Public Art/Percent for Art
Pink public art installation in an outdoor landscape with trees and people walking nearby.

Photo by Bonnie Durham / Courtesy: Pamela Moulton / A project commissioned by TEMPOart

About Public Art

Public art refers to artwork or elements of design that are temporarily or permanently located in a public space and free and accessible to all. Civic statuary, including monuments and memorials, is among the most recognized forms of public art.

The definition of public art is constantly shifting and evolving. Artists consider not only the physical placement of work in public space, but also the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which the artwork is situated. Public art can also create opportunities for community involvement, civic collaboration, and shared public experience.

Percent for Art Current Opportunities

Current Percent for Art opportunities are listed below. Artists and artist teams are encouraged to review the full request for qualifications before applying.

Open RFQ

GEM Factory of the Future

University of Maine, Orono

Rendering of the GEM Factory of the Future building at the University of Maine in Orono, showing a modern glass and metal building surrounded by trees, landscaping, walkways, and people.

The University of Maine, in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission, seeks qualifications from artists or artist teams for a public art commission at the new GEM Factory of the Future building in Orono, Maine. The project will support a permanent public artwork that reflects the building’s focus on sustainable materials, advanced manufacturing, research, and innovation.

Submission Deadline

July 13, 2026

Project Budget

$47,500

Finalist Stipend

$750

The selection committee has identified the exterior greenspace and landscape as the site for this commission. Artists may consider approaches that respond to the landscape, climate, campus context, sustainable materials, research, public engagement, and work that may evolve over time.

Questions about Percent for Art opportunities may be directed to Program Director Danielle Moriarty at vog.eniam@ytrairom.elleinad or (207) 287-2720.

Interested in future public art opportunities?

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Percent for Art History

Since 1982, Maine’s Percent for Art program has generated approximately $7,824,373 in funds for public art in Maine.

Maine’s Percent for Art program was established by law in 1979 and supports public art for publicly financed buildings. The law requires that at least 1% of the budget for construction or renovation costs of taxpayer-funded buildings be set aside for acquiring works of art. Each project is developed in cooperation with professionals in the local community and installed permanently at the site of the capital project.

Maine is one of 27 states in the U.S. with an active Percent for Art program. The Maine Arts Commission oversees the acquisition process and advocates for artists to be an integral part of the design process, helping to enrich community buildings and make public spaces meaningful places to experience art outside traditional museums or galleries.

Why Public Art Matters

  • Makes public spaces more appealing, useful, and accessible through the incorporation of artworks.
  • Supports cultural tourism and economic development strategies.
  • Gives a city or site character and identity, making it more appealing to residents and visitors.
  • Offers artists and designers opportunities to respond creatively to design challenges and enrich the vision for a site.
  • Provides opportunities and employment for regional artists.

Learn more about the process for commissioning works of art through Maine’s Percent for Art Program.

View Process Flowchart