Call for Artists

The mission of the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is to enhance the vitality of the city and the quality of life for all Columbia citizens by creating an environment wherein artists and cultural organizations can thrive, and fostering opportunities for creative expression and the preservation and celebration of the city’s multi-cultural heritage.

Office of Cultural Affairs
P.O. Box 6015, 300 S. Providence, Columbia, MO 65205
573.874.6386
OCA@GoColumbiaMo.com

Call for Artists

There are numerous opportunities for artists to submit their proposals for Columbia's public art projects. Please check back with us throughout the year to see how your work can be a part of Columbia's public art portfolio.

Traffic Box Art

Each year the City of Columbia, Missouri invites artists residing in mid-Missouri to apply for a public art project to create art on traffic signal boxes in the downtown area within The District. The goal of the project is to decrease the instances of graffiti on these surfaces while making them artful objects. Once addressed by artists, the traffic signal boxes have proven to be very resistant to graffiti and vandalism and contribute significantly to the vitality and attractiveness of the streetscape. To date, the program has been successful in stopping graffiti on these traffic signal boxes. See before and after images of previous Traffic Box Art projects.

Percent for Art

The City of Columbia, Missouri invites artists to apply for a public art project for its planned Short Street Parking Garage. complete project prospectus and application requirements

The Percent for Art projects are selected by the city’s Standing Committee on Public Art. This committee is made up of artists, arts professionals, community representatives and project staff that review applications and choose a proposal. Applications are evaluated on the basis of artistic and technical merit as well as relevance of proposed design.

Commemorative Poster

The postmark deadline for the 2012 Commemorative Poster for Entries is March 23. An Award of $1,000 is presented to the artist for the right to reproduce artwork for the poster.

Visual art has been featured as the city's Commemorative Poster each year since 1992. The poster is intended to communicate the vitality and beauty of mid-Missouri and the significance of the arts and serves as a way for the Office of Cultural Affairs to recognize and highlight the work of an individual artist. All past posters can be viewed in our Poster Gallery.

The poster is unveiled each August by Columbia's Mayor at a get-together called the Poster Party. Proceeds from the Poster Party support the Office of Cultural Affairs' community programs and services. Posters are sold year round at the Office of Cultural Affairs, 300 S. Providence, or at Deck the Walls in the Columbia Mall and at 1305 Grindstone Parkway.

Contact Information

The Office of Cultural Affairs

300 S. Providence, PO Box 6015

Columbia, MO 65205

573-874-6386

OCA@GoColumbiaMo.com