION:
Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
Address: 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218
Details: “Growing Beyond the Glass: More Than a Building”
Installing a public art project at this location will further enhance the planned expansion and renovations of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens that are currently underway. The purpose of these renovations is to create fully accessible and inclusive spaces while improving comfort and functionality to meet the growing demand for field trips and private events. The proposed public art project will complement these efforts and work to support the Gardens’ mission of delivering immersive and memorable visits. At the same time, this collaboration provides a unique opportunity to emphasize the connection between art and nature at one of the County’s most visited cultural assets.
Please see Schedule A depicting where the artwork will be installed at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.
ARTWORK BUDGET:
Artists may submit budgets up to $75,000. Proposed budgets must include artist fees and any and all other project expenses including but not limited to the design, engineering, fabrication, equipment and rentals, travel, transportation, delivery, insurance, and installation of the artwork. The award will be paid over the course of the commission with milestones at design, fabrication, installation, and closing.
Selected artists must be insured (and provide a Certificate of Insurance as evidence of such coverage) before entering into a contract with Erie County. Further details on Erie County’s insurance requirements will be provided to finalists.
ELIGIBILITY:
The project is open to professional artists and artist-led teams residing in Erie County with an additional focus and priority for artists who are racially and ethnically diverse. Erie County artists who have completed an Art in Public Places public art project within the past five (5) years are not eligible to apply. Artists who live outside of Erie County are not eligible.
Applicants should have experience completing projects of a similar size and budget, experience in completing projects on time and on budget, experience in public art, and experience working with other professionals including fabricators, landscape architects, engineers and government officials. Artists should also have experience creating permanent artwork in materials suitable for the climate of Erie County.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Artist proposal including:
- Description of proposed artwork: concept, dimensions, materials, colors, themes.
- Sketches or renderings of the proposed artwork.
- Description of the durability of the materials and maintenance requirements for the artwork to remain in optimal condition.
- Description of installation requirements: Indicate if a subterranean preparation such as a concrete footing is required. Indicate if a special surround is required such as gravel, plantings or alteration of the terrain.
- Please define your team if you know it at this time, include contact information.
- A project budget including design, engineering, fabrication, equipment and rentals, transportation, installation, insurance, artist’s fees and any and all costs associated with the project. Artists and contractors must be insured. Contractors should be licensed as necessary.
- A rough timeline outlining the estimated time from design through fabrication, and installation. (Note: The committee will require photographs of various stages of completion to release payments.)
- Resume or CV (2 pages maximum)
- Five (5) photographic examples of work, each to include the title, dimensions, medium, year produced, commission dollar amount (if produced as a commission), and 1-2 sentences describing the project and commissioning agency/client, if applicable.
- Three professional references (please include phone numbers and email addresses)
- Short responses to the following questions (100-300 words per question)
- Describe your artistic practice and how you are a good candidate for this particular opportunity.
- As an artist approaching public art, how do you design works that respond to a particular site?
Submit applications via: https://www4.erie.gov/publicart
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 20, 2026, 12PM NOON
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Applications may be submitted online: erie.gov/publicart
Applications may be mailed or hand-delivered* to the following address:
Erie County Dept. of Environment & Planning
c/o Colette Balisteri
95 Franklin Street, 10th floor
Buffalo, NY 14202
*Mailed or hand delivered applications must be received before the deadline, no exceptions.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 20, 2026, 12PM NOON (Late submissions will not be accepted).
We strongly encourage applicants to apply BEFORE the deadline. If you encounter any issues submitting your application, please email publicart@erie.gov or call Erie County Dept. of Environment & Planning at (716) 858-1572 before the submission deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
SELECTION COMMITTEE AND CRITERIA
The Erie County Art in Public Places Committee, comprised of visual arts professionals and community representatives, will review eligible submissions. The Committee will ensure that the Works align with the County’s goals of cultural representation, diversity, and public engagement.
The Committee reserves the right to select one, multiple, or no works arising from this Call for Art. Works are subject to approval by the County Executive and the County Legislature. Approved artists will work with County officials and AIPP committee members to finalize a contract, produce final designs, and oversee the fabrication, and installation of artwork.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Dedicated and consistent artistic practice (20 pts)
- Experience with public art projects of a relatively similar size and scope (20 pts)
- Authenticity, creativity, and innovation of proposed artwork (10 pts)
- Connection of proposed artwork with the site and surrounding environment and community (20 pts)
- Maintenance requirements (20 pts)
- Overall quality of submission (10 pts)
PROJECT SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
| March 16, 2026 | Call for Artists Open Date |
| March 23, 2026 | Deadline for questions on Call for Artists (submit questions to publicart@erie.gov) |
| March 24, 2026 | Virtual Information Session for Artists (no registration required) |
| March 27, 2026 | Erie County releases Q&A document with answers to frequently asked questions and informational session recording |
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April 20, 2026 12PM NOON
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Deadline for submissions We strongly encourage applicants to apply BEFORE the deadline. If you encounter any issues submitting your application, please email publicart@erie.gov or call Erie County Dept. of Environment & Planning at (716) 858-1572 before the submission deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted. |
| Mid May 2026 | Artist Call Backs to discuss proposals (either in-person or via video conference) |
| Mid May 2026 | Finalist(s) notified |
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May 22, 2026
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Artist selection submitted to Erie County Legislature for approval |
| Summer 2026 | Selected Artist(s) under contract |
| Summer – Ongoing | Construction and Installation |
*For Questions & Answers, visit: https://www4.erie.gov/publicart
*For link to Virtual Information Session, visit: https://www4.erie.gov/publicart
Projects are funded by Erie County. Per 2023 Erie County Local Law #4, ownership and title of all works of public art acquired by the County shall be vested in the County of Erie.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:
COPYRIGHT Information included in Artist Contract: The Artist expressly reserves every right available to him / her in common law or under the Federal Copyright Act to control the making and dissemination of copies or reproductions of the Work, except as those rights are limited by the Agreement: The Artist expressly permits the County to reproduce the Work graphically for purposes strictly for the sole use and benefit of the public. All reproductions of the Work shall contain a credit to the Artist-Sculptor and copyright notice substantially in the following form: "Copyright, Artist's name, year of publication," in such a manner and location as shall comply with the U.S. Copyright laws. The Artist owns the design and the County owns the physical Work.
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS:
- At all times during the duration of the Project, the Artist will maintain workers' compensation and appropriate employers' liability insurance covering any employee of the Artist engaged in activities relating to the Project in an amount acceptable to the County.
- The artist acknowledges that the County is not required to maintain insurance against damage or theft of the Work or personal property used in connection with the production or installation of the Work.
- The Artist will provide general liability insurance covering the Project with a combined single limit per occurrence of One Million dollars ($1,000,000) for bodily injury, death, and for property damage, Three Million dollars ($3,000,000) annual aggregate. The Artist’s liability policy should name the County as additional insured.
QUESTIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions, please contact publicart@erie.gov