The People's Gallery

THE PEOPLE’S GALLERY 2020 CALL FOR ARTWORKS! Apply Aug.1 - Oct.17, 2019

The City of Austin seeks two and three-dimensional artworks in any medium from Austin-area visual artists, galleries, or visual arts organizations for the upcoming 2020 People’s Gallery Exhibition, which will be on view from February 2020-January 2021. Spanning the first three floors of Austin City Hall, the gallery is designed to showcase the work of local and regional artists, and to encourage public dialogue, understanding, and enjoyment of visual art. The program’s goal is to present a series of exhibitions that reflect the artistic excellence and cultural diversity of Austin, and to promote the City’s cultural and economic initiatives.

This year, in addition to our standard application, we are pleased to announce the return of our additional call, “Install The Wall”. For this application, artists may propose site-specific installations for the Mayor’s second floor stairwell in City Hall. The total project budget is $3,000 and must include insurance, materials, installation and deinstallation.

Eligibility

Eligibility extends to artists 18 years or older, who reside or work in one of the following Austin-area counties: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis or Williamson.

Guidelines

Guidelines for the People's Gallery Exhibition program may be found here.

How to Apply

We are now accepting submissions of all mediums, including media arts applications. Deadline is 5:00pm, October 17th, 2019. You may submit up to five artworks per call, and it is always free to apply!

To apply for either or both calls, visit cityofaustin.submittable.com.
For application information, click here.

Have questions? Email peoplesgallery@austintexas.gov, or call (512) 974-6456

Artist Information Meeting: TBD

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The People's Gallery 2019

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This year’s presentation features 140 artworks in a wide array of mediums, including painting, sculpture, drawing and other media by 114 artists from across the Austin area.

Each year, the Cultural Arts Division issues a call for artworks to Austin-area artists, galleries, museums, and arts organizations. This year, approximately 1,250 entries were submitted by more than 350 local artists. A diverse panel of three local visual arts professionals served as the jury this year: Vy Ngo, Ric Nelson, and Stephanie Sandoval.

Install the Wall 2019

Each year we seek proposals for a site-specific installation in the 2nd floor stairwell of City Hall. This year’s recipient, Olaniyi R. Akindiya, was chosen to display IRUWE-Blossom, a mixed media tapestry installation.

Special Exhibit 2019

This year, the People’s Gallery exhibition includes a special selection of photographs by the organization Bold Beauty Project Texas. Featuring images of Texas women with disabilities by a range of photographers from across the region, their quest is to banish any stigmas associated with disabilities and to rejoice in the strength, fortitude, and spirits of these beautiful women.

The People's Choice

Each year, the public is invited to vote for their favorite artwork in the exhibition. The “People’s Choice” ” is selected from among the top-voted artworks, and is purchased and added to the City’s permanent collection. Ballots for the 2019 People’s Choice are available in the second floor lobby through October 25, 2019. Voting must take place in person. To view the most recent People’s Choice winning artwork, click here!

Hours and Admission

Visitors to City Hall can view the People’s Gallery during regular building hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, except on official City holidays. Admission is always free. The 2019 exhibition will remain on display through January 1, 2020.

Visitors who would like to see the artwork in the Council wing must make an appointment with a Council Member. For contact information, click here.

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2019 Exhibition Guide

Many of the works are offered for sale, and marked as such in the 2019 exhibition guide (click here or the image below). Remember that anyone can be a collector, and all proceeds go directly to the artists! We in Economic Development and the Cultural Arts Division are so proud to celebrate Austin’s local artistic talent today and every day. We hope that you will visit the exhibition throughout the year and encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Looking for past People's Gallery exhibitions? Click the year you are interested in to see web catalogs of past presentations. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.

Guidelines for the People's Gallery Exhibition program may be found here.