CTA is expanding its arts and culture program to support temporary art and performances at rail stations.
The Chicago Transit Authority announced it is expanding its arts program to enable more opportunities for temporary art, performances or other cultural activations. The CTA is accepting proposals now, and the deadline for applying is July 1.
“CTA stations are part of the fabric of our neighborhoods, and we’re excited to create more opportunities for community organizations and local artists and performers to contribute to the beautification of those spaces,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “This program is designed to encourage creative, welcoming spaces that strengthen community connections and improve the transit experience for all riders.”
Interested community organizations and local artists and performers may apply at transitchicago.com/art/activations. Selected activations can receive up to $50,000 in funding for the temporary art or programming.
This initiative will fund community-driven temporary art installations, performances and cultural activations at select CTA rail stations across the transit network. The CTA currently features more than 80 permanent public art installations across its rail stations, facilities and terminals. Through this investment, CTA will expand beyond permanent installations to support temporary exhibits, performances and community-centered cultural programming.
This program builds on prior and existing partnerships to create safer, more welcoming spaces. In 2024, CTA worked with the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) following the RTA’s Public Transit Safety and Security Workshop to grant performance art activities and other activations at various stations as part of the region’s work to invest in innovative rider security initiatives. Additionally, CTA recently launched a partnership with Elevated Chicago and the MacArthur Foundation through the “Elevating Culture Near Transit” initiative to support the work of three community organizations bringing performance and cultural activations to stations and key transit corridors this year.
Further, this effort is aligned with the larger regional transit work being led by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) around investing in transit supportive development and encouraging transit to take a more active and engaged role in placemaking at transit facilities.
Program Overview and Logistics
Proposals for temporary activations are solicited for the following four CTA rail stations in 2026:
- 95th Street Red Line Station
- Damen Green Line Station
- Damen Pink Line Station
- Kimball Brown Line Station
CTA will evaluate proposals based on artistic quality, relationship to the surrounding community, feasibility and the ability to create a more welcoming and attractive transit environment.
More information, including application details and program guidelines, is available at transitchicago.com/art/activations.