Artful Inlets 2026: Rotary Park
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Call for Artists
Call for Artists
Norman 2026 Artful Inlets: Rotary Park – 1501 W. Boyd
Deadline for Submission: March 13, 2026 @ 11:59pm
The City of Norman operates and maintains a series of underground pipes, open channels, ditches, and roadways used to collect or convey stormwater runoff from our homes and businesses to the nearest body of water, such as a creek, stream, or lake. In urban areas, stormwater runoff from hard surfaces, like roofs and driveways, flows along the side of the road until it reaches a storm drain, which is an opening or grate in the curb connected by a series of pipes and drainage channels to the nearest waterbody. Water and other materials that enter these storm drains are transported directly to our creeks and streams without any treatment. Some of the pollutants that enter our local creeks and streams with stormwater runoff include grass clippings, oil, trash, fertilizers, pesticides, and pet waste.
For the 8th Annual Artful Inlets program, the Norman Arts Council and City of Norman are inviting artists to submit designs that will transform city infrastructure into works of public art. These artful inlets will educate and raise awareness that pollutants that go down storm drains have a devasting impact on our local water quality.
There are currently 30 Artful Inlets in the community in the Walker Arts District, Lion’s Park, Colonial Estates, Vineyard, Sequoyah Trail, and Chisholm Cattle Trail Parks. This year we will be adding five (5) pieces of infrastructure identified for this project. They are located in Rotary Park, 1501 W. Boyd St.
This year’s Artful Inlets theme, "In Service to Our Streams," connects Norman’s culture of service with its commitment to protecting our local waterways. The theme encourages artists to design storm drain art that highlights the importance of protecting water quality while celebrating the collaborative spirit that strengthens our community.
In support of this initiative, all designs for this round of Artful Inlets must include the tag line: In Service to Our Streams!
Submission Rules
· Artists (or a team of artists) must be 18 years or older and a resident(s) of Cleveland County, Oklahoma.
· Artists who completed an Artful Inlets design in the past are eligible to submit.
· All designs must be submitted on the provided Design Worksheet.
· Design proposals must be submitted through the designated online submission platform via the Norman Arts Council and no later than Friday, March 13, 2026. Only applications submitted through the on-line process will be considered.
· Artists must submit and install their original designs.
· Submissions must include a short biography and information about the proposed design.
· A list of materials to be used that are not provided by the City of Norman and Norman Arts Council must also be included and approved.
Design Criteria – All submissions we be evaluated on the following:
· Artistic excellence
· Each design must include the slogan “In Service to Our Streams!” within the design.
· When designing artwork, each artist is asked to consider the following themes:
1. Stormwater Pollution Prevention
2. Environmental Protection: the importance of cleaner water
· The design must be appropriate for a public space.
· Any materials supplied by the artist must be eco-friendly, not contribute to stormwater pollution, and be pre-approved by the selection panel at least two weeks before the designs are painted.
· The design may not contain any business references, promotions, or advertisements.
· It may not contain any breach of intellectual property, brands or trademarks, or depiction of illegal activity.
· The final painting must match the proposed design.
Selected Artists or Teams of Artists will receive:
· A $750.00 stipend when installation and sealing is completed
· A clean, primed area stationed off with appropriate traffic control devices while painting
· A tent to provide shade over the area while painting
· Sherwin-Williams Armorseal paint – black, white, yellow, red, and blue with a non-slip additive
· Artists will have an opportunity to mix paint colors prior to installation
· Water for painting
· Tubs and containers for water and paint
· Drinking water and snacks
Artists must provide:
· The original design
· The ability to execute the accepted design within the allotted time
· Brushes
· Any other supplies or tools they deem necessary to execute their design
The artists will be selected based on the materials submitted. Artist selection for this project will be made by a panel including City of Norman and NAC staff and members of the Norman Public Arts Committee who will choose 5 artists and 1 alternate.
Soon after the selected artists are notified, a staff member from NAC or the City will meet with artists at the parks to assign designated areas and to discuss the specific size and shape of their design relative to their assigned space.
Timeline
· Submission deadline is Friday, March 13, 2026
· Artists will be selected and notified by Friday, March 27, 2026
· Artist meeting at Rotary Park, 1501 W. Boyd on Wednesday, April 8, 2026
· Paint mixing day on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:00 – 3:00 PM
· Installation of the artwork will be on Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18, 2026
During the two days of installation, the artists will be photographed and interviewed, and a video will be made to allow each artist to talk about their design, their motivation for participating, and their process. These will be used to create a feature segment for on the Norman Arts Council’s YouTube channel and other social media platforms.
Please note that if there are any changes to the installation schedule due to inclement weather, selected artists will be contacted with alternate installation dates.
Defined space for artwork
The area that artists are allowed to paint is approximately three (3) feet wide by ten (10) feet (rectangle - templet can be requested at leslie@normanarts.org) on a variety of concrete surfaces.
Artists must use the template to propose designs. Be mindful that some changes to your design may be required to accommodate the specific location.
Please use the submission template as a guide but understand the design may be slightly altered if chosen. Artists, the City of Norman, and NAC will all agree on needed alterations.
Copyright
The design must be original and must not infringe on any other person’s intellectual property rights.
Each selected artist further grants the City of Norman and the Norman Arts Council the exclusive rights to reproduce the design (including electronic images) for fundraising, educational, and promotional purposes.
Vandalism
While the City of Norman will provide a clear vandal-resistant varnish, artists should also be aware that the City of Norman cannot prevent vandalism to said artwork, although every effort will be made to protect it.
Maintenance
The Artful Inlet murals are expected to last approximately one year. They may last longer, but the City of Norman and Norman Arts Council only guarantee the preservation of the installation for one year from completion. Due to regular park traffic and weather, the installations will eventually fade and degrade. If after a year and in the opinion of the City and NAC the artwork can be touched up or refreshed, reasonable attempts will be made to contact the artist to see if they want to do that work without additional compensation. The City reserves the right to remove the installation if repair is not feasible or a year has passed since completion.
Removal
Artwork must be consistent with submitted and selected artwork. If, in the opinion of the selection panel, the artwork does not reflect the submitted design, the City has the right to remove it partially or completely. The City and NAC have the right to remove the artwork at any time if they jointly agree that the artwork is inappropriate due to design, condition, or vandalism. The City reserves the right to remove the artwork immediately if it presents a danger to public safety or if the drain needs maintenance, repair, or replacement.
Liability
Each artist agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Norman and the Norman Arts Council from any loss or damage, any third-party claims, demands, actions, legal fees, or costs for which the Artist is legally responsible, including those arising out of negligence, willful harm, or crimes by the Artist or the Artist’s employees, agent or subcontractors. This “hold harmless” agreement shall survive beyond the term of the Artist’s service contract.
The City of Norman and Norman Arts Council will not be liable or responsible for any bodily or personal injury or property damage of any nature that may be suffered by the Artist, their employees, agents, or subcontractors in the performance of this Project, except to the extent of any negligence or misconduct on the part of the City of Norman and Norman Arts Council.
Commissioning of artists is implemented without preference to racial or ethnic origins, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or age.
The Norman Arts Council and the City of Norman reserve the right to modify this solicitation and to request additional information or proposals from any or all participating artists. The Norman Arts Council and the City of Norman also reserve the right to accept or reject, at any time before the commissioning of a work, any or all proposals when the acceptance, rejection, waiver, or advertisement would be in the best interest of the project. In addition, they may solicit proposals from artists not responding to this call and reserve the right to select an artist outside of the pool of artists responding to this call.
Submission Entry Checklist:
___ Completed ONLINE Entry Form
___Completed design template
___Design description and information – one page maximum
___List of any additional materials or supplies
___Artist’s bio – one page maximum