Are you ready to leave your creative mark on the City of Duarte? The City is excited to invite local artists to submit original designs for this year’s Call for Artists! We’re selecting vibrant, eye-catching artwork to transform twenty-one utility boxes across fifteen locations along the historic Route 66.

This year’s overall theme, “Duarte’s Route 66 – Past, Present, & Future,” celebrates the City’s historic connection to Route 66 as the 2026 centennial approaches. All submitted artwork should reflect this theme while highlighting Duarte’s relationship to Route 66. Artists must incorporate one of three subthemes based on box type: 

• Subtheme 1 – “Faces & People”

  • Can be chosen for applications on the “Traffic Controllers and Meter Pedestals” AND “Meter Pedestals Only” configurations.

• Subtheme 2 –  “Pop Culture & Entertainment” 

  • Can be chosen for applications on the “Traffic Controllers and Meter Pedestals” AND “Meter Pedestals Only” configurations.

• Subtheme 3 – “Landscapes" 

  • For applications on the “Irrigation Control Boxes Only” configuration.

For a detailed breakdown of each site and its configuration, please refer to the 2025 Call for Artists document.

Los Angeles County-based artists aged 18 or older are encouraged to showcase their talents while promoting eye-catching public art throughout the City. This application is open to all artists: professional, amateur, and students. All approved designs will be printed on vinyl and installed on City-owned utility boxes by a third-party vendor. 

The original artwork can be designed or created in any 2D medium such as graphic art, photos, or similar materials. We encourage applicants to develop designs in digital format, however, the City will also accept photographs or scans of physical art for the application.

All submissions must include a Utility Box Art Program application via the CaFÉ website (www.CallforEntry.org), original artwork, and both a 200-word maximum artist statement and artwork statement. In addition to these requirements, artists can also submit a resume and one to three examples of previous artwork. Submissions for locations with both a traffic controller and a meter pedestal must include designs for both boxes.

Artists can submit up to three design proposals and may have more than one submission chosen by the City. Artwork will be evaluated by the Arts Ad Hoc Committee and will recommend submissions to the City Council for final approval. If their work is selected, artists will be notified within one week of City Council approval.

Selected artists will be paid a $950 stipend per each approved design chosen for locations that include both a traffic controller and meter pedestal. Selected artists will be paid a $550 stipend per each approved design chosen for locations that contain a meter pedestal only. Selected artists will be paid a $400 stipend per each approved design chosen for locations that contain an irrigation control box only. The artist will not be responsible for installing vinyl wraps.

This is an online-only application process. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All materials must be submitted online via the CaFÉ website (www.CallforEntry.org), no later than February 2, 2026. There is no application fee to apply or use the CaFÉ website. To view the application, go to www.CallforEntry.org, register a username and password, navigate to “Find Calls,” and search the list for “City of Duarte Utility Box Art Program.” For individuals who need special accommodations or have limited access to the internet, paper applications will be available at Duarte City Hall (1600 Huntington Drive).