Project Overview
The pilot MTA’s Art in Transit call for Existing Artworks invites artists to imagine public transportation as a moving art show. Artworks will be placed on MTA buses, turning everyday commutes into art experiences. This program will feature two-dimensional artworks by artists in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, and or Howard County. The project brings meaningful contemporary art into daily life.
Artwork Location:
Baltimore Region: MTA Public Transit Bus
Artwork Themes & Goals:
The project will feature artworks with a strong connection to the LGBTQIA+ community and/or Pride month.
Eligibility:
Artists based in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, or Howard County with pre-existing two-dimensional artwork that connect to the project's themes and goals.
Artwork Licensing Stipend:
Selected artists will receive a $1,500 all-inclusive licensing stipend to cover all project-associated costs. This stipend compensates the artist for their participation, time spent collaborating with the MTA design team to scale and digitize the artwork for the bus panel or wrap, and use of the artwork for the duration of its installation. Artists retain copyright of their work and will sign a licensing agreement with MTA.
How to Apply:
Submit your application by Sunday, April 13, 2026, via Submittable.
Application Requirements:
- Contact Information
- Up to 2 images of existing artworks connected to the project’s themes
- Required technical specification:
- Must be 300 dpi at full scale
- Artworks with the following will be given preference:
- Horizontal aspect ratio
- Two-dimensional artwork
- Statement: Describe how your artworks connect to the project's themes and goals.
- Design Feasibility: Confirm your willingness, availability, and ability to collaborate with the MTA design team to prepare files between May 1–15, 2026.
Selection Process:
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee and scored according to the Evaluation Criteria below.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Examples of pre-existing artwork provided artwork samples demonstrate a connection to the project's themes.
- Statement of interest: The Artist communicates how their artwork connects to the project's themes and goals.
- Feasibility: The artist demonstrates availability and willingness to collaborate with the MTA design team to translate their existing artwork into a bus wrap-compatible file format, ensuring the final design meets project expectations and the provided timeline. Submitted artwork metadata must be compatible with MTA file requirements.
Project Schedule
- Application Opens: Friday, April 3, 2026
- Application Deadline: Sunday, April 13, 2026
- Finalist Selection: End of April 2026
- Final Artwork submitted to MTA Designer Translation: Thursday, May 1, 2026
- Artwork Finalized: Friday, May 15, 2026
- Ride with Pride Bus Enters Circulation: June 2026
Artist Selection Committee
An MTA representative and up to three Baltimore-area residents.
Questions:
All questions should be directed to the MSAC, Public Art Project Manager, Nora Howell, nora.howell@maryland.gov.
Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)
The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States and operates local and commuter buses, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service, and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. In 2025, the system served more than 67 million riders, with approximately 223,400 trips taken on an average weekday. MTA's mission is to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service.
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC)
Founded in 1967, the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) is an agency of the State of Maryland's Department of Commerce that plays an essential role, ensuring every person has access to the transformative power of the arts.
MSAC advances the arts in our state by providing leadership that champions creative expression, diverse programming, equitable access, lifelong learning, and the arts as a celebrated contributor to the quality of life for all the people of Maryland.