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Call for designs: Sign celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
Award: $1500 | Deadline: April 14
The Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District is seeking local artists and designers to create an original and uniquely inspired design that honors May for the month-long celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage, one of our most dynamic and inspiring cultures. Share with us your design that highlights the impact of the deep history and art that this community has on Houston.
One selected artist will receive a $1,500 honorarium for their winning design and participation in a professionally recorded interview about their work.The selected design will be used to create a large-scale temporary public art display using 3M vinyl face wrap on the iconic Midtown sign located in Bagby Park (415 Bagby Street). On display from May 1 to June 2.
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Call for Designs: Temporary Outdoor Banner Gallery
Stipend: $150 per design | Up to 42 selected | Deadline: April 20
The Midtown Cultural Arts District is launching an open call for Houston-based artists and designers to create original concepts for its 2026 Midtown Outdoor Art Gallery Banner Program. This initiative transforms Midtown into a vibrant, temporary outdoor gallery by displaying artist-designed banners along key corridors throughout the district.
Artists are invited to submit up to four written concept proposals that reflect Midtown’s identity as a dynamic, walkable, and culturally rich urban community. Concepts should incorporate bold visuals, vibrant color palettes, and themes that celebrate local history, community connection, seasonal moments, and public life in Midtown.
The selection process includes two rounds:
Round 1 (Concept Phase): Artists submit written concepts (March 23 – April 20)
Round 2 (Design Phase): Selected artists develop final, print-ready designs (April 23 – April 29)
Final designs will be reviewed by the Midtown Board of Directors, with fabrication and installation taking place from May through July 2026. Installed banners will be featured across the district, with artists invited to attend and participate in documentation.
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Call for designs: Sign celebrating summer in Houston
Award: $1500 | Deadline: May 18
This summer Houston and Midtown will welcome thousands of national and international visitors. Many will travel through the heart of the city. The Midtown Cultural Arts District and Entertainment District invites artists/graphic designers to participate in the creation of a large-scale public art project based on specific themes that will be displayed in Bagby Park.
Let’s show the expected 500,000 visitors to Houston this summer that we are a canvas for the city. Murals, music, markets — Midtown is where creativity is constant, and where every event feels like a block party. From yoga in the park to kids chasing bubbles on Saturdays, we make space to breathe. Our parks and public spaces are for play, rest, and real connection. Midtown’s history lives in more than just its buildings. You’ll find it in the names we remember, the murals we paint, the stories we pass down, and the spaces we gather in. Every celebration, every landmark, each blue and white tiled street name, every sidewalk carries a thread of the past — woven into the future we’re shaping, together. Thinking about who we are as a community located in the heart of the city, we are seeking designs that are thoughtful, creative and celebrate the life in Midtown Houston and the 713!
One selected artist will receive a $1,500 honorarium for their winning design and participation in a professionally recorded interview about their work.The selected design will be used to create a large-scale temporary public art display using 3M vinyl face wrap on the iconic Midtown sign located in Bagby Park (415 Bagby Street). On display from June 2 to July 31.
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Fresh Arts is supported by:
Art Colony Association * Art Houston Magazine * City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance * Heimbinder Family Foundation * Houston Endowment * Mid-America Arts Alliance * Sesh Coworking * Texas Commission on the Arts * Arts District Partners * Vivian Wise Art * Friends of Fresh Arts Members * and our generous supporters and individual donors.
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For the past 20 years, Fresh Arts has empowered local artists and creatives of all disciplines with the resources and tools they need for personal and professional success and has worked towards building a supportive and accessible network that champions the artists who make Houston a more vibrant and creative place to live.
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