Amplify Arts — North Omaha Trail and Chambers Court Call for Aritsts

Overview
This open call, issued by Amplify Arts in collaboration with Spark and Hoppe Development, invites artists and artist collectives to propose 13 new public artworks for sites along the North Omaha Trail and Ernie Chambers Court. The project is rooted in a community-led, multi-use trail and placemaking initiative, positioning the selected works not as isolated objects but as integral components of a neighborhood's evolving cultural and physical landscape. The budget is contingent upon the selected location and media, reflecting a site-responsive rather than one-size-fits-all approach to commissioning. The call is open to all disciplines, and explicitly states that a formal arts education or previous public art experience is not required. This lowers traditional barriers to entry while maintaining a clear priority: applicants with strong community connections to North Omaha and/or residences in North Omaha zip codes will be given precedence. The jury thus signals an interest in lived experience, local knowledge, and sustained relationships with the neighborhoods the trail serves, rather than a conventional exhibition history or institutional pedigree. Artists working across craft, ceramics, writing, performance, and visual media are encouraged to apply, provided their practice engages with the stories, history, culture, and future of North Omaha. The absence of an application fee and the explicit welcome of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and neurodivergent practitioners further indicate a curatorial ethic centered on access and community accountability. The resulting commissions will be permanent or long-term additions to a public corridor, demanding proposals that are materially and conceptually durable, contextually aware, and responsive to the daily life of the trail and its surrounding streets.