Boise State specific calls for artists below are directed through the office of the Director of University Art and University Affairs.
Creative Routes Student Artwork Call
PURPOSE: Enliven campus commutes while increasing student involvement, beautifying campus, and strengthening students’ work beyond their majors.
THE PROJECT: The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is calling for design entries for Creative Routes, a program commissioning student artwork to encourage sustainable transportation on campus. The final project will see the installation of one, 48” x 132” (4’x11’), student-designed bike sharrow on Michigan Avenue. Installation will be in thermoplastic by GAF and directed by DPS in cooperation with the artist. Entries may be submitted by all current students using their Boise State email address. This link to a News Article provides context.
OBJECTIVE: Redesign the standard bike sharrow. Your final design may add, amend, exaggerate, whimsify the original design, but the original meaning must remain legible, i.e. cyclists and motorists have equal rights on the roadway. Submission must be the original design of the artist.
Please email your entry with “Creative Routes 2026” in the subject line to the Director of University Art at fondaportales@boisestate.edu. Entry should include:
- A brief statement of your interest in the project, your current relationship to Boise State, and a description of your experience completing projects (even if not in public art) successfully.
- One to three design proposals (handdrawn or digital) as hi-res image files.
- Please include dimensions and colors used. Designs can use up to 5 colors available to the printing company. Please see Appendix.
- Attached file must be named in the following format: LastName_FirstName_Title.
- Work must suitable for all age groups.
Once awarded, applicant will be expected to:
- Provide a final CAD file (.DWG or .DXF). Assistance may be available if you do not have experience.
- Adhere to all deadlines of the project, even if no longer enrolled in summer courses.
- Sign an Artist Release permitting the University to display the redesign with full copyright.
AWARDS: In addition to the artwork being placed on the roadway, artist will each be awarded $500.00 for Spring 2026. If teams submit a chosen design, the award will be split among team members. Award funds will be available in the form of a scholarship in the student’s financial aid account.If you have further questions, please contact Gabe Finkelstein, Assistant Director of Transportation, at GabeFinkelstein@boisestate.edu or Fonda Portales, Director of University Art, at fondaportales@boisestate.edu.
Deadline: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Winner Announced: Friday, April 10, 2026
Recipient of award will be selected by a panel made up of representatives from the Department of Public Safety, the office of the Director of University Art, and Campus Operations Leadership Team. The panel’s decision will be made based on the originality of redesign and its adherence to the shared values of the University.
Installation: Early June 2026
Duration of Artwork: 7-10 years. Boise State reserves the right to remove artwork for any reason, at any time.
Award Disbursed: Spring Semester 2026
Design may include up to 5 colors. Neither custom colors nor gradient shadings are available at GAF.
FINAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Details needed to quote pricing for a custom item:
- Vector design files using solid colors in CAD file (.DWG or .DXF) that includes your name and year of project (3-5 inches at bottom)
- Listed Dimensions and Chosen Colors
- Your student ID No.
GAF’S CAVEAT OF POSSIBLE ALTERATIONS:
Unless very large, design elements with sharp points will likely have the tip of the sharp point(s) rounded to prevent breakage during manufacturing and assembly.
GAF will make every effort to replicate design as closely as possible; however, modifications may be necessary.
Every line, detail or space within the marking should have a minimum stroke width of 1/2” (12.7mm) wide or wider, but must be at least 3/8” (9.5mm) wide in order for us to manufacture, cut and assemble them into a complete marking. Note that these tolerances are for narrow areas of larger material pieces that make up a marking.
Depending on the marking’s design and complexity, GAF reserves the right to require wider tolerances where necessary to manufacture certain markings.
CALL FOR EXHIBITIONS Academic Year 2026-27
THE TOOLS THAT HINA GAVE US, 2021,
4 COLOR LITHOGRAPH ON PAPER
ENTRY DEADLINE:, April 1, 2026 (midnight MST)
Notifications will be extended no later than April 15, 2026.
Boise State Student Affairs is currently accepting proposals for group or solo exhibitions in the Student Union Fine Art Gallery, at the top of the main stairs, and the Trueblood Pop Up Gallery, at the intersection of the SUB expansion. As student and community galleries, we are looking to feature a variety of emerging and established artists who engage with a variety of audiences and provoke new ideas. The SUB Galleries are free-speech areas and encourage the exploration of social issues, identity, and culture. All media and styles are welcome, including but not limited to sculpture, photography, painting, fiber art, metalwork, installation, new media, and ephemeral works.
To be eligible for consideration, you and your artwork must be available to meet all exhibition deadlines within an agreed upon contract. Submitted entries should be original work and reflect a cohesive intention. There is no limit on the number of pieces of work accepted; however, be mindful that each gallery is limited in linear feet. All artwork must fit through the building and elevator doors and be able to be handled by a maximum of two persons.
Entries will need to include:
- Title of Proposed Exhibition
- Description of Your Proposed Exhibition
- Artist Statement Relating to Proposed Exhibition
- 5-7 hi-Res Digital Images of Proposed Exhibition Art work. Each 2/3D work is to be represented by a single, 300 dpi .jpeg image. Audio-visual/digital artworks may be entered with a single mp4 file.
- All months you are available to exhibit between August 2026 and May 2027
Email above items in a single .pdf to Fonda Portales, Director of University Art, at fondaportales@boisestate.edu by April 1, 2026 (midnight MST) to apply.
If you would like to exhibit your work throughout the year in partnership with the Department of Art, Design, and Visual Studies, or with the School of Arts, please contact Kirsten Furlong, Director of the Blue Galleries, at kfurlong@boisestate.edu.
Continue to the bottom of this page to learn more about what to expect when exhibiting at the SUB.
What to expect when you exhibit at the SUB
General Expectations
Am I eligible?
All currently enrolled Boise State University undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members may apply to exhibit their work as a complete show in the Student Union galleries. Traveling and collaborative shows are also eligible under a shared application with a lead contact acting as the organizer for your group. Selected exhibitors must agree to display their work for an approximate 2-month exhibition period (8 weeks).
How will my application be evaluated?
The Student Union Arts Advisory Board will support the Student Union in evaluating your exhibition application as follows:
- We carefully review each application on its own merit and look for originality, quality, cohesiveness, and a distinct and passionate artistic point of view. We select applications for exhibition that are challenging, interesting, and inspiring of dialog and interaction from students, faculty, and community members who visit the Student Union.
- We give first preference to quality applications from current undergraduate and graduate students, followed by members of the Boise State (alumni, faculty and staff), then external community applicants.
- We consider additional factors including show size and scope, relevance to with current events on campus and in the community, as well as the availability of the applicant(s) to exhibit. We will always consider applications that are submitted according to the priority deadline. Late submissions will be contacted only if there is a vacant space within the gallery.
The Student Union exhibition series includes between 10 to 12 full exhibitions per academic year, with additional pop-up exhibitions around campus.
What is expected of me as an artist exhibiting in the Student Union Galleries?
- Abide by university policies and guidelines
- Communicate and consult regularly and professionally with curatorial staff. Groups exhibiting will appoint one point of contact
- Provide artwork that is ready to hang and which is available for display during the entire exhibition duration, as well as any specialty installation components, including but not limited to projectors, screens, etc…
- Provide a description of the show, an itemized list of selected artwork, up to 5 digital images for promotional purposes, and artist(s) bio(s)
- Arrange and pay for any/all delivery and transport of the artwork to and from the exhibition space
- Return 40% of revenue from sales of any exhibition artwork during the exhibition period
What can I expect of the galleries while I am exhibiting?
- Communicate and consult regularly and professionally with the artist/exhibitor
- Develop, design, and execute a promotions plan for the exhibition within budget specifications
- Installation (with standard hardware and interpretive signage) and deinstall exhibition
- Provide university insurance coverage for exhibited artwork not to exceed $500,000 per the University’s requirements.
- Coordinate a free and public exhibition reception, with budget and arrangements for catering from Aramark
What standards are in place for health, safety, and public display?
- Student Union staff will curate and install the exhibition, with consultation and support from the exhibitor.
- Student Union staff will light the exhibition, with consultation from the exhibitor.
- Selected artwork may not stain, damage, prohibit ingress and egress, or cause excessive audio disruption to the facility, equipment, or surrounding meeting rooms.
- Student Union staff will review installation methods of securing, hanging, and attaching any and all artwork. This may include an assessment of size, weight, and any specialty hardware intended for use during the exhibition process.
- Student Union staff may review and screen, prior to opening, any exhibition or part thereof that may be considered unsafe, inappropriate for public display, and/or in direct conflict with Boise State University’s shared values. Please note that the gallery is designated a free speech space as per University policy.
- Student Union will observe all ADA requirements for arrangement and museum display of artworks.
