June 15, 2020 — The Port of San Diego invites professional artists to submit their qualifications for two public art projects as part of the Port’s Percent for Art Program. This is a unique opportunity for local and national artists to create innovative, engaging, permanent, public artworks on the San Diego Bay waterfront and enrich the visitor experience.

Two future public parks, Sweetwater Park and Harbor Park, will be built along the Chula Vista waterfront as part of the Port’s transformational Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment project.

Each park has its own public art component with a separate application process, budget, goals, and eligibility requirements. Applications for both projects are open, and will close on Saturday, July 11, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

Applicants can submit their qualifications and find more information on the Port’s website at https://www.portofsandiego.org/experiences/waterfront-arts-activation/opportunities.

Harbor Park – National Call for Artists
Harbor Park will be built along the marina and beach areas surrounding a soon-to-be-constructed hotel and convention center complex and carries an art budget of $195,000. Artists should consider the bayfront landscape and the interactions between people who are enjoying this area. This national call is open to artists working in the United States.

Sweetwater Park – Southern California Call for Artists
Sweetwater Park will be built in the northern portion of the Chula Vista bayfront near the National Wildlife Refuge and Sweetwater Marsh and carries an art budget of $80,000. Artists should consider the influence of the natural landscape, local ecological features, and movement of pedestrians. This regional call is open to Southern California artists residing in San Diego, Orange, or Los Angeles Counties.

Selected artists for both projects will be notified in the fall of 2020 and will then begin to work with Port staff and park planners to develop and integrate their site-specific artwork concepts into the park development.

The Port’s Percent for Art Program ensures the allocation of public art funding for Capital Improvement projects over $500,000. This commitment to the arts helps create a welcoming and vibrant waterfront for San Diego Bay, a destination that engages both residents and visitors with visual excitement and rich, cultural experiences.