The Water Public Art Challenge invites you to propose a temporary public art project that creatively educates the public about the influence of the Huhugam ingenuity that first brought water to the Valley of the Sun.
What is the Water Public Art Challenge?

The Water Public Art Challenge was the third prize offered under The New Arizona Prize banner. The prize offered awards of $50,000 to the top five collaborative teams proposing temporary public art projects that build connectivity between cultures through creative expression.
The finalist submissions were judged on their ability to illustrate how their art project honors the legacy of the ancestral Sonoran Desert people (Huhugam), whose irrigation engineering and agricultural achievements laid the foundation for the very existence of life in the Valley of the Sun.
Experts representing the arts sector and Native American cultures helped shape this challenge, with many serving as active participants in the review process.
Winners will bring inspiring public art to the Valley
The Water Public Art Challenge received many impressive proposals for temporary public art projects located throughout the Valley of the Sun. Among the 14 finalist teams, five were named as winners during a celebration and showcase on November 7, 2018.
Each collaborative team is working to bring their creative vision to life, transforming extensive proposals into installations open to the public. Arizona Republic Editorial Director Phil Boas shared his view on the winning projects and how they recognize an important but often overlooked chapter of Arizona's history.