North Omaha Trail & Chambers Court Call for Artists

Applications Open August 24 - October 4, 2026

Amplify, Spark, and Hoppe Development have teamed up to open a call for artists to create 13 new public artworks along the North Omaha Trail and at Chambers Court.

If you have strong connections to North Omaha and are passionate about the stories, history, culture, and future of its neighborhoods, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Artists, artist collectives, and collaborative groups working in any discipline are encouraged to apply. Whether you’re just getting started or are more established in your practice, we want to hear from you. You do not need a formal arts education or previous public art experience.

We’re especially interested in work that explores North Omaha’s personal and collective history while honoring the community's leadership, creativity, resilience, culture, and abundance. We welcome work that celebrates the past, reflects the present, and looks to the future. 

Applications are now closed. Keep scrolling to see selection process details and timeline. 

 

  • For this RFQ, applications will be reviewed in a phased review process:

    1. Amplify Arts staff will review to ensure applicants meet eligibility requirements and have submitted a complete application.

    2. All eligible applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel of arts professionals external to Omaha to share applicants' work with national arts professionals.

    3. Top-ranking applications will then be reviewed by a panel of community stakeholders and members of the project team.

    4. Finalists will be invited to participate in an interview with the project team. This interview is a collaborative conversation to discuss the project vision, community engagement approaches, and specific location opportunities along the North Omaha Trail and/or within Ernie Chambers Court.

    5. After interviews, project partners will make final artist selections.

    Application Evaluation

    All eligible applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

    • Artist Statement aligns with the goals of the North Omaha Trail as described in the Project Background section. 

    • Artist Statement articulates a strong connection to North Omaha, its history, and the well-being of its residents.

    • The Work Sample illustrates a history of past work that inspires confidence in the artist’s capacity to realize the proposed work.  

    • Overall, the application is compelling and thought-provoking.

    Click here to view the full evaluation rubric.

  • Below, you’ll find a timeline for the application review process:

  • Locations for artwork integrations generally include public infrastructure and some facades located along the North Omaha Trail (along North 27th Street extending south to Ohio Street, along 26th Street, east down Franklin Street and connecting with 24th Street) and within Chambers Court.

  • Yes! Selected artists will be matched with a location that fits the materials and media represented in their application. From there, artists will work alongside Amplify Arts and project partners to develop an artwork concept that responds to the specific site and fits within an established budget. Artists will have the opportunity to shape and refine their ideas before the final concept is approved and production begins. You’ll be compensated for your time and creative work during the concept development phase.

 

About Spark

Spark's mission is to help profoundly transform disinvested neighborhoods into thriving and prosperous communities. Spark promotes Holistic Community Development. This applies rigorous real estate development methods while considering all the foundational assets- social, political, economic, and physical- that are necessary for communities to thrive and prosper. They support and supplement the work of existing organizations, build upon existing community assets, provide funding, leverage resources to close financing gaps, and to help educate and minimize the risk for developers who would otherwise not invest in these neighborhoods.


About Hoppe Development

Hoppe Development is a mission-driven real estate development firm focused on delivering high-quality, sustainable housing and catalytic mixed-use projects across the Midwest. Their pipeline includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) affordable housing, workforce housing, mixed-income communities, and community-oriented developments that integrate supportive services, placemaking, and long-term neighborhood revitalization. We partner with public agencies, nonprofits, lenders, investors, and municipalities to create lasting impact.


About Amplify Arts

Amplify Arts works to build communities where arts and culture are valued as essential to how we belong, relate, and collectively imagine what’s possible. Amplify’s Public Art program makes creative work visible and accessible in the rhythms of daily life. We partner with artists, nonprofits, developers, businesses, and community stakeholders to develop public art projects that create spaces where people feel inspired to live, work, and stay.

Amplify serves as a central pivot between project stakeholders and artists. Amplify organizes application and selection processes, but does not evaluate applications or make selections. Post-selection, Amplify works closely with artists and project stakeholders to coordinate communication, conduct regular check-ins, handle installation, and manage project close-out. 

 
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