Seeking Artists for New Public Art at the City Services Building

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Ontario
Department of Museum, Arts & Culture

 

Seeking Artists for New Public Art at the City Services Building

The City of Ontario is seeking an artist or artist team to develop public art that will be placed at the entrance of the newly constructed City Services Building.

Ontario, CA- The City’s Museum, Arts & Culture Department is seeking an artist or artist team to develop public art that will be placed at the entrance of the new City Services Building in downtown. Artists will develop site-integrated sculptural work of art that fosters community, connectivity, and civic pride, while reflecting multiple cultural identities and intergenerational values. This work of art will be placed into the City’s permanent public art collection, and will ultimately become a well-known visual landmark at this site for all to enjoy.

This location provides the artist a space of high-visibility and accessibility during the day and in the evening, will become meaningful to the City staff who work there, and to all who visit. The project will continue to increase the community’s interest in public art, as well as heighten the visibility of artists and the arts in Ontario.

Museum, Arts & Culture Director Marissa Kucheck shared, “We’re thrilled to launch the first permanent public art project with support by our newly established Public Art Advisory Commission. This marks a bold step in our vision to make Ontario a thriving destination for arts and culture — a place where creativity is not only welcomed, but celebrated in our public spaces. We invite artists to be part of this historic moment and create a lasting piece that reflects our shared values, stories, and aspirations.”

With this public art installation, it is the goal of Ontario’s Public Art Advisory Commission and the City of Ontario to achieve the following:

• Create a design that is visually captivating and engaging from all vantage points.
• Have a strong visual presence both day and night.
• Generate a site-specific work of art that evokes a memorable sense of place authentic to the City as a premier destination for arts and culture in the Inland Empire.

The City’s Public Art Advisory Commission identified some potential themes for the artists to consider when applying for this project. Artwork should be unique to and a reflection of Ontario, while inspiring a sense of community, connectivity, and civic pride. 

At a Glance

Seeking artists or artist teams who design site-integrated sculptural works of art and have experience working on previous public art commissions with other municipalities. Their work process aligns to national public art trends, and they live and are based in California, and eligible to work in the United States. 

Key dates and project budget

• Submission deadline: August 7, 2025, by 4 PM (PST)
• Budget: up to $300,000
• If you are interested in submitting:
  • Submissions for the Call for Artists Qualifications shall be submitted through the online platform Submittable.com at: Call for Artists Qualifications, City Services Building Public Art
• To learn more about this project, review the Full Version - Call for Artists Qualifications, City Services Building Public Art

Questions

Email MuseumInfo@ontarioca.gov

# # #

Additional Information
The City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture advances an understanding of regional history and art through museum exhibits, collections stewardship, educational programs, annual arts festivals, and public art. The Ontario Museum of History & Art was founded in 1979 and is located on tree-lined Euclid Avenue in a historic building that originally served as Ontario’s second City Hall. In 2022 Ontario’s City Council established the Public Art Program and the Museum department was expanded to encompass Museum, Arts & Culture. The department’s programs enhance knowledge and understanding of our community through dynamic and vibrant experiences that reflect pride in who we are, where we live, and our legacy.

About the City’s Public Art Program 

The City of Ontario’s Public Art Program promotes public art, as a cultural resource for the community, and acts as a mechanism to enhance the City’s commercial vitality and economic stability. The program serves to enrich the community aesthetic and built urban environment, by making a variety of artwork available to the public throughout the City. The Public Art Advisory Commission is a group of community members from a range of professions and disciplines, which include artists, architects, art educators, design professionals, art collectors, business owners, citizen activists, and others. The purpose of the City’s Public Art Advisory Commission is to ensure that the criteria set by the Public Art Program have been met to integrate public art into Ontario’s environment as a mechanism for enhancing the City’s commercial vitality and economic stability. The Public Art Advisory Commission ensures that public art is used to enrich the community aesthetic and built urban environment by making available to the public a diverse collection of artworks throughout Ontario. 

About the City of Ontario

The City of Ontario is enhancing the quality-of-life by creating urban lifestyle districts that create sustainable places to live, work and play. Located just east of Los Angeles and Orange counties, the City of Ontario is ideally situated as a gateway to Southern California. With major freeways, rail transportation and an International Airport, Ontario invites the rest of the world to be a part of a culturally diverse community with rich history that is well positioned for quality development and economic sustainability for its residents. Complementing its business and residential core, Ontario offers premium entertainment venues such as the Ontario Convention Center, Toyota Arena, and Ontario Mills. To learn more about the City of Ontario, visit OntarioCA.gov or call (909) 395-2000.