commission · Indy Arts Council
Welcome Race Fans 2027 Request for Qualifications
the opportunity
The Indy Arts Council and Indianapolis Motor Speedway will commission five central Indiana artists to make original artworks for the eleventh year of Welcome Race Fans, the program that puts artist-made welcome signs around the city for the Indianapolis 500 each May. The 2027 theme is 'This is May'; racing imagery is not required, but the finished 2D or pedestal-based 3D work should reflect the culture around motorsports in Indianapolis. Each artist receives a flat $3,000 fee ($2,500 for the commission and $500 for licensing) and covers materials and delivery from it. Originals are shown around central Indiana and at IMS during race events in April–June 2027, and reproductions appear as large vinyl installations, billboards, banners, and limited-edition posters with artist credit; artists keep copyright. Applicants submit qualifications, not proposed designs, and selected artists take part in media interviews and IMS events.
eligibility
Professional artists or artist teams 18 or older who live in or have very strong ties to central Indiana (Marion, Hendricks, Boone, Hamilton, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Madison, and Hancock counties) and can meet a strict timeline. Past Welcome Race Fans artists may apply, but new applicants are preferred.
fees
No application fee is stated on the call
Applications happen on Indy Arts Council's website. Seeke reviews and indexes the listing but does not accept applications.