The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) is seeking artists to create temporary outdoor public art installations for the Teejop Community History Public Art Project (TCHPAP) during the summer and fall of 2026, the City of Madison’s Department of Planning, Community & Economic Development announced on Monday.
Selected artists will develop place-based art that honors and illuminates some of the rich cultural relationships with Teejop (pronounced day-JOPE), an area that now includes Madison, and should be able to craft installations designed to withstand outdoor elements for a minimum of three months.
“In my opinion, this project has been guided by a profound sense of love, respect, and responsibility,” said Omar Poler, an Indigenous Educator Coordinator for UW-Madison, in a press release. “It’s a gift to our community that encourages us all to learn about Indigenous peoples, reflect, and mindfully engage with the beautiful place we all call home.”
This project aims to create public art that will engage with locations, themes, and learning intentions identified by a local Ho-Chunk community group, according to the press release, and will be facilitated by staff from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who met for many years to carefully consider the locations and values included in this project.
“This initiative represents an important opportunity to bring together artistic expression and historical awareness in public places in Madison that are important to many Ho-Chunk people,” said Nick Pjevach, chair of the Madison Arts Commission. “We’re excited to see how artists represent the stories and themes identified in this call for art.”
Artists with meaningful connections to Teejop and/or Indigenous art are encouraged to apply. More details about the project can be found here.
