City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs: Downtown Utility Boxes

The City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) Public Art Program seeks proposals from professional visual artists to create painted designs on traffic light utility boxes in Downtown Atlanta. The program has identified 17 traffic light utility boxes and two pedestal utility boxes in downtown Atlanta for artists to adorn with original, 2-D painted artworks. The goal is to encourage and promote the work of regional and local painters and mural artists, create aesthetic objects that symbolize the City of Atlanta's creativity and livability, and highlight the vibrancy found throughout Downtown Atlanta.

If selected, artists will receive a location and embellish the box with original, hand-painted works of art. Paint and respirators will be provided, along with an artist fee of $800 for traffic light utility boxes or $1,000 for the two larger pedestal utility boxes. The OCA will also provide protective breathing equipment and purchase oil enamel paints (up to $200). Artists must provide their own paint application supplies and are responsible for completing the design and applying the paint. Artists must prime boxes prior to painting (primer paint will be provided). The deadline for completing utility boxes is August 6, 2017, with a contract compliance deadline of July 30, 2017. Non-local or regional artists may apply, but no travel compensation will be provided.

Proposals will be evaluated based on originality of design, artistic merit, design relevance to downtown Atlanta audiences, and previous professional art experience. Selected artists will be notified by June 27, 2017. All content and graphics used will become the sole property of the Office of Cultural Affairs. Five images are required for submission.