Victoria Gardens Cultural Center Public Art Project

Artist Eligibility

Artist must be 18 years or older to apply
Artist must reside in the Inland Empire region
Application is open to both professional artists and students. Professional artists who are new to the field of public art are especially encouraged to apply
Artist does not need to have completed a project with a similar budget, scale, or scope to apply
Artist may submit up to two (2) design proposals

Budget

Budget: One selected artist will be paid a $2,500 stipend for the final designs; City will cover the cost of installation and maintenance of the wraps; this is inclusive of all artist design fees, supplies, and time spent. City Public Art Staff must verify the completion of the artist agreement and completion of the project before funds are disbursed

Artist Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the artist to submit a complete application by the due date listed at the top of the application, as well as to include all required materials
Artist will need to be available for up to three (3) meetings in April and May to finalize the design layout with City and third-party vendor printing and installing the wraps. Additional communication via email may also be necessary
Artist will be responsible for working with the printer/installer of vinyl wraps to assist in adjusting all artwork, files, and necessary materials for printing and installation on the utility boxes
The artist retains the copyright of the artwork

City Responsibilities

The City will work with a third-party vendor to install the selected designs as a graffiti-resistant vinyl wrap on each box
The City is responsible for the maintenance of artwork
The City owns all installed artwork and reserves the right to copy, reproduce and adjust the artwork as it sees fit, in perpetuity
The artist retains the copyright of the artwork
The City reserves the right to remove, replace or adjust the artwork as necessary for the duration of the project and/or the artwork

Themes

Artists are invited to submit proposals for a colorful, cohesive artwork spanning three (3) adjacent library book drop boxes. The design should flow seamlessly across all boxes and reflect the shared identity of the facility, incorporating themes of literature, performing arts, and the Randall Lewis Second Story and Beyond ® children’s discovery space rooted in STEM, creativity, and imagination. Artwork should be joyful, family-oriented, and visually engaging for audiences of all ages.

Design Guidelines

All artwork must be original and created by the artist(s) applying for this project
Art should be bright, bold, and inviting
Art should be visible from a distance
Creativity and innovation of design are encouraged
Artwork must not contain:
- Political statements or persons
- Religious references, symbols, or numbers
- Copyrighted or trademarked material
- Corporate or organizational branding
- Offensive or obscene reference or imagery
- Representation of traffic signals or signs
Only original artwork is accepted. Designs may not include any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, images of illegal activity, or involve the attachment of objects to the utility box

This is an online-only application process. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All materials must be submitted online via the CaFÉ™ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ system. To view the application, go to www.callforentry.org, register a username and password, navigate to “Apply to Calls,” and search the list for “City of Rancho Cucamonga 2026 Victoria Gardens Cultural Center Public Art Project.”

Artwork will be evaluated and selected by an Art Selection Panel chosen by the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Artists will be notified by April 24, 2026, if their work is selected.

Initial art submissions should be submitted through the application portal in JPEG or PDF file types. Print-quality artwork will be requested upon selection.

If your artwork is selected:
- Artist will submit print-quality artwork to the City and vinyl wrap printer and installer in one of the following file types: JPEG, PDF, .ai, .psd, TIFF
  - Image resolution: Artwork/images must be a minimum of 150dpi, for JPEG and TIFF files a minimum of 2,000 pixels at the widest or tallest point of the artwork depending on orientation)
  - Scanned artwork is preferred, but high-quality photographs of flat artwork taken in a neutral light will also be accepted

For consideration, the application must include the following:

Artist Statement of Interest (750 words maximum)

What is your connection to Rancho Cucamonga, or more broadly the Inland Empire, and how has it influenced your interest in the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center Public Art Project?
Describe your experience creating public art and why you believe your work would be appropriate for this project.

Artist Statement of Interest will be reviewed based on the following:

Ability to effectively communicate their connection to Rancho Cucamonga or the Inland Empire and the influence it has on their interest in the project.
Effectively communicate their experience with creating public art or similar art commissions.

Design Concept and Statement
- Artist will have the ability to submit up to two (2) proposals for review. Each proposal should include the following:
  - A description of the work.
    - An overview of how the work relates to one of the community requested themes and how it supports the RC Public Art Program in achieving its goals.

Design Concept will be reviewed based on:

Relationship of the work to the host community, especially how it serves to activate or enhance public space.
Appropriateness of the scale of the artwork.
How closely the proposed artwork meets the goals set out in the Call for Artists and envisioned by the community.

all for Artists Launch: April 2, 2026
Application Submission Deadline: April 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (PDT), or earlier if 100 applications are received (whichever occurs first)
Art Selection Panel Judging: April 17 – 23, 2026
Artists Notified: April 24, 2026
Final Design Completed: May 21, 2026
Project(s) Installed: by June 2026

*All dates are subject to change at the City of Rancho Cucamonga’s discretion

Design Scope

Artist will be responsible for design elements on all four sides and top hood of the three (3) adjacent library book drop boxes. Below you will find a sample image of a drop box and the design templates, which is linked on the call for artist page. Footprint of cabinet is 38” square. Hood is 51-1/8” D.