Call for Public Art Proposals at future Claremont MyCiTi station
The City of Cape Town invites artists and creative practitioners to submit concept proposals for public artworks at the planned Claremont MyCiTi bus station, which is being built as part of the next phase of MyCiTi services (Phase 2A).
MyCiTi has advanced the integration of local public art into Cape Town’s urban environment. Throughout the city - from Atlantis to the CBD and beyond - our bus stations display original works by local artists that enrich the travel experience and enhance the quality of our shared public spaces.
Through a thoughtfully curated selection process, the artworks planned for Phase 2A will also help elevate public spaces, promote social cohesion and reflect the diverse stories and identities that shape our shared community.
Examples of artworks from existing MyCiTi bus stations
Claremont MyCiTi Station Context
The planned MyCiTi Claremont bus station is the first to be built for the next phase of services, which will connect Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain with Wynberg and Claremont with rapid, scheduled public transport services.
As a high-volume interchange, this station has been identified as a special focus for artworks, with multiple large-scale artwork opportunities including internal and external walls, a prominent curved glass façade and possible sculptural elements.
The spaces that artists will be responding to in Claremont include the:
- Prominent concrete and vertical wall surface (approximately 12m x 9m)
- Curved glass façade (approximately 25m x 5m)
- Foyer entrance wall
- Platform-adjacent walls
Proposals for Claremont may draw inspiration from the area’s rich cultural and natural heritage, which includes: The vibrant cultural, music, performance, and cinema history of Lower Claremont prior to forced removals. The area as a colonial frontier and as a transit route: from carriage to electric tramway, to rail. Arderne Gardens and its nationally significant heritage trees. The scientific and botanical legacy of Sir John and Lady Herschel during (1834–1838) and early experiments with images created with the camera lucida technique.
Claremont lies within the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos habitat; a highly unique ecosystem found only in Cape Town. Although it is now largely urban, the area supports many plant and animal species that are endemic.
An aerial impression of the planned MyCiTi Claremont station.
Useful Resources
- https://sahistory.org.za/place/claremont-suburb-cape-town
- https://www.claremonthistories.co.za
- https://www.ardernegardens.org.za/history
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Flats_Sand_Fynbos
MyCiTi Station Art Book
Be inspired with our e-book showcasing the talent of artists who have already contributed to making the MyCiTi system so special.
Available Artwork Opportunities
Artwork Commission 1A
A long wall in the underpass on Central Street is viewed by commuters waiting for busses on the other side of the street. A bold painted mural or design using ceramic tiles will enliven this dark space, add character and identity. Improved lighting is planned. Alternative solutions to treating this wall, besides a mural or tile graphic, will be considered if the artwork is robust to the outdoor conditions and makes a positive impact in the space.
The underpass wall includes two permeable screens that provide ventilation to the parking garage behind the wall. This is a separate commission but may be considered as a single design challenge.
Total Area 124 square meters (29.8m x 5.5m)
Final artwork budgets will be confirmed per commission and may vary depending on scale, materials, and fabrication requirements.
Artwork Commission 1B
Two areas of 3.2m high and 6.2m wide in the Central Street Underpass wall require security screens that provide ventilation to the parking areas behind. This is an opportunity for designing decorative screens (Jali). The screens are not load bearing but need to be resistant to lateral loads from wind, and secure against vandalism and impact. These may be made from steel, treated for weather. Preferably the screens should be built as Precast Concrete Panels or Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) panels.
The precast panels should accommodate around 40% open space. Precast concrete panels can be made in sizes around 1000mm x 1200mm and 80-100mm thick. Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete panels can be thinner, 40-50mm thick, and can accommodate finer detail. Lighting is important to this installation, providing ambiance at night. A budget for lighting behind the screens will be accommodated.
Total Area 39.7 square meters (3.2m x 6.2m x 2 screens)
Final artwork budgets will be confirmed per commission and may vary depending on scale, materials, and fabrication requirements.
Artwork 1 Drawings and References [ZIP, 9MB]
The artwork for the four Platform Walls is considered as one commission. The design and colour selection should complement each other and read well as a series. Platform Walls, B and C are only seen from a distance when entering the bus terminal, calling for bold designs that are easy to read in passing. Wall A is more visible at the end of the walkway to the platforms. The Side Wall, D, is alongside the walkway with a bench along its length for seating. This artwork can be viewed closeup and should have more detail.
Platform Wall A 15.9 square meters (3.02m x 5.28m)
Platform Wall B 14.5 square meters (2.75m x 5.28m)
Platform Wall C 15.3 square meters (2.9m x 5.28m)
Platform Side Wall D 22.3 square meters (5.2m x 4.3m)
Final artwork budgets will be confirmed per commission and may vary depending on scale, materials, and fabrication requirements.
This is a prominent southeast facing wall when approaching along Claremont Boulevard. The commission requires a design that reads well from a distance and is interesting from closeup. The artwork should be made with long-lasting, weather resistant materials that attach to the off-shutter concrete wall.
A shallow relief design made up of precast segmented panels with set attachment points to the wall is recommended. High performance concrete is preferable but other weather resistant materials may be considered. If a mold making process is used it may be advisable to incorporate repeat patterns into the design for more efficient production.
Other solutions for a sculptural relief artwork that attaches to the off shutter concrete façade will be considered if they can meet high standards of safety and resilience to weathering. The MyCiTi Art management team will assist to provide technical advice, support for the development of selected design solutions, and oversight for the installation method.
Total Area: 141 square meters (9.18m x 15.36m)
Final artwork budgets will be confirmed per commission and may vary depending on scale, materials, and fabrication requirements.
This prominent interior wall commands the entrance lobby. It is visible from a distance on the approach to the station entrance over the pedestrian crossing. The Foyer Wall is flanked on each side by the ticket counter and the platform entrance turnstiles. A seating bench is positioned below the artwork. A hardwearing surface such as mosaic would be appropriate for this space. As the artwork can be viewed from closeup a design with texture, detail and depth would be appropriate.
Total Area 12.2 square meters (4.5m x 2.7m)
Final artwork budgets will be confirmed per commission and may vary depending on scale, materials, and fabrication requirements.
The Curved Glass Façade can accommodate a translucent artwork that wraps the corner of the building and entrance to the station. The windows do not get direct sun as they are south facing and under roof cover. The design should allow sufficient light into the interior. While the full image across two stories will be visible from the outside of the building, only part of the graphic will be visible to commuters from the interior, along the south side of the entrance.
The window panels are made of LEXAR Margard, a hard coated polycarbonate sheet. The design can be printed to vinyl and applied to the polycarbonate panels. The graphic will likely be applied to the inside of the window. Technical specifications for the graphic printing will be managed and contracted by the City to a contractor who will be responsible for the installation of the artwork.
As an alternative to graphics printed to vinyl artwork proposals that make use of a second surface, translucent graphic panels mounted against the window panels, will be considered.
Total Area 66.5 square meters (13.2m x 5m)
Final artwork budgets will be confirmed per commission and may vary depending on scale, materials, and fabrication requirements.
The Staircase Block, visible from all four sides, is considered for a mural or sculptural work that wraps the whole block. Two of the walls are uninterrupted by openings and have good visibility: The north facing wall is visible as one exits the station and the south facing wall is visible from the traders’ market. The east facing wall has a double door in the façade, while the west facing wall is encumbered on the lower part with two double doors and service panels. (The block contains a store and fire escape for the building planned for later construction above the station entrance.)
Across the road from the Staircase Block is the iconic modernist building, the Werdmuller Center, designed in the 1970s by renowned architect Roelof Uytenbogaardt. While the center of the building is planned for demolition to accommodate a high-rise office block, the periphery will be maintained. The Staircase Block may be an opportunity to reference this building and the (sometimes controversial) heritage of modernist architecture in Cape Town.
Total Area approx. 115 square meters (with reduced area of west facing façade)
Final artwork budgets will be confirmed per commission and may vary depending on scale, materials, and fabrication requirements.
Proposal Submission and Evaluation
Submissions open until 27 March 2026
Artworks will be commissioned through a public open competition, overseen by a professional curatorial team in consultation with the City’s Arts and Culture Branch, Urban Planning and Design, and Urban Mobility departments.
Submissions will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Artistic and cultural merit
- Contextual relevance and public accessibility
- Feasibility and likelihood of successful delivery
Artists will be required to describe their proposed concept, including the artwork’s main idea and visual approach as well as how the artwork will function within a MyCiTi bus station environment.
No technical drawings are required. Artists are welcome to share online links to previous work. The call is open to South African residents and artist collectives.
NB. The City reserves the right not to award a commission should proposals not meet the required standards.