Utility Box Project
The Avenue’s Providence Utility Box Project The Avenue Concept has helped to pair artists with utility boxes throughout the years. 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 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.
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 Yarrow Thorne, Executive Director at yarrow@theavenueconcept.org for more information.
Call for artists
Are you an artist that’s interested in painting a utility box? Complete this short form to be added to our mailing list for future opportunities.