The City of Las Cruces/Quality of Life Department and Las Cruces Public Art are accepting submissions for the 2027 Art Stop Bus Shelter Exhibit (Art Stop). Art Stop is an annual rotating public art program that places artwork in bus shelters to make art more accessible to everyone.
Compensation: Each selected artist will receive a $500 stipend.
Deadline for Submissions: Midnight, September 14, 2026
To Submit: Go to “More Than a Tumbleweed” application
Art Stop Call for Art Details Below: Please read carefully
Art Stop Exhibit Theme – “More Than a Tumbleweed”
Art Stop 2027 will feature flora of the Chihuahuan Desert. We are looking for vibrant depictions of plant life found in the southern part of the state that make it beautiful, interesting, and unique. Tell a story with textures, make a spiny statement, feature the fleetingness of seasonal blooms — the possibilities are as vast as the desert itself.
Art should be visually striking, creatively presented, with the subject as the key focal point. Art should not feature the Organ Mountains. Artwork can be figurative, selective, symbolic, or use framing and perspective to tell the story. Artwork should be eye-catching and attention-grabbing.
Overview
The Art Stop selection committee will select twelve original artworks, submitted in a digital format, which will be printed and installed in pre-selected bus shelters in each of the six City Council districts. Each shelter will feature one of the selected artworks. Artwork will be displayed for approximately 12 months. New artwork will be selected on an annual basis.
Judging Criteria
The selection criteria shall include, but is not limited to:
- Suitability of submission to project intent and scope – digital artwork and/or ability to digitize existing artwork, orientation.
- Does it meet the theme of distinctive plant life growing in the region without the Organ Mountains?
- Does the visual tell a compelling story?
- Does the artist use their artistic voice?
- Are artistic elements used to make the artwork visually appealing?
- Does the artwork meet the requirements listed below?
Requirements:
Please read the following information carefully, as incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted. Failure to provide any of the published requirements will result in disqualification from the competition. Duplicate submissions will not be accepted. All materials must be submitted via SurveyMonkey according to the specifications outlined below:
- Artwork can be existing work or new work.
- Artwork may utilize digital, photographic, or traditional mediums. Artwork can be one image or a collage of images. A photo of 3D artwork is acceptable. Note: Posters are printed from high-resolution digital versions of artwork regardless of medium.
- Provide a brief description of the artwork, a short bio/artist statement, and contact information.
- Submissions are limited to one per artist.
- The artwork must be appropriate for public display for audiences of all ages.
- Artwork that includes religious subject matter or symbols may be placed in a public space as long as it is solely intended to exhibit cultural or historical traditions. Artwork that includes the following will not be considered: the apparent representation of violence, drug use, nudity (except for context in historical art), pornographic imagery, denigration of individuals and cultures, or desecration of significant cultural symbols.
- Concept work will not be considered. Submissions must include a photo of completed artwork.
- Mass-produced work and/or signage will not be considered. (If artwork has text that is not integral to the design, it is considered signage.)
- AI-generated images will not be considered.
- Only vertically oriented artwork that meets the poster dimensions measuring 62” H x 36” W will be accepted. (See photo of orientation.) All horizontally oriented or square artwork will be automatically disqualified.
Additional Information
If Selected:
- Artwork must be submitted in high-resolution, printable photo format (i.e., png, jpg, etc.), at least 300 DPI with bleed. The coordinator will work with artists to get the correct format.
- Selected artists must register as a vendor with the City of Las Cruces to receive the stipend.
- Artists must sign an artist release to use their work with compensation.
- The artist must warrant that: (a) the work of art will be solely the result of the artistic effort of the artist; (b) the work of art is unique and original and does not infringe upon any copyright; (c) the work of art is an edition of one; (e) the work of art is free and clear of any encumbrances from any source whatsoever.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility for participation is open to all artists 18 years or older (as of the submission date) living in Dona Ana County or the surrounding area in Southwest New Mexico.
- Previous winners are eligible two years from the year their artwork was last exhibited.
- No member of the current City Art Board, Art Stop selection committee, or employee of the City of Las Cruces may apply for this project.
- Please contact us if you have any questions about eligibility.
Limitations
The City of Las Cruces reserves the right to cancel, amend, or alter this Call for Art process.
Program Intent
Art Stop is intended to make art accessible to the community by using city bus shelters as an exhibit space. Regional artists living in Southwestern New Mexico, particularly in Las Cruces and Dona Ana County, will have the opportunity to exhibit their artwork at a single bus stop location for approximately one year if selected.
The Las Cruces Public Art program strives to achieve the program’s goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access for all artists, and to showcase contemporary and traditional arts in unique public art formats.
Submit Application
Go to the “More Than a Tumbleweed” application form to submit your artwork.
Tentative Timeline:
September 1 Call for Artists Announced
September 14 Application Deadline
September 21 Jurying of Applications by Art Stop Committee
September 22 Notification of Selected Artists (Instructions to become vendors)
September 30 Vendor Account Deadline
October 1 –
November 30 Contract with Selected Artists
December 1 – 11 Collect Images for Printing
December 14 –
January 31 Artwork Printing and Installation
February Reception TBD
