City of Duarte Utility Box Art Program

The City of Duarte is seeking original designs by local artists to cover twenty-one (21) utility boxes at fifteen (15) different locations as part of the Utility Box Art Program. “Utility boxes” include traffic controllers, meter pedestals, and irrigation control boxes. Some locations contain a smaller meter pedestal adjacent to the traffic controller. The Utility Box Art Program aims to transform these metal cabinets into works of art, supporting efforts to create a more vibrant, attractive, and welcoming cityscape and contributing to the unique character of each site location. We invite local emerging artists 18 years of age and older to showcase their talents while promoting eye-catching public art throughout the City.

Each utility box location and theme has been selected for this year’s program, as further described below. Artists will need to indicate their preferred location(s) on the application. All approved designs will be printed on vinyl and installed on City-owned utility boxes by a third-party vendor. The City and a third-party vendor will support the artists selected with final design submissions and modifications.

The original artwork can be designed/created in any 2D medium. The file should be no larger than 2 MB, and pdf or jpg format only. We encourage applicants to develop designs in digital format utilizing the templates found on page 33-34 in our 2025 Call for Artists document; however, the City will also accept photographs or scans of physical art for the application as well. The design concept must be provided in color. Please note that selected artists will need to convert final designs into one of the following file types: PDF, .ai, .psd, TIFF, or JPEG. TIFF and JPEG images must have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI and a minimum of 2,000 pixels.

Selected artists will be paid a stipend for each approved design chosen for the three different utility box configurations present in the City. Utility box locations that contain a traffic controller and meter pedestal will receive a stipend of $950.  Locations that contain only a meter pedestal (not associated with a traffic controller) will be provided a stipend of $550. Artists who produce artwork for irrigation control boxes located in the City’s center median will be awarded a stipend of $400. An artist who submits a design for locations containing both a traffic controller and a meter pedestal must produce complementary designs for both utility boxes.   

Artists may submit a maximum of three (3) design proposals for each Call for Artists cycle, regardless of configuration type or location. A separate application is required for each design. The available utility box configurations are as follows:

A.Traffic Controllers and Meter Pedestals

B. Meter Pedestals Only

C. Irrigation Control Boxes Only

Artists may have more than one (1) submission chosen by the City in the same calendar year, provided that the total stipend amount for all selected designs remains within the prevailing monetary limit established by law. This limit is currently less than $1,000 and is subject to change as allowed by law.

UTILITY BOX THEMES

“Duarte’s Route 66 – Past, Present, & Future”

A patchwork of roads connecting Chicago and Los Angeles, Historic Route 66 is legendary in American history. Long before it saw travelers journeying west, Native Americans created the first pathways that later expanded into wagon roads used by Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers. The establishment of Route 66 coincided with the rise of auto tourism in the 1920s, as newly mobile travelers began exploring the country behind the wheel. Nicknamed “The Mother Road” and “America’s Main Street,” Route 66 became a symbol of freedom and adventure on the open road. 

Duarte was originally developed along Route 66 (Huntington Drive), influencing the City’s growth and development throughout the years. The roadway has been featured regularly in music, film, television, and writing.

2026 represents the centennial of Route 66. In celebration of this milestone anniversary, the City has selected this year’s theme as “Duarte’s Route 66 – Past, Present, & Future”. All utility box artwork submissions should do the following:

• Reflect this year’s overall theme – “Duarte’s Route 66 – Past, Present & Future”;
• Bolster the City’s connection with Route 66; and
• Incorporate the related subthemes shown below, as allowed by the configuration type of the utility boxes.

A. Subtheme 1 – “Faces & People”

• Can be chosen for applications on the “Traffic Controllers and Meter Pedestals” AND “Meter Pedestals Only” configurations.

B. Subtheme 2 – “Pop Culture & Entertainment”

• Can be chosen for applications on the “Traffic Controllers and Meter Pedestals” AND “Meter Pedestals Only” configurations.

C. Subtheme 3 – “Landscapes ”

• Can be chosen for applications on the “Irrigation Control Boxes Only” configuration.

Artists interested in learning more about Duarte’s history and its ties to Route 66 are encouraged to contact the Duarte Historical Society & Museum (777 Encanto Parkway) at (626) 357-9419 for additional resources.

UTILITY BOX LOCATIONS

(View the 2025 Call for Artists document for Pictures)

Traffic Controllers and Meter Pedestals Configuration

(All locations are within the public sidewalk)

Location #1

• Southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Mountain Vista Plaza.
• This location serves as the gateway to one of the City’s most popular and successful shopping centers.
• The traffic controller is larger and a different shape than the ones in other locations.

Location #2

• Southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Buena Vista Street.
• This location is at the main intersection of the City. These boxes will be visible to residents and visitors, especially those utilizing the commercial businesses on each corner of the intersection.

Location #3

• Southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Brycedale Avenue.
• This location is adjacent to the City’s most prominent mixed-use development (“The Huntington”). The location is at the heart of the City’s Town Center Specific Plan, which aims to revitalize portions of Huntington Drive with urban design themes, mixed-use, and commercial development. It is also located north of Duarte High School and the school’s baseball fields.

Location #4

• Northeast corner of Huntington Drive and Pops Road.
• This site is located at a “T” intersection within the City’s Town Center. It is adjacent to Duarte’s Civic Center and a senior apartment complex. The traffic controller is located at the intersection, and the associated meter pedestal is approximately 130’ east of the traffic controller.

Location #5

• Northwest corner of Huntington Drive and Highland Avenue.
• This location is at the eastern end of the City’s Town Center area.  Commercial and office uses are on each corner of the intersection, but residential neighborhoods are adjacent to the commercial corners. This area sees additional foot traffic as a result of its location near Duarte High School, CS Arts, and the Metro light rail station located approximately ½ mile to the south.

Location #6

• Southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Las Lomas Road.
• This location is at the eastern end of the City, before you cross the San Gabriel River bridge and into Irwindale/Azusa. The location sits in front of the community’s original veterinary hospital and is located across the street from a small commercial plaza. Residential neighborhoods are located to the west and northwest of this site.

Meter Pedestals Only Configuration

(All locations are within the public sidewalk)

Location #7

• 900 block of Huntington Drive – south side of street.
• The pedestal is located directly in front of the “Oliva” residential townhouse project and adjacent to the Mountain Vista Plaza shopping Center. This is the first location in this year’s Call for Artists that is located in Duarte, once you cross the city boundary from Monrovia.

Location #8

• Northwest corner of Huntington Drive and Brycedale Avenue.
• This pedestal is located at a “T” intersection. The site is directly in front of the City’s most prominent mixed-use development (“The Huntington”). The location is at the heart of the City’s Town Center Specific Plan, which aims to revitalize portions of Huntington Drive with urban design themes, mixed-use, and commercial development. It is also located north of Duarte High School and the school’s baseball fields.
• There is a second “tan” utility box to the west of the meter pedestal that is owned by a utility company and not a part of this Call for Artists.

Location #9

• 1551 Huntington Drive – north side of the street.
• This site is located within the City’s Town Center, directly in front of a community church and across the street from Duarte’s Civic Center.

Location #10

• 2400 block of Huntington Drive – north side of the street.
• The pedestal is located in front of a residential development, situated between the nearest cross streets, Patel Place and Usha Lane. This site sits across the street from vintage Route 66 commercial buildings that were constructed prior to the construction of the 210 Freeway.

Irrigation Control Boxes Only Configuration

(All locations are within the Huntington Drive median island)

Location #11

• 900 block of Huntington Drive.
• The box is located directly in front of the “Oliva” residential townhouse project in Duarte and the carwash in Monrovia.
• Median landscaping will remain in place but may be trimmed back to allow installation.

Location #12

• 1500 block of Huntington Drive.
• The box is located south of 1515 Huntington Drive. This site is located within the City’s Town Center and across the street from Duarte’s Civic Center.

Location #13

• 1900 block of Huntington Drive.
• The box is directly south of the townhouses located at 1931 Huntington Drive.  The 32-acre property to the south of the irrigation control box is Westminster Gardens, a senior living community established in the 1950s as a haven for Presbyterian missionaries returning to the United States, and is now a life plan community for the general public.
• This location has slightly more visibility due to its location near a left-hand turn pocket.

Location #14

• 2400 block of Huntington Drive.
• The box is directly north of Charm Thai restaurant at 2414 Huntington Drive. This site is across the street from vintage Route 66 commercial buildings that were constructed prior to the construction of the 210 Freeway.
• This location has slightly more visibility due to its location near a left-hand turn pocket.

Location #15

• 2700 block of Huntington Drive.
• The box is directly north of Justice Brothers Automotive (2734 Huntington Dr.) and We Pack It All (2745 Huntington Dr.). Justice Brothers has produced automotive and industrial products since 1936 and has been a fixture in Duarte for several decades. A Justice Brothers car museum was established along Huntington Drive in 1985.
• This location has very high visibility and is one of the first utility box structures in Duarte, as you are headed westbound after crossing the San Gabriel River bridge.

Note: Due to placement in the median island, applicants are advised to view the locations only from public sidewalks. Persons are at their own risk and assume all liability if they choose to cross the street and/or enter the median island.

SUBMITTAL CONTENT

The following minimum information should be provided in each proposal and will be utilized in evaluating each proposal submitted. To expedite the evaluation of proposals, submittals shall include:

A. Utility Box Art Program application

B.Original artwork

• The artist must indicate the orientation of the artwork. Preferably, the applicant will use the geographical direction (north, west, etc.) of how the art is facing. The direction facing needs to be indicated below the submitted artwork or on another sheet that provides both the artwork and orientation. At minimum, the artist needs to indicate on the artwork or another sheet, the orientation of the artwork to the public street or streets it is adjacent to (e.g., facing Huntington Drive or facing Huntington Drive and Buena Vista Street).

C. An artist statement (200-word maximum)

• The statement shall describe why the artist is interested in designing artwork for the utility box, previous experience working on art projects, previous experience working on public art projects (not required), and how the artist believes the art will beautify the surrounding area. (Note: the Artist Statement and Artwork Statement need to be combined onto the same document with item C listed before item D).

D. An artwork statement (200-word maximum)

• The statement shall describe and/or interpret the artwork as it relates to the theme and topics. (Note: the Artist Statement and Artwork Statement need to be combined onto the same document with item C listed after item D).

E. Resume (optional)

• A resume that includes exhibition history and past projects.

F. One to three examples of previous artwork (optional)

• Include a brief description of each artwork. Please provide a hard and/or digital copy.

The original artwork can be designed/created in any 2D medium. The file should be no larger than 2 MB, and pdf or jpg format only. We encourage applicants to develop designs in digital format utilizing the templates found on page 33-34 in our 2025 Call for Artists document; however, the City will also accept photographs or scans of physical art for the application as well. The design concept must be provided in color. 

Please note that selected artists will need to convert final designs into one of the following file types: PDF, .ai, .psd, TIFF, or JPEG. TIFF and JPEG images must have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI and a minimum of 2,000 pixels.

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Timeline*

• Call for Artists announced: December 1, 2025
• Application submission deadline (extended): February 28, 2026 or until 250 complete applications are received
• Artwork evaluated by Arts Ad Hoc Committee: March – April 2026
• Artwork approved by City Council: May – June 2026
• Final design completed: July – August 2026
• Project(s) installed: Fall 2026 (dependent upon vendor availability)

*All dates are subject to change at the City of Duarte’s discretion.

Artist Stipend

Selected artists will be paid a stipend for each final design approved by the City. There are several different configurations involving utility boxes that correspond with different-sized equipment, the number of boxes, surface area, and location.  Stipend amounts are provided for these configurations:

• Traffic controller AND meter pedestal = $950
• Meter pedestal only = $550
• Irrigation control box = $400

The stipend will be paid in half (½) upon selection and in half (½) after final installation. The City will cover the cost of installing and maintaining the utility box wrap.

APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS

Please complete the attached application and submit it no later than February 28, 2026 (extended).

The City may alter the configuration selection made by the applicant, based upon the number of submittals for the locations and relevance of the artwork to the particular configuration.

Artwork will be evaluated and recommended by the Arts Ad Hoc Committee based upon a weighted scoring rubric, based upon the following criteria: design proposal, artwork statement, artist statement, and local preference. Artwork selected by the Ad Hoc Committee will be referred to the City Council for final approval. Artists will be notified within one (1) week of City Council approval if their work is selected.

MEDIA/ART REQUIREMENTS

Design Guidelines

• Utility box art may include graphic art, photos, or similar materials that can be converted into a digital format.
• Artwork must be original and may not contain advertising, copyrighted material, religious art, drug-related content, sexual imagery, or convey political partisanship. All artwork should be appropriate for all ages to view in a public setting.
• Art should be visible from a distance.
• Text is discouraged; however, if the design is to include text, it must be included in the proposal. The artist must have the right to use this text.
• The name of one artist or artist group name may be included on the art, but shall be limited to no more than a 2” tall x 10” wide letter block, located on no more than two sides of any box, and placed in the lower one-third of the artwork. Artist(s) names should not detract from the art.

Media Requirements

• Submitted design files must be no larger than 2 MB and provided in PDF or JPEG format only. Artwork may be created in any two-dimensional medium. Applicants are encouraged to develop designs digitally using the templates provided on pages 33–34 of the 2025 Call for Artists document; however, photographs or scans of physical artwork are also acceptable. All design concepts must be submitted in color.
• Selected artists will be required to provide final, production-ready artwork in one of the following formats: PDF, AI, PSD, TIFF, or JPEG. TIFF and JPEG files must have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI and at least 2,000 pixels.
• The City reserves the right to make layout edits to the design to ensure proper scaling and to prevent the artwork from covering any keyholes, meter windows, door hinges, sensors, ventilation openings, etc.
• Artists of selected artwork understand and agree to the following: Selected artwork will be digitally applied to anti-graffiti vinyl and wrapped on utility boxes that may be targeted by vandals. Art is applied to functioning equipment that may need repair or replacement. No guarantee is issued for the location or longevity of the display. The vendor may make adjustments to the finished piece to address installation challenges.

City Responsibilities

• The City will work with a third-party vendor to install the selected designs as a graffiti-resistant vinyl wrap on each box.
• The City is responsible for the maintenance of the artwork.
• Artists retain the copyright to their original artwork. By participating in the program, artists grant the City a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, display, and distribute images of the artwork for City-related purposes (e.g., promotional materials, website, and social media).

PROCESS AND INSTALLATION

Art Duration

While this art is intended for long-term use (five years or more), the City reserves the right to modify or remove the artwork should a utility box require maintenance, modifications, repairs, or any other reason deemed necessary by the City. Should this occur, the City can convert the utility box back to its original state and color, solicit new proposals, and update the artwork, or work with the artist to modify the art to reflect the respective changes that have occurred.

Ownership

Under the terms of the City’s contract with the artist, all City-funded art installed on City property is owned by the City upon its completion. Additionally, the attached terms and hold harmless agreement is required for entry.

Selection Process

• Selection and approval will be based on the original artwork meeting the location’s theme, innovation, appropriateness, originality, visual impact, and Approval Criteria provided in the Program Guidelines.
• All entries will be reviewed, scored, and recommended by the Arts Ad Hoc Committee for ultimate consideration and approval by the City Council.
• Artists will be notified by City staff if their artwork is approved or not.
• A vendor chosen by the City staff will work with the artist and then install a vinyl wrap of the approved original artwork.
• Selected artists must provide a completed IRS Form W-9 prior to payment and will receive an IRS Form 1099 for any amount exceeding the threshold set by the IRS (currently $600, but subject to change).

• It is the responsibility of the artist to submit a completed application by the listed due date, as well as to include all required materials.
• The artist shall adhere to all Utility Box Art Program Guidelines and the Call for Artists application.
• The artist will be responsible for working with the printer/installer of vinyl wraps to assist in adjusting all artwork, files, and necessary materials for printing and installation on the utility boxes.
• The artist retains the copyright to their original artwork.

• Artists must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
• Applicants must reside, work, or attend school in the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Application is open to all artists: professional, amateur, and student.
• Open to individual artists or a team of artists working as a group. If applying as a group, the application will need to be submitted as a group, and all individuals associated with the group must complete and sign both the Artist Application and the Utility Box Art Policy forms.
• Artists may be evaluated on previous experience.
• If all else is equal, priority will be given to residents of Duarte.