The Art Parade: Call for Proposals

Presented by LACMA in collaboration with Jeffrey Deitch, on June 20, 2026

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Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 10, 2026, 11:59 pm PDT

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) invites artists and creatives to participate in The Art Parade, a large-scale public procession on Museum Row on June 20, 2026 (details to be announced soon).

Conceived two decades ago by influential art dealer and curator Jeffrey Deitch, The Art Parade ran annually in New York's SoHo from 2005 to 2008, bringing together more than 1,000 participants each year in a creative procession that transformed the streets into a living gallery. Organized in partnership with Creative Time and Paper Magazine through Deitch Projects, the parade became a beloved community event where artists, performers, and designers created floats, placards, and spectacles that blurred the boundaries between art, performance, and public celebration.

This Los Angeles edition marks a pivotal moment in LACMA's history and for the city itself. The opening of the David Geffen Galleries culminates a two-decade campus transformation, with the new Peter Zumthor–designed building adding 110,000 square feet of gallery space and creating 3.5 acres of new outdoor public space at LACMA. This new exhibition space welcomes visitors to explore thousands of artworks on view. The Art Parade serves as both a celebration of this cultural moment and a means of bringing the museum directly to the community.

The parade invites participation from artists, musicians, performers, art students, and the city's entire dynamic creative community. Envisioned as a living extension of the museum’s programs, it will activate LACMA's campus and surrounding public space through artistic participation and shared experience, underlining LACMA's longstanding commitment to celebrating artists, presenting art in public spaces, and engaging broad and diverse audiences. This is not simply a revival but a reimagining: a collaboration that adapts Deitch's original vision for L.A.'s unique cultural landscape.

Eligibility

The Art Parade is open to emerging and established artists and creatives of all ages and backgrounds, including students. Individual artists, groups, and community-based organizations are welcome to apply.

Project Types

LACMA seeks proposals for mobile, processional works designed for presentation in an outdoor, public setting. Submissions may include, but are not limited to:

  • Carryable sculptures (handheld, wearable, or group-carried)
  • Costumes conceived as sculptural works
  • Banners, flags, or standards designed for group participation
  • Inflatable artworks
  • Performance, dance, and musical acts
  • Interdisciplinary projects that combine visual art, performance, and sound

Proposed works should be visually engaging, conceptually strong, and appropriate for an all-ages, public audience.

Project Considerations

  • All works must be human-powered (no motors or vehicles); limited electronic amplification will be permitted for sound elements.
  • Projects should be structurally sound, safe, and durable for outdoor presentation.
  • Proposals should account for mobility, scale, and visibility within a parade format.
  • Collaborative and community-centered proposals are strongly encouraged.
  • All works must be suitable for an all-ages public environment.
  • Each accepted proposal will be awarded a discretionary supplies stipend of up to $500.
  • We love animals, but for health and safety reasons, none are permitted in the parade.
  • All signage, costumes, and artworks will remain the property of the participants at the conclusion of the parade.

Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm PDT

Proposals will be accepted through Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 11:59 pm PDT via the proposal portal. You will need to create an account on Submittable if you do not already have one, and may save and update your proposal until you submit it.

Applicants will be asked to submit the following materials:

  • A brief project description outlining the proposed work
  • Visual references, sketches, or documentation of the proposed work or relevant prior work(s)
  • Estimated dimensions, materials, and construction approach
  • Number of participants involved
  • Description of any sound or performance elements
  • A short artist or group biography


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Review and Selection

Proposals will be reviewed by a curatorial team led by Jeffrey Deitch in collaboration with LACMA staff. Selections will be based on artistic merit, clarity of concept, feasibility, and relevance to the goals of The Art Parade and LACMA’s public programming mission.

Jury decisions will be shared via email on a rolling basis. Participants must confirm their participation within five days of notification.

Further Information

The Art Parade reflects LACMA’s ongoing commitment to access, inclusion, and public engagement. Participants will contribute to a collective celebration that emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and the role of art in civic life.

For any questions, please email educate@lacma.org with “Art Parade” in the subject line.

FAQ

Art Parade FAQ

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The Art Parade
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The Art Parade
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The Art Parade