Pianos on State 2019

Pianos on State is a collaborative interactive musical experience that takes place Downtown Santa Barbara during Arts and Humanities Month in October. Local Santa Barbara artists are invited to transform pianos into unique, interactive works of art. The pianos will be affixed to designated public art pads along State Street for the public to play. In 2019, the pianos will be exhibited from October 21 through November 7.

This is an opportunity for emerging and professional artists alike to showcase their work through a unique public art project. Individual artists and collaborative teams are both eligible, though teams must submit one application. Each selected artist will receive a $200 stipend to purchase materials at either Ace Home Improvement or Art Essentials in Santa Barbara. All pianos will be provided, transported, and tuned by the Pianos on State team. A covered space to paint the pianos with access to electricity, water, and a sander will be provided. Participating artists will be recognized on the Pianos on State Street website, banners, and all marketing and publicity materials.

The project is open to artists living and working in Santa Barbara County. Submissions must include three digital examples of piano artwork design proposals, two digital examples of past artwork, and a brief paragraph stating your concept and why you are interested in participating. Commercial advertising, copyrighted images, hate speech, offensive images, and profanity are prohibited. Images must be suitable for all ages. Loose or abrasive materials such as glitter and sand cannot be included in the design. Painting will take place at the Community Arts Workshop (631 Garden Street, Santa Barbara) from Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20 between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Artists must be available to paint during this timeframe. A reception for artists and sponsors will be held on October 22, and a 1st Thursday Piano Party on November 7. Contact Kai Tepper at [email protected] or Casey Caldwell at [email protected] with questions.