Request for Visual Artist Proposals
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
Huntington Theatre – East Wing Art Commission
Installation Deadline: August 20, 2027
The Huntington is thrilled to announce an open Request for Qualifications for a new piece of visual art to be installed in the forthcoming East Wing of our campus on Huntington Avenue. The art will be installed above a grand staircase, welcoming visitors to the new performance and gathering spaces. Artists are encouraged to submit samples of their portfolio that demonstrate their ability to create large scale pieces for public spaces. Submissions will be evaluated anonymously by a jury of community stakeholders invited by the artistic staff at The Huntington. The selected artist will receive a $20,000 commission to complete the work by the opening of the building in Fall 2027.
Artist Eligibility:
- Mid-career or established visual artists
- Minimum 15 years of professional artistic practice
- Experience collaborating on fabrication budget and installation process
- Demonstrated experience creating large scale works for public space
Request For Qualifications Submission
- Portfolio (10–15 images with brief context)
- Artist statement (please include a connection to Boston, though Boston residency is not required)
- Verification of 15+ years of experience
- Applications will be submitted digitally via submittable or via mail to:
The Huntington
Attn: Elixmarie Mercado
560 Harrison Ave. Suite 504
Boston MA, 02118
- Applications due October 7, 2026
This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) not a request for designs or proposals. Artists should not submit concept drawings or design proposals at this stage.
Semi-finalists (6 artists selected)
- Sketch/outline of concept for proposal
- $500 honorarium
Finalists (3 artists selected)
- Full proposal including renderings, materials, fabrication strategy, and budget
- $1,000 honorarium
- Final interviews and presentations
Selected Artist
- The selected artist will receive a commission of $20,000 to complete their piece with additional budget for fabrication and installation.
About the space:
The commissioned piece will be installed over the staircase leading to the second floor. The drawings below illustrate the total area available and a possible smaller area.
Selection Process
A jury of community stakeholders will score anonymized portfolios and artist statements based on a rubric provided by The Huntington. The rubric will include demonstrated ability to create work at scale for a large public space, clarity of the applicant’s artistic practice via artist statement, and artistic excellence.
About The East Wing
The East Wing, projected to open Fall 2027, will incorporate a new soaring, modern venue alongside our historic theatre, on the first two floors of the Toll Brothers residential tower currently under construction next door. A welcoming beacon on Huntington Avenue, this new space will provide fully accessible dynamic cultural and convening spaces visible from the street. The East Wing will feature expansive lobbies, a box office, patron amenities and services, and will add flexible performance spaces, a bar/lounge/cafe, and an outdoor balcony overlooking Huntington Avenue. Artistic Director Loretta Greco is bringing her innovative concepts and vision to the design process with architects Bruner/Cott, who so skillfully led the Huntington Theatre renovation.
Our goal is for the East Wing to be open daily, year-round, to present new and exciting artistic collaborations and diverse cultural programming, offer food and drink in a convivial atmosphere, allow us to better serve audiences of all abilities, and increase the breadth and scope of our education programs and community engagement.
If you’re interested in submitting artwork for The Huntington galleries, please email artwork@huntingtontheatre.org .
About the gallery:
The Gallery at The Huntington Theatre on Huntington Avenue is located along a brick wall on the second floor of the theatre.
Display bays:
- 7 total bays
- 6 bays at 5’8” wide
- 1 bay at 9’8” wide
