Calling All Artists: Show Us Your City!

Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) invites local artists to submit proposals for a new public art initiative that will roll out in 2027. Six buses will be decorated with custom artwork, each celebrating one of the cities in the Benton Franklin Public Transit Benefit Area: Benton City, Kennewick, Pasco, Prosser, Richland, and West Richland.

BFT received a federal grant to help install vinyl wraps on public transit buses, in alignment with the National Endowment for the Arts’ “Our Town” discipline. In addition, BFT will pay each selected artist $5,000 for custom artwork created in collaboration with BFT. These mobile murals will celebrate the diversity and cultural identity of individual cities across our service area, which become part of a vibrant community tapestry when they are connected by public transit.

Artists interested in participating in this project must submit a completed proposal, including a portfolio sample and a concept summary outlining the artist’s vision and approach for representing the selected city, through OpenGov.com before December 8, 2026. Artists may submit proposals for multiple cities, but will not be awarded multiple contracts.  

Proposals will be reviewed based on portfolio quality, community connection, artistic concept, vision, feasibility, and public engagement and accessibility. BFT will host a virtual information session on November 19, 2026 for artists to ask any questions or seek clarification on the project outlines.

Selected artists will be notified in January. Custom artwork will be completed, installed on buses, and publicly unveiled in 2027.

Learn more at BFT.org/show-us-your-city-a-transit-tapestry