Overview

From bus stops to rail stations, streetscapes to bus interiors, construction fences to poetry works, art creates a sense of place and engages transit riders.

With that in mind, Metro's Art Department was created in 1989 and over the past two decades has commissioned more than 300 artists to incorporate art into a wide array of transportation projects throughout Los Angeles County. Artists are selected through a peer review process with community input and all works are created especially for their specific transit-related sites.

Praised for organizing “one of the most imaginative public art programs in the country," Metro has received numerous design and artistic excellence awards and is renowned for its unparalleled interdisciplinary approach to melding art and the transit experience.

Currently, one half of one percent (0.5%) of rail construction costs are allocated to the creation of original art works, while strong support has been demonstrated by municipal and corporate contributions of over $1.5 million.

To join our mailing list, click on the Artist Opportunities tab above.

Art Tours

Metro offers regularly scheduled as well as special request group tours of the artwork in the Metro Rail system. Tours are led by trained Metro Art Docent Council volunteers. The Metro Art Docent Council is committed to increasing awareness of the broad range of art in the Metro Rail system through public tours that provide insights into the artworks, the artists who created them, the processes it took to make them, and the communities they enhance. While docent programs are commonly found at museums around the world, Metro is the first transit agency to benefit from such a program.

Scheduled Tours

Free tours are offered the first Thursday, Saturday and Sunday of every month. No reservations are required!

Summer Tours, Metro Art Moves_DTLA

Focused on three downtown stations, innovative tours led by Metro Art Docents and local artists foster connections between the workplace and downtown arts, social and culinary adventures. Tours are designed for creative professionals interested in the downtown cultural scene, and focus on navigating the Metro system, introducing riders to Metro’s diverse art collection and highlighting downtown destinations served by rail and bus. Summer tours (July-September) begin at 7th Street/Metro Center Station and end at Civic Center Station, at Grand Park’s Out of Office event, with live music and food trucks.

First Thursday

5:30pm-7:00pm

Meet promptly at 5:30pm at the entrance to the 7th Street/Metro Center Station, at the corner of Figueroa and 7th Street, under the ceiling mural by Terry Schoonhoven.

Year Round Tours

Docent led tours focus on getting around town using transit, introducing riders to a variety of artworks in Red Line stations, and drawing attention to area destinations served by Metro.

First Saturday

10:00am-12:00pm

Meet promptly at 10:00am at the street level entrance to the Hollywood/Highland Metro Rail Station on Hollywood Blvd. near the corner with Highland Ave. If driving to Hollywood/Highland station, park at the Visitors' Center at the Hollywood/Highland shopping center complex to obtain partial parking validation. This tour is roundtrip.

First Sunday

10:00am-12:00pm

Meet promptly at 10:00 am at the information booth inside the entrance to historic Union Station at 900 Alameda St in Downtown Los Angeles. There is pay parking at Union Station, and metered street parking and pay lots in the immediate area. This tour is roundtrip.

Special Request Tours

Free art tours for groups of 15 or more are available by special arrangement. School tours are available for students in the 5th grade and above.

More information is available by calling 213.922.2738 or by clicking Art Tours.

General Information

The tours are approximately 90% walking; there are elevators and escalators in all the stations.

Docents carry voice amplifiers and wear bright yellow safety vests for easy identification. Docents will provide tour attendees with free TAP cards that are pre-loaded with day passes.

There are no public restrooms available in the stations but there are restrooms available to the public at Union Station and the Hollywood/Highland shopping complex.

Go Metro and save at various places near the tours. For more details, click here. Metro provides Bus and Rail transportation to Downtown Los Angeles till 2AM on Fridays and Saturdays. For your best route or more info, visit the Metro's Trip Planner or call (323) Go Metro or (323.466.3876).

Art Resources

Art Guide

The Art Guide was updated in July 2011 and includes images of all of the artworks in the Metro transit system. It is a perfect complement for self-guided tours and features a system map, artist information and brief descriptions of the artworks.

Download the Art Guide here.

A hard copy of the pocket-sized brochure is available by request. Please call 213.922.4ART or email us, and include your name and mailing address in your message.

Poster Series

“Through the Eyes of Artists” Poster Series As of April 2013

Download the Poster Series Summary.

Artist Opportunities

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates and information about public art opportunities and workshops for artists.

Metro Art shares its mailing list, on a carefully selected basis, with other programs seeking to inform artists of public art opportunities.