Belmont area artists aged 18 and up are invited to submit designs to decorate three of the town’s transformer boxes, used to control traffic lights in town. Winning artists will be responsible for painting their assigned box.
The “Transforming Belmont” Public Art Project is a venture initiated and managed by the Belmont Art Association, a local nonprofit organization supporting art and artists in the Belmont area, in cooperation with and approved by the Town of Belmont. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Transformer boxes are located at busy intersections and along streets throughout our town. Painting these drab utility boxes brings art out of our homes and studios and into the public; beautifies our environment; adds interest to our commutes and walks; and provides opportunities for members of the community to create. Three transformer boxes have been designated for painting this inaugural year, shown below:
Information
Timeline
Applications Available: Sunday, April 5, 2020
Deadline for submissions: Friday, May 8, 2020
Design selection and approval: Friday, May 22, 2020
Painting: May 22 – August 15, 2020
Eligibility and Design Guidelines
Open to local artists aged 18 and up, working independently or as a team. AP Art students at Belmont High School are encouraged to apply individually or as a team. Up to three designs per artist or team may be submitted for consideration by the Selection Committee. Artists may specify which box location they have in mind for each submitted design. The art should be visible from a distance, so entries should incorporate bold colors and designs. All sides, including the tops of the boxes, must be included in the designs. All entry designs must be original and suitable for viewing by all ages. In addition to design submissions, artists must demonstrate their ability to carry out their proposals by submitting supporting images or links to their other work with their application. A scaled template is included below, along with the application form.
Selection Process
The Town of Belmont designated which transformer boxes will be painted. The Selection Committee will determine which designs will be used and assign transformer boxes to winning artists. The Selection Committee is comprised of members of the Belmont Art Association, the Belmont Gallery of Art, and Patrice Garvin, Belmont’s Town Administrator. Criteria used to select artists will be based on demonstrated technical ability and artistic merit, along with appropriate regard for the nature of the space and the audience. The art should enliven the area, beautify the street and reflect the neighborhood or area where box is located.
Artist’s Stipend
Three selected artists (or teams) will each be awarded a stipend of $330.00 to execute the painted design on the assigned transformer box. These funds must cover the specific materials listed below.
Artist Responsibilities
Artists must follow the design approved by the Selection Committee for their assigned transformer box. Artist(s) will prepare the surface by sanding, if needed, and priming with exterior metal primer. Paint should be high quality, lightfast exterior acrylics finished with an isolation coat of clear acrylic gloss medium and anti-graffiti varnish. All sides, including the tops of the boxes, must be painted.
*Sponsorship of the Belmont Art Association and the Belmont Cultural Council must be noted in all PR materials in addition to the artists’ names.
NOTE: The artwork will be a long-term installation and will become the property of the Town of Belmont.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Download, print and fill out this Application Form.