pUBLIC ART ACTIVATION

In honor of Juneteenth and the ongoing celebration of freedom, we are calling for artists to create a public art installation that showcases this year’s theme, Homecoming: Our Heritage, Our Home.

THE THEME

Homecoming: Our Heritage, Our Home, highlighting the beauty in our individual stories that make up the traditions and legacies we honor and celebrate during Juneteenth. Whether it's Granny's house, an HBCU, church, or social group we all have physical places we call home and communities where we fellowship. This year we celebrate and uplift those spaces and the people who curate them. The places where we find our individual and collective humanity.

THE ACTIVATION

The public art installation will be a stand-alone installation on display at the Celebrate Freedom Festival at Emancipation Park. It should be a stately, life-size, and immersive display that showcases imagery and reflections of this year’s theme. It should include aspects and an aesthetic that represent the rich cultural history, storytelling, and traditions of the Black community.

Artists are encouraged to explore, reflect, and create sculptural pieces, staging, and displays inspired by the following traditions (but not limited to):

  • Universities and Institutions like HBCU’s and Black churches

  • Sunday dinners, family reunions, kickbacks, and cookouts

  • Family bonding, road trips, various family archetypes, and roles

  • Iconic textiles, fabrics, and household items

  • Personal anecdotes, community center historical events, and achievements

THE ACTIVATION

The public art installation will be a stand-alone installation on display at the Celebrate Freedom Festival at Emancipation Park. It should be a stately, life-size, and immersive display that showcases imagery and reflections of this year’s theme. It should include aspects and an aesthetic that represent the rich cultural history, storytelling, and traditions of the Black community.

Artists are encouraged to explore, reflect, and create sculptural pieces, staging, and displays inspired by the following traditions (but not limited to):

  • Universities and Institutions like HBCU’s and Black churches

  • Sunday dinners, family reunions, kickbacks, and cookouts

  • Family bonding, road trips, various family archetypes, and roles

  • Iconic textiles, fabrics, and household items

  • Personal anecdotes, community center historical events, and achievements

Installation Details

  • The art installation will be displayed at Emancipation Park for the Juneteenth Houston Celebrate Freedom Festival on June 6, 2026, in a public space.

  • The work should reflect cultural aesthetics, individual or collective identity, and freedom.

  • Artists’ proposals should include some form of life-sized items, large-scale installations, and interactive components that invite participation.

  • The installation should be a photo opportunity for festival participants and/or offer a hands-on experience.

  • The artist is responsible for installation set-up and take down.

  • Artists may be provided with a tent to protect installation from the elements in the event of unfavorable weather

Selection Process

  • Submit your design online at www.JuneteenthHouston.org  by March 23, 2026, at 11:59pm.

  • The selected artist will be notified by March 27, 2026. With the first disbursement ready by April 3, 2026.

  • The selected design will receive a $4000 stipend to cover ALL costs associated with the design, creation, and installation.

    • $2000 upon notification of the selection

    • $2000 upon completion of installation setup

  • Once selected the design may not be altered without approval.

submit your design