Buffalo and Western New York are well known for all sorts of things that have put our town on the map. From our long history tied to the growth and expansion of America to the great food and architecture spread throughout town, Buffalo is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

One thing that sometimes floats under the radar is all of the amazing public art we have around the region. While our art galleries and other cultural institutions are known far and wide, there are hundreds of different public murals and art installations all around the 716 that will leave you satisfied.

For as much art that we have around town, there is tons of room for more, and some officials in Erie County government seem to agree, as the county’s Arts in Public Spaces Committee is putting out a call for new artists to bring some artist life to two key locations in Western New York.

Erie County Is Looking For Artists for New Projects in WNY

The Art In Public Places program is seeking to add new art installations at both the redeveloped and remodeled Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, along with Isle View Park in Tonawanda.

If you’re an artist who has not yet done an Art In Public Places project, Erie County has two art contracts that you can apply for with a budget of up to $75,000 each.

This opportunity is for artists residing in Erie County who have not been previously selected to complete an Art in Public Places public art project. Each selected project will receive funding of up to $75,000.
-Colette Balisteri, Erie County Arts in Public Places Assistant Project Coordinator

The two projects will be located in places that will get lots of foot traffic and will be highly visible to the community for years to come. According to the County’s Art In Public Places Master Plan, making sure art is publicly accessible to all residents and visitors of Erie County is one of the many things that improve the quality of life in our community, along with making Western New York a vibrant place to live.

READ MORE: 9 Must-See Public Art Street Murals in Buffalo

There have been several works of art all over the county that grab a lot of attention, and these two projects aim to extend that feeling.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this, there will be an information session on March 24th, and the deadline to apply to the Erie County Arts in Public Spaces Committee is noon on April 20, 2026. If you think you have what it takes, now is the time to act.

You can find out more about this and other art opportunities on the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning’s Art in Public Places website.

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Gallery Credit: Gunther Volvo Coconut Creek