Environment Envoy project co-ordinator Katrina Thomson, of Dunedin, said the two $6500 commissions were the first of their kind offered by the council.
The commissions were established to make connections between the arts, landowners and environmental groups.
The projects would utilise vacant retail space in urban Dunedin city boundaries, including South Dunedin, and could extend into public space and the environment.
An advisory panel would select the projects to be realised before the end of the year.
Submissions close on August 27.
Miss Thomson said many artists had environmental issues and the relationship to the landscape in the forefront of their work.
"This will be quite appealing for a lot of artists ... the generous amount of funding will give some serious scope for brainstorming, so I am very excited to see what compelling and integrative ideas people come up with."
The commissions were funded by Te Ao Turoa — Dunedin’s Environment Strategy and delivered through Dunedin’s Urban Dream Brokerage service, Miss Thomson said.
