Make Your Mark on Your Community
OC Streetcar – Orange County’s first modern streetcar – is arriving in 2026, and we want you to be part of it! OCTA is inviting local artists to submit their portfolios for the opportunity to create digital artwork featured in OC Streetcar marketing campaigns. About OC Streetcar
Showcase Your Digital Art with OC Streetcar
Selected artists will be compensated on a commission basis and will collaborate with OCTA to capture the experience of the OC Streetcar – celebrating connection, movement, and the vibrant culture of our communities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to a historic milestone in Orange County!
Showcase Your Digital Art with OC Streetcar
Selected artists will be compensated on a commission basis and will collaborate with OCTA to capture the experience of the OC Streetcar – celebrating connection, movement, and the vibrant culture of our communities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to a historic milestone in Orange County!
Portfolio Submission Guidlelines
Residents or students of Santa Ana or Garden Grove.
- Submissions must include original, digital illustrations created with tools such as Procreate, Photoshop, or similar software.
- Each portfolio may be compiled from the artist’s existing body of work. New art need not be created for submission.
- A minimum of 5 illustrations is required.
- Shared via URL to portfolio website, Dropbox, Adobe Portfolio, Google Drive, or another comparable cloud-based service.
- Each illustration must include a Title, Brief Description, Date of Completion.
- Artwork must be the applicant’s own creation—no copied, third-party, or AI-generated art will be accepted.
- Must showcase a range of styles and techniques that best represent your artistic skills.
Selection Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by a Selection Committee comprised of the OCTA Marketing Manager, OC Streetcar Marketing Project Manager, and city staff or designee.
Submissions are open to individuals or students who currently reside in or are enrolled in school in the City of Santa Ana or the City of Garden Grove and are 18 years of age or older.
- Strength, originality, and artistic vision demonstrated in prior works.
- Ability to capture cultural character and community diversity through visual expression.
- Evidence in the portfolio of creating artwork that communicates effectively to broad audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to produce work adaptable across various formats (print, digital, outdoor advertising, etc.).
Capacity, as demonstrated in the portfolio, to create work that can reflect the OC Streetcar project, transit use, and community pride.
Indications in the portfolio that the artist can produce work suitable for marketing production needs (clarity, scalability, use of color, etc.).
- Completeness and clarity of the application.
- Evidence of reliability and ability to meet deadlines in prior projects.
Finalist artists will be invited to participate in an interview with the Selection Committee. The interview will confirm their ability to deliver new artwork tailored to the OC Streetcar campaign and allow discussion of process, timelines, and collaboration expectations.
Terms & Conditions
- Each selected artist will be required to enter into an agreement with OCTA prior to commissioning any artwork.
- OCTA is a government agency and will be sharing any commissioned artwork on its advertisements and other publications. As such, all commissioned artwork must be family friendly and appropriate for public distribution.
Key Milestones
Artists may begin submitting a portfolio of illustrations from their existing body of work.
Last day to submit portfolios of existing work.
Finalist artists will be invited to participate in interviews with the Selection Committee.
OCTA will announce a selection of up to five artists.
OCTA will collaborate with the selected artist(s) to ensure the final piece(s) reflects both the artist’s unique style and the spirit of the community.
How to Submit Your Portfolio
- Starting on January 5, 2026, artists will be able to submit their applications here.
- If you have questions, please contact Anthony Gavazzi at agavazzi@octa.net or 714-560-5389.
What If You Are Selected?
OCTA will collaborate with the selected artist(s) to ensure the final piece(s) reflects both the artist’s unique style and the spirit of the community. Below is further insight into the scope of work and the subject matter that you would be representing in your artwork.
Compensation (Selected Artists Only)
OCTA will select up to five artists, each of whom will receive $2,000 ($500 up front and $1,500 upon completion) for completing one commissioned piece.
Scope of Work (Selected Artists Only)
Delivery Format
Final artwork must be delivered in a layered, high resolution format to ensure adaptability across a wide range of formats and sizes.
Subject Matter
Each commissioned composition will feature the OC Streetcar as its focal point, integrated within a vibrant collage of imagery that represents the people, places, and culture of Santa Ana and Garden Grove.
Note: OCTA is interested in a diverse set of artistic styles. Examples shown below are for communicating the intended subject matter.