Call for Artists: MTC Community Art Program

Are you a local artist or arts organization interested in participating in MTC’s Community Art Program? MTC hosts rotating art exhibits on all three floors of our offices at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 101 8th Street in Oakland. We are looking for professional, hangable art that celebrates the natural and built environments of the Bay Area and its diverse communities, or that highlights the Bay Area’s transportation offerings. Other themes will be considered as well.

We generally prefer original artwork over reproductions, and accept paintings, drawings, photos and mixed-media works. Works should be framed and ready to hang with the Arakawa hook-and-cable hanging system, which requires D-rings or loops on the backs of artwork. Framing may not be necessary if the works appear adequately finished without it. We prefer Plexiglass to real glass on the fronts of framed pieces.

Artists should live and work in the nine Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma) or have a strong connection to the Bay Area. Artists from elsewhere in California or the U.S. may be considered when space is available.

See a list of our current and past exhibits here. Shows generally run for three months, but the timeframe can vary. The number of works required depends on the gallery space. Artists are generally expected to transport their works to and from MTC, with MTC providing hanging assistance and insurance while on MTC’s premises. MTC also will publicize the show. No payments are offered to artists, but artists or arts organizations have the right to offer their works for sale and to take 100 percent of the proceeds. MTC reserves the right to determine what artwork is appropriate for its setting and audiences.

How to Submit Artwork

If you are interested in showing at MTC, please submit sample works (as jpg files or as a PDF) and/or a link to your portfolio along with a letter of introduction and a biography listing past exhibits. If you are proposing a specific body of work, you can include an artist’s statement or description of the show, with a proposed show title. Indicate the sizes of your pieces and the medium, with a general indication of the prices. Submit your materials to:

MTC Community Art Coordinator Brenda Kahn 

bkahn@bayareametro.gov

Call (415) 778-6773 for more information.

If you would like to receive notices of our art exhibits, please email your contact info to: info@bayareametro.gov