Artists will have another opportunity to place their work directly into the Grants Pass streetscape as the city prepares for the next phase of its Utility Box Art Project, an ongoing public art effort that transforms ordinary pieces of municipal infrastructure into colorful displays visible throughout the community.
The City of Grants Pass announced Monday, August 17, that it is seeking artists interested in having their original artwork reproduced on vinyl and installed on utility boxes. Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming round of the program, with selected artwork to become part of the city’s growing collection of public art.
Rather than painting directly onto the utility boxes, the project uses vinyl wraps printed with the selected designs. The process allows an artist’s original work to be reproduced for installation while converting infrastructure that would otherwise have a strictly functional appearance into publicly accessible artwork.
Participation is not limited to professional or established artists. The city is encouraging artists of all ability and skill levels to submit applications, opening the program to experienced creators as well as people who may be seeking their first opportunity to have artwork displayed in a public setting. Selection will be based on the submitted work rather than requiring applicants to have a professional art background.
One requirement is particularly clear for this round of the project. Artwork submitted for consideration must be the personal work of the individual artist and must be created without assistance from artificial intelligence. The requirement establishes that submissions must originate from the artist’s own creative process before being considered for installation.
Applications and artwork will be reviewed through the city’s Committee on Public Art, commonly known as CoPA. The committee will determine which submissions are selected for the next group of utility box installations. Artists whose work is chosen will receive a stipend for their participation in the project.
The Utility Box Art Project provides a different kind of exhibition space than a traditional gallery or organized art show. Once installed, the artwork becomes part of the everyday public environment, allowing residents and visitors to encounter the designs while traveling through Grants Pass, walking through neighborhoods or conducting daily business around the city.
The project also expands the locations where public art can be displayed by making use of infrastructure already positioned throughout the community. Vinyl wrapping allows individual utility boxes to serve both their original municipal purpose and as surfaces for artwork selected through the city’s public art process.
Artists interested in participating have several weeks to develop their submissions and complete the application process. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 28, 2026.
With applications now open, the next collection of utility box artwork will ultimately be determined by the artists who submit their work and the selections made by the Committee on Public Art. For those chosen, the project offers a paid opportunity to move their artwork beyond a studio, portfolio or traditional exhibition space and place it directly into the visual landscape of Grants Pass.