Utility Box Project: Open Call for Artists

Call for artists

The Avenue Concept (TAC) has paired artists with utility boxes since 2015. Now, we’ve partnered with the City of Providence, Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism, and New Urban Arts to transform utility boxes in Providence during the spring and summer of 2025!

Eligibility:

This call is open to all artists at least 18 years of age.*
We invite both experienced public artists and emerging public artists and encourage individuals who are in their early careers, who may be working outdoors or with public art for the first-time, or graffiti artists to learn and gain skills for working in exterior shared spaces.
To be considered, artists must submit the required materials via the online form, below.
Design proposals are not required for submission but will be required and approved once artists are notified of their selection.

Artists under 18 are encouraged to express their interest in participating in New Urban Arts youth programs by contacting jeannie@newurbanarts.org. New Urban Arts will guide youth in completing 14 utility boxes during the spring and summer of 2025 with training, supplies, and installation support from TAC.

In addition to the Open Call, TAC will curate and facilitate the installation of additional boxes for experienced and emerging artists via curation and referral during the Fall of 2025.

Open Call Details

Logistics

Timeline and Locations:

Call closes: Sunday, December 8, 2024.
14 artists will be selected as part of this adult artist open call.
Artists will be selected and notified by February 2025.
Painting will occur in the spring and summer of 2025 with a goal to complete painting within a two-day installation period determined by TAC.
Boxes are located throughout Providence and will be assigned at TAC and the City’s discretion.

Exact timing of the Utility Box painitng project will be shared with participants in the notification letter.

Compensation and Support

The Avenue Concept cares about compensating and assisting artists! Through the Ripples Utility Box Project we provide:

A $450 stipend for each of the 14 adult artist participant.
A workshop to help artists translate their design to 3-D and techniques to make installation efficient and joyful.
Box preparation, installation materials, quality paint supplies and support.
Onsite jobsite safety & support.
Installation insurance.
Wayfinding & storytelling services, including an exhibit plaque, website feature, photography documentation, and social media promotion.

Selection Process

The Ripples Utility Box Open Call seeks fourteen adult artist for the 2025 season. In selecting these we will be utalizing the following process:

Artists who meet TAC’s outlined selection criteria will move to the next round.
A selection committee comprised of local curators and artists will review and select finalists.
All artists will be notified of the status of their application.
Finalists will be required to present their design proposal following award.
Selected artists will be required to complete and submit a W9 form, an invoice and an Artist Agreement to participate.

More information, design guidelines, and additional supports will be offered artists with the notification letter.

Open Call Submittal Form

Utility Box Project Artist Open Call 2025; Deadline December 8th, 2024.

I am an artist over the age of 18:*
Young Artists interested in the 2025 TAC Lightbox Project: NUA!
We are collaborating with New Urban Arts to facilitate young-artist access to the Lightbox project! If you are under the age of 18 and want to paint a light-box, please email jeannie@newurbanarts.org for details!
Welcome to the 2025 TAC Utility Box Open Call!
Please submit your information below. Email hello@theavenueconcept.org if you have any questions or need help. Thank you!
Name:*
First Name Last Name
Would you prefer we use an artist name? If so, please write it below:
Please share a link of where we can view your work (website, social handle, or other):*
Please share any other links to your works:
Have you ever painted a utility box?
Do you have experience in creating public art outdoors?
Please share any additional information here.
Your Email*
Updates and TAC Newsletter*
- I understand and agree that I will be receiving updates and news from TAC as part of submitting my interest in the Utility Box Project.
You can always unsubscribe to TAC news after the project announcement, if you want.
I have read and understand the Open Call Details*
- Yes, I have read and understand the below information:
We invite both experienced public artists and emerging public artists and encourage individuals who are in their early careers, who may be working outdoors or with public art for the first-time, or graffiti artists to learn and gain skills for working in exterior shared spaces. To be considered, artists must submit examples of original art and required materials via this form. Design proposals are not required for submission but will be required and approved once artists are notified of their selection. In addition to the Open Call, TAC will curate and facilitate the installation of additional boxes for experienced and emerging artists via curation and referral during the Fall of 2025. Timeline and Locations: Call closes: Sunday, December 8, 2024. 14 artists will be selected as part of this adult artist open call. Artists will be selected and notified by February 2025. Painting will occur in the spring and summer of 2025 with a goal to complete painting within a two-day installation period determined by TAC. Boxes are located throughout Providence and will be assigned at TAC and the City’s discretion. Exact timing of the Utility Box painitng project will be shared with participants in the notification letter. The Avenue Concept cares about compensating and assisting artists! Through the Ripples Utility Box Project we provide: A $450 stipend for each of the 14 adult artist participant. A workshop to help artists translate their design to 3-D and techniques to make installation efficient and joyful. Box preparation, installation materials, quality paint supplies and support. Onsite jobsite safety & support. Installation insurance. Wayfinding & storytelling services, including an exhibit plaque, website feature, photography documentation, and social media promotion. The Ripples Utility Box Open Call seeks fourteen adult artist for the 2025 season. In selecting these we will be utalizing the following process: Artists who meet TAC’s outlined selection criteria will move to the next round. A selection committee comprised of local curators and artists will review and select finalists. All artists will be notified of the status of their application. Finalists will be required to present their design proposal following award. Selected artists will be required to complete and submit a W9 form, an invoice and an Artist Agreement to participate. More information, design guidelines, and additional supports will be offered artists with the notification letter. This call is open to all artists at least 18 years of age.* Artists under 18 are encouraged to express their interest in participating in New Urban Arts youth programs by contacting jeannie@newurbanarts.org. New Urban Arts will guide youth in completing 14 utility boxes during the spring and summer of 2025 with training, supplies, and installation support from TAC.
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Why Utility Boxes?

Add vibrancy and interest in neighborhoods, linking public artworks together and breadcrumbing people through parts of the city.
Platform for artists to tell their stories in the public on a temporary basis.
Builds community connecting residents, visitors, and businesses throughout PVD encouraging public art and addressing graffiti challenges.
Boxes stay on view for at least a year (possibly longer, at the discretion of TAC and project partners), at which point they will be “rotated” and new work will replace existing work, or the boxes will be returned to a neutral color.

Past Utility Box Projects:
In 2021, we created a formal project and facilitated the completion of 13 boxes in Providence and seven in Warren, RI.

The boxes serve as tools for community building connecting residents, visitors, and businesses throughout PVD encouraging public art and addressing graffiti challenges. And through this project, we test ideas and seek feedback from local artists and residents over time. We pay artists and promote their work through social media, as part of our Avenue Public Art Tour app, and on our website. We supply materials and techniques to work effectively and efficiently in public, providing skills for artists to apply for future public art installations with TAC or other programs.

Boxes become connectors for building partnerships with community organizations and businesses, and we’ve facilitated 24 since 2020.

Spring 2021 Downtown & Upper South Providence Boxes

>funded by a generous grant from the Rhode Island Foundation.
>artists: Sara Breslin, Arthur Cayo, Kiera Gonsalves, Lara Henderson, Benny Notorangelo, YSANEL, and ArTwerk

Summer 2021 -Biltmore Park Utility Boxes

>funded by BankNewport City Center Rink, Providence Parks Department.
>artists: Forrest Curl, Kobe Jackson, Rene Gomez

Fall 2021 Vartan Gregorian Elementary School

>funded by Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, Ward 1 Councilman John Goncalves, Vartan Gregorian Parent Teacher Organization, Fox Point Association
>artist: Natural

Why Work with The Avenue Concept

We;

Test ideas and seek feedback from local artists and residents over time. As we iterate TAC’s program, we will continue to
Pay artists for their time and artistic contribution.
Promote artists and their work including artist bios, descriptions, stories, and social media handles as part of our Avenue Public Art Tour app, on our website, and through social and media promotion.
Supply materials and techniques to work effectively and efficiently in the public, providing skills for artists to apply for future public art installations with TAC or other programs.

Sponsor a Box

Box sponsorship covers;

Artist Fee (all supplies provided by TAC)
Materials for prep & install: sanding, latex painting prep., artist paint for install
Project facilitation: contract, training, onsite job site safety & support,installation insurance)
Wayfinding & Storytelling (exhibit plaque, digital tour, website feature, photography, social media and promotion)

Contact hello@theavenueconcept.org for more information.

Contact hello@theavenueconcept.org if you have any questions

Featured Artists: Ysanel, Sara Breslin, Natural, Arthur Cayo, Lara Henderson, Kobe Jackson, Forrest Curl, Adam Kelley, Holly Emidy, Rene Gomez, Kristen Divona, Heather Annis, Connor Robinson, ArtWerks, Makerjake, The Lady J.

Visit our Artworks page to learn more about the Providence and Warren artists.