Concord Utility Box Art Project 2020 looking for artists for phase 2

CONCORD, CA—Concord Art Association announces the second phase of the City of Concord Utility Box Art Project. Phase 2 includes three  boxes located at downtown Concord and one box on Kirker Pass Road.

The theme of the project is “Celebrate Concord.” Because most of the boxes are located in areas with high vehicle traffic, designs must be bold and graphic. Work submitted should be original and visually engaging for all ages. All boxes will be painted on-site by the winning artists.

Teams (minimum of 2 per box) are invited to submit proposals for art to transform the utility boxes into street murals that will enhance the vibrancy of the city, provide the opportunity for artists to showcase their work, and discourage vandalism on utility boxes. The art will be seen and appreciated by thousands of Concord residents and visitors. Selected artist teams will be awarded an all-inclusive budget of $1000 per box to paint the utility box and to purchase materials and supplies. Once the painting is completed, the City of Concord will apply a special anti-graffiti coating.

Selected artists will be asked to sign an artist agreement, including standard liability waiver and release. The painting schedule for all four boxes will be determined by weather and other factors and announced to artists once all agreements have been signed. Concord Art Association will review completed boxes onsite prior to application by the artists of the isolation and final clear coats to ensure proper use of materials and adherence to the approved design.

Application

Submit applications beginning November 1, 2020. All requirements are due November 15, 2020. All requirements listed below must be met or the application will be removed from consideration:

1. Fill out online application.
2. Submit non-refundable entry fee: $20 for CAA members; $50 for non-members.
3. Email a high resolution, full color concept drawing, in any media, that shows all visible sides of the utility box to caacallforartists@yahoo.com
4. Provide a brief statement (100 words or less) about your proposed artwork. This could include your source of inspiration, the significance of the image(s), or a comment on the style or technique you have proposed.

Artist Eligibility

The competition is open to teams of artists residing in Contra Costa County, Solano, and Alameda counties, with preference given to artists living or working in Concord. All eligible applicants, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, origin or disability, will be considered.

Design Criteria

1. Use the provided Box Dimensions to submit a design concept. Changes to the design may be required to accommodate site requirements. Please note that there will be a 2” x 10” sponsor plaque at eye level on one side of the box.
2. Designs must include all visible sides. Tops of boxes over 50″ high are not considered visible.
3. Utility boxes contain electrical equipment that can become hot; thus, to prevent overheating, large areas of black or dark colors are not allowed.
4. Designs should include bold forms and vibrant colors that can be easily viewed by motorists and passing pedestrians. The entire box must be painted except for the concrete base.
5. Designs must not contain representations of traffic lights, signs or signals.
6. Designs may include text; however, the text may not be an advertisement or promotion.
7. Designs may not include any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, images of illegal activities or involve the attachment of any object(s). No emojis are allowed.
8. Successful designs will “wrap” the imagery around all faces of the box in a continuous flow.
9. Artists are invited to sign their boxes. Signatures cannot occupy more than an area of 2” x 10” on the side of the box on which they are placed. Design proposals should indicate where the signature will be located.
10. All artwork must be the artist’s own original work and must not have appeared elsewhere.

Selection Process

Concord Art Association will screen all proposals for the completeness of the submittal packets and appropriateness of the entries. A committee of the Concord Art Association will select the Semi- finalists based on a review of how well the artists captured the vision for the theme and artistic merit. The City of Concord has final approval on winning utility box designs. Selected artists will be asked to sign an Artist Agreement with the City of Concord and the Concord Art Association, including standard liability waiver and release.

Painting Schedule

Concord Art Association will announce dates for painting which will be dependent on weather and other factors. All Artist Agreements must be signed prior to the commencement of painting.

If you are interested in applying you can find more information about the specifications and complete requirements, plus online submission form, by clicking here.