The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation, in partnership with Amtrak and Monument Lab, is conducting an Open Call for Artist Ideas to envision and build a monumental “living memorial” to Congressman Gray’s legacy and values. The memorial will be situated within the great hall of Gray 30th Street Station, the historic train depot in Philadelphia that engages over 100,000 people each day. The memorial process is an opportunity to create a new, iconic landmark for the city and its main train station gateway.

Interested artists are invited to complete an online application through December 4, 2024, which includes short response questions, submission of work samples, and a CV. Following the Open Call for Artist Ideas, the Foundation will invite up to five artists to prepare final proposals for in-person presentations. Finalists will be compensated with a stipend of $4,000 plus travel expenses for the creation of a full proposal. In 2025, a Memorial Advisory Committee will review proposals and, informed by community and commuter feedback, deliver final recommendations to the Gray Foundation. Based on the Committee’s recommendations, the Foundation will make a final decision. The budget for the selected project is $1,250,000 in addition to an artist fee of $250,000. The memorial is slated to be dedicated in 2026.