Metro Calls for Artists for East San Fernando Valley and G Line Station Designs

By Katherine Contreras Hernandez
Special to the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol

The East San Fernando Valley, known for the Mural Mile of bigger-than-life artwork on buildings along Van Nuys Blvd., in Pacoima, will have even more original art and design to appreciate in the future.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has issued a call for artists to put their hat in the ring and submit applications to design 2D artwork for the East San Fernando Valley (ESFV) Project and the G Line Improvements Project.

Artists are encouraged to apply to the first phase of the process via SlideRoom, due on Sept. 22 by 11:59 p.m.

The ESFV Project has 11 stations available for design, and the G Line Improvements Project has one available at the G Line Van Nuys Station. The stations include: Van Nuys/San Fernando, Laurel Canyon, Arleta, Woodman, Nordhoff, Roscoe, Van Nuys/Metrolink, Sherman Way, Vanowen, Victory, Van Nuys/MOL (ESFV) and Van Nuys (G Line). The art pieces for the ESFV project will be a centerpiece for the open-air, street-level platforms and will be visible for both Metro riders and those passing by.

“All Metro Art commissioned artworks are site-specific, original designs for their unique transit locations that often become beloved community landmarks,” an LA Metro spokesperson described.  “There are many incredible artists right here in Los Angeles and we’ve done extensive targeted outreach to encourage folks to apply.”

Any artist based in LA County with a home or studio address who lives or works within the county is eligible for this opportunity. However, artists must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Metro employees, artists who currently have a contract with Metro or have completed a contract within the last three years, are ineligible.

The selection process will include two rounds. Round one of the process will be reviewed by a community-based art panel of arts professionals connected to the project area.

Artistic merit, which includes skills and qualifications demonstrated by past projects, is worth 60% of the panel’s criteria. The other 40% is based on experience, including education, exhibition history and awards or honors, demonstrated by a resume and letter of interest.

The highest-ranking candidates will be identified as finalists and will be invited to develop artwork proposals for consideration during the second stage of review. Finalists will present their proposals in an in-person meeting sometime in January or February 2026.

During the second panel, artistic merit will account for 50% of the evaluation criteria, judged via mastery technique and aesthetic qualities. Appropriateness of the proposal to the site, demonstrated via concept and connection to the location, will account for 30% of the criteria. Finally, the artist’s proposed method of engaging the community during the design will account for 20% of the evaluation.

After presenting their proposals, finalists will be paid $2,000. The highest-ranked proposals will be recommended for commission, with contract awards ranging from $110,000 to $120,000 awarded in the spring or summer of 2026.

Metro Art staff have a recorded workshop available to applicants through their website. Any questions related to the application can be sent to ArtistOpportunities@metro.net. Subject lines should include ‘East San Fernando Valley/G Line RFQ Clarification.’ Final questions must be sent by 5 p.m. on Sept. 17.