Artsline | Valley Metro

Valley Metro’s investment in the arts and culture community through the Valley Metro Artsline® program enhances the quality of life in our city centers while producing economic growth throughout the diverse communities that we serve. Artsline creates a sense of place through a variety of artwork and enhances connections through art and transit.

Valley Metro Artsline® is defined as placemaking, people and community that exists in the physical space at stations, on board light rail, art programs and partnerships with community destinations and organizations. Artsline is connecting communities through culture and creativity. Artsline connects you with over 55 arts and culture destinations and be immersed in art at every light rail station and streetcar stop. Your Artsline adventure starts on Valley Metro Rail. Check out the Artsline Arts and Culture brochure.

The objective of Artsline is to enrich our spaces of shared transit and to make traveling on the Artsline an inviting part of the city by contributing to the development of cultural destinations along the rail line. The Artsline program continues to grow and strengthen through ongoing collaborations with the arts and culture community and cultural organizations throughout the cities that it serves.

Call for Artists. Artsline in partnership with Artlink.

Valley Metro is putting out the call for creative locals to be an upcoming Artsline Spotlight Artist. The artist, or team of artists, will be selected for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 seasons. Spotlight Artists are featured most prominently on a 16 ft. x 43 ft. mural at the Roosevelt/Central Ave light rail station. These artists will have a variety of other opportunities to promote their artwork on transit as well. With the support of Artlink Inc., artists must submit their Spotlight Artist applications through the Artlink website by Monday, April 10 at 5 p.m. 

Eligibility

  • Must be at least 18 years of age and resident of Arizona for at least two years.
  • Must have a thorough knowledge of the program requirements with the capacity and capabilities to fulfill according to the dates established.
  • Artists must be registered as an Artlink Articipant. It is free to sign up as a working artist. Find the registration form at artlinkphx.org. 
  • This call is open to the public including artist teams. There is no fee to enter. 

Criteria

  • Applicants should demonstrate artistic merit in conceptual approach and technical execution.
  • Originality and quality of workmanship.
  • Ability to translate work in acceptable 2-D digital medium.

Application Materials

  • A current resume.
  • Letter of interest.
  • Portfolio of at least 10 digital images documenting previously completed creative work. Portfolio should demonstrate originality and skill in creating and executing artwork such as murals, graphic design, painting, digital content creation, illustration, etc.
  • Images should reflect work produced within the past five years.
  • When submitting your portfolio, provide title, date, size, medium and brief description of the artwork. Provide location if displayed in a public space.
  • Email and phone contacts for two professional or art discipline references. Your references will only be called if you are a finalist.

If selected, artists will be required to sign the Artsline Spotlight Artist contract agreement.

A painting of a women’s multiple facial expressions over flower. Farnaz Monsouri. Spring 2023 spotlight artist.

Freedom and new beginnings featured in Roosevelt wall’s new mural

 

Powerful images depicting freedom and new beginnings are the key themes behind the spring wall mural at the Roosevelt/Central Ave light rail station. Valley Metro’s spring Artsline Spotlight Artist, Farnaz Mansouri, created a complex and engaging design for the mural. 

Mansouri states, “It is my hope that everyone riding transit or walking by the mural finds a connection to my artwork. Each person’s experience will be different and that’s the beauty of art.” 

Learn more about the artist at valleymetro.org/spotlightartist.

Interactive art maps

Explore Artsline virtually with our interactive maps. See art at every station and check out over 55 arts and culture destinations Artsline can take you. Start your next adventure on Artsline!

Artsline is Social

Share your Artsline experience on social media by tagging @valleymetro and using #Artsline.

Arts and culture are immersed in your daily life; just take a look around. Valley Metro wants to connect you to amazing arts and cultural experiences throughout the Valley and across Artsline.

With over 55 cultural destinations along the light rail corridor, you can explore your community and others. Some of these cultural destinations are displayed below, all of them can be found in the Arts & Culture Destination Guide.

When you visit these destinations, don’t forget to document your experience on social media. Share your Artsline experience by tagging @valleymetro and using #artsline to connect with us and fellow riders.

Artsline not only connects you to arts and culture destinations across the Valley; each station is a work of art too. Local and national artists have created unique art installations for each Valley Metro light rail station. The community-inspired art pieces are a perfect first impression to the neighborhood when you exit a light rail vehicle.

    From massive sculptures to small tiles, the artwork at every station shows a connection to the community. You can check out the art at every station by visiting our interactive station and public art map (coming soon). This map gives you a great overview of our station and public art before heading out to experience it for yourself.

    Station and public art not only add to the beauty of the urban landscape, but also enhances the transit experience for all of our riders; visitors, students and local Valley residents.

    Please be respectful of all art at the stations as you enjoy a journey across ArtsLine. Remember to Respect the Ride any time you are on Valley Metro light rail or station platforms.

    Art Books

    Discover more about the art installations and their artists by checking out our Art Books.

    Community of Art

    Artsline Spotlight Artists are a collection of local and national artists who have created artwork to display throughout Valley Metro Rail, including a large-scale mural at Roosevelt/Central Ave station. Spotlight Artists enhance the rider experience through expressive artwork and powerful storytelling. We have a variety of Spotlight Artists that work in paint, sculpture, two- and three-dimensional art and more. This combination of different art styles shows diversity to appeal to all riders.

    A painting of a women’s multiple facial expressions over flower. Farnaz Monsouri. Spring 2023 spotlight artist.

    New Spotlight Artist for spring

    Powerful images depicting freedom and new beginnings are the key themes behind the spring wall mural at the Roosevelt/Central Ave light rail station. Valley Metro’s spring Artsline Spotlight Artist, Farnaz Mansouri, created a complex and engaging design for the mural, which is being installed tomorrow.

    To kick off Art Detour 35, and celebrate Women’s History Month, the Iranian artist’s goal is to contribute more beauty into her new community. Growing up in the Middle East, Mansouri had a passion for art from childhood but her dream of being an artist took much longer to come to fruition. Coming to the United States gave her the opportunity to include more thought-evoking and positive messaging in her pieces. 

    Mansouri states, “It is my hope that everyone riding transit or walking by the mural finds a connection to my artwork. Each person’s experience will be different and that’s the beauty of art.” 

    Check out some of the previous Spotlight Artists work. 

    Valley Metro is always looking for ways to enhance the rider experience and that includes through art! Our art collection is always growing and new opportunities are coming to beautify our communities.

    While Valley Metro has several opportunities for artists to flourish, there are additional chances to display your art around the Valley.

    Other art opportunities in our communities:

    Valley Metro member city art opportunities:

    Valley Metro’s investment in the arts and culture community through the Valley Metro Artsline® program enhances the quality of life in our city centers while producing economic growth throughout the diverse communities that we serve. Artsline creates a sense of place through a variety of artwork and enhances connections through art and transit.

    Valley Metro Artsline® is defined as placemaking, people and community that exists in the physical space at stations, on board light rail, art programs and partnerships with community destinations and organizations. Artsline is connecting communities through culture and creativity. Artsline connects you with over 55 arts and culture destinations and be immersed in art at every light rail station and streetcar stop. Your Artsline adventure starts on Valley Metro Rail. Check out the Artsline Arts and Culture brochure.

    The objective of Artsline is to enrich our spaces of shared transit and to make traveling on the Artsline an inviting part of the city by contributing to the development of cultural destinations along the rail line. The Artsline program continues to grow and strengthen through ongoing collaborations with the arts and culture community and cultural organizations throughout the cities that it serves.

    Call for Artists. Artsline in partnership with Artlink.

    Valley Metro is putting out the call for creative locals to be an upcoming Artsline Spotlight Artist. The artist, or team of artists, will be selected for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 seasons. Spotlight Artists are featured most prominently on a 16 ft. x 43 ft. mural at the Roosevelt/Central Ave light rail station. These artists will have a variety of other opportunities to promote their artwork on transit as well. With the support of Artlink Inc., artists must submit their Spotlight Artist applications through the Artlink website by Monday, April 10 at 5 p.m. 

    Eligibility

    • Must be at least 18 years of age and resident of Arizona for at least two years.
    • Must have a thorough knowledge of the program requirements with the capacity and capabilities to fulfill according to the dates established.
    • Artists must be registered as an Artlink Articipant. It is free to sign up as a working artist. Find the registration form at artlinkphx.org. 
    • This call is open to the public including artist teams. There is no fee to enter. 

    Criteria

    • Applicants should demonstrate artistic merit in conceptual approach and technical execution.
    • Originality and quality of workmanship.
    • Ability to translate work in acceptable 2-D digital medium.

    Application Materials

    • A current resume.
    • Letter of interest.
    • Portfolio of at least 10 digital images documenting previously completed creative work. Portfolio should demonstrate originality and skill in creating and executing artwork such as murals, graphic design, painting, digital content creation, illustration, etc.
    • Images should reflect work produced within the past five years.
    • When submitting your portfolio, provide title, date, size, medium and brief description of the artwork. Provide location if displayed in a public space.
    • Email and phone contacts for two professional or art discipline references. Your references will only be called if you are a finalist.

    If selected, artists will be required to sign the Artsline Spotlight Artist contract agreement.

    A painting of a women’s multiple facial expressions over flower. Farnaz Monsouri. Spring 2023 spotlight artist.

    Freedom and new beginnings featured in Roosevelt wall’s new mural

     

    Powerful images depicting freedom and new beginnings are the key themes behind the spring wall mural at the Roosevelt/Central Ave light rail station. Valley Metro’s spring Artsline Spotlight Artist, Farnaz Mansouri, created a complex and engaging design for the mural. 

    Mansouri states, “It is my hope that everyone riding transit or walking by the mural finds a connection to my artwork. Each person’s experience will be different and that’s the beauty of art.” 

    Learn more about the artist at valleymetro.org/spotlightartist.

    Interactive art maps

    Explore Artsline virtually with our interactive maps. See art at every station and check out over 55 arts and culture destinations Artsline can take you. Start your next adventure on Artsline!

    Artsline is Social

    Share your Artsline experience on social media by tagging @valleymetro and using #Artsline.

    Arts and culture are immersed in your daily life; just take a look around. Valley Metro wants to connect you to amazing arts and cultural experiences throughout the Valley and across Artsline.

    With over 55 cultural destinations along the light rail corridor, you can explore your community and others. Some of these cultural destinations are displayed below, all of them can be found in the Arts & Culture Destination Guide.

    When you visit these destinations, don’t forget to document your experience on social media. Share your Artsline experience by tagging @valleymetro and using #artsline to connect with us and fellow riders.

    Artsline not only connects you to arts and culture destinations across the Valley; each station is a work of art too. Local and national artists have created unique art installations for each Valley Metro light rail station. The community-inspired art pieces are a perfect first impression to the neighborhood when you exit a light rail vehicle.

      From massive sculptures to small tiles, the artwork at every station shows a connection to the community. You can check out the art at every station by visiting our interactive station and public art map (coming soon). This map gives you a great overview of our station and public art before heading out to experience it for yourself.

      Station and public art not only add to the beauty of the urban landscape, but also enhances the transit experience for all of our riders; visitors, students and local Valley residents.

      Please be respectful of all art at the stations as you enjoy a journey across ArtsLine. Remember to Respect the Ride any time you are on Valley Metro light rail or station platforms.

      Art Books

      Discover more about the art installations and their artists by checking out our Art Books.

      Community of Art

      Artsline Spotlight Artists are a collection of local and national artists who have created artwork to display throughout Valley Metro Rail, including a large-scale mural at Roosevelt/Central Ave station. Spotlight Artists enhance the rider experience through expressive artwork and powerful storytelling. We have a variety of Spotlight Artists that work in paint, sculpture, two- and three-dimensional art and more. This combination of different art styles shows diversity to appeal to all riders.

      A painting of a women’s multiple facial expressions over flower. Farnaz Monsouri. Spring 2023 spotlight artist.

      New Spotlight Artist for spring

      Powerful images depicting freedom and new beginnings are the key themes behind the spring wall mural at the Roosevelt/Central Ave light rail station. Valley Metro’s spring Artsline Spotlight Artist, Farnaz Mansouri, created a complex and engaging design for the mural, which is being installed tomorrow.

      To kick off Art Detour 35, and celebrate Women’s History Month, the Iranian artist’s goal is to contribute more beauty into her new community. Growing up in the Middle East, Mansouri had a passion for art from childhood but her dream of being an artist took much longer to come to fruition. Coming to the United States gave her the opportunity to include more thought-evoking and positive messaging in her pieces. 

      Mansouri states, “It is my hope that everyone riding transit or walking by the mural finds a connection to my artwork. Each person’s experience will be different and that’s the beauty of art.” 

      Check out some of the previous Spotlight Artists work. 

      Valley Metro is always looking for ways to enhance the rider experience and that includes through art! Our art collection is always growing and new opportunities are coming to beautify our communities.

      While Valley Metro has several opportunities for artists to flourish, there are additional chances to display your art around the Valley.

      Other art opportunities in our communities:

      Valley Metro member city art opportunities: