CALL FOR ARTISTS
 ART SIGNALS: SIGNAL BOX PAINTINGS
 

ELIGIBILITY: The Project is OPEN to artists in a regional area encompassing Nevada and Northern California with experience in public art projects. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Reno Arts & Culture Commission (RACC) is seeking 13 artists to design and paint artwork on select City of Reno signal boxes. This public art project creates new artwork for public display throughout the City of Reno. Goals of this project include: transforming utilitarian structure into an art form; increasing public awareness of art; broadening viewers' perspectives of public spaces within the city; and fostering a sense of place on Reno's streets. The artist(s) selected should have demonstrated experience working in public locations subject to vandalism. Artwork will be selected based on the quality of design and have a 5-year life expectancy. Proposals should consider aesthetically pleasing use of color and form as well as relate well to the surrounding environs in which they will be placed. 

Proposals should reflect thoughtful consideration of locations and site-specificity. Large areas of black and/or dark colors are discouraged due to the risk of overheating the signal boxes. Outside murals are subject to the harshest environmental conditions; murals must be painted with high-quality color-fast paint with the proven ability to maintain color-fastness for five-years. Materials, colors used, and design will be at the approval of the City of Reno. Upon application the artist must take into consideration: need for doors or hinges to open, keyholes not to be painted over, and not covering vents. All signal boxes are programmed for the general public. The appropriateness and quality of proposals is determined by the-- Public Art Committee whose recommendations are provided to the Reno Arts and Culture Commission for final approval. 

SPECIFICATIONS: Selected artist(s) will design and execute one-of-a-kind two-dimensional images that wrap around all sides and the top of the selected signal box. Paint specifications as follows: Main coat (Chroma Acrylic Mural Paint, Golden Heavy Body Artist Acrylics, Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylics, Rust-Oleum Professional Rust Resistant Enamel Spray Paint). The boxes will be painted in June of 2024. 

LOCATIONS: 

1. E 1 st St. & N Virginia St. 
2. W 1 st St. & N Sierra St. 
3. W 2 nd St. & N Sierra St. 
4. E 4th St. & Sutro St. 
5. E 4th St. & Sage St.
6. E 4th St. & Evans Ave. 
7. 5 th St. & Virginia St. 
8. E 6th St. & Valley Rd. 
9. Court St. & S. Sierra St. 
10. Holcomb Ave. & E Liberty St. 
11. N Wells Ave. & I-80 West Exit 
12. Sky Vista Pkwy. & Vista Knoll Pkwy. 
13. South Meadows Pkwy. & Evergreen St. 

BUDGET: Project Budget is $1000 per signal box, estimated to cover $300 for materials and $700 for the artist fee.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: 

1. Resume or list of relevant professional artistic accomplishments from past applicable exhibitions or public art projects. 
2. Digital images of relevant artwork (up to 5) in JPG format. 
3. Image information: title, media, size, date, location, description of work
4. Project Approach: Include written design concept for signal box and choice of materials (including manufacturer specifications). 
5. Visual representation of project proposal. Please use the provided Signal Box Design Submission Template. 
6. If you have a preferred signal box that you would like to paint, you may list your preferences. 

Please submit materials via Submittable by April 30, 2024 at 11 p.m. 

TIMELINE: 

April 30, 2024 - Submittal deadline 

May 2024 - Public Art Committee and Reno Arts & Culture Commission select artists 

Late May 2024 - Artists notified 

June 2024 - Artists paint signal boxes. 

For any questions related to the call, please contact publicart@reno.gov or 775-334-6264. For questions or issues with the application form or Submittable, please contact Submittable Tech Support.

The Reno Arts & Culture Commission (RACC) is seeking qualifications from artists for a public art opportunity in Reno, Nevada. This opportunity is open to artists living and working in northern Nevada and northern California.
 

Project Description:  The Reno Arts & Culture Commission and Public Art Committee is looking for an artist/artist team to design and create a large-scale mural on the western exterior of the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center. This project will add vibrancy to the building and surrounding area and reflect the character of the neighborhood. Part of this project includes a community engagement component. Selected artist(s) will be expected to work with City staff to conduct community engagement sessions with users of the building and the surrounding neighborhood. The final design of the mural will be created from input from these sessions. 

The mural will be painted on two exterior western walls of the community center. They are separated by a shorter section of wall that is not part of the call. Approximate square footage to be painted is around 2,600 square feet (see attached drawings), around 1400 square feet for the northwest wall and 1,200 on the southeast wall. 

The goals for the project include: creating a unique character for a specific area of town, increasing public awareness of art, engaging with the community to create something that reflects the neighborhood, and broadening visitors’ perspectives of public spaces within the City. The artist(s) selected should have demonstrated experience working in public locations subject to vandalism and weather. 

The RACC seeks artists with prior public art experience, specifically large-scale mural work. The $35,000 commission will cover all services from design through final installation/implementation, including artist fee, fabrication, insurance, transportation, travel fees, equipment, and installation. Final selection of one artist or team will be made by the PAC, RACC, and stakeholders and approved by Reno City Council based on proposal and qualifications.
 

Budget:  Project budget is $35,000 for the entire project. This budget is inclusive of all costs associated with the design, planning, materials, installation, and completion of the project. The budget includes all travel costs and insurance. This project is funded by the City of Reno’s 2% for Public Art Ordinance / Public Art Fund.
 

Location: Google Maps link to Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center.
 

General Area:  Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center (EMNECC) is located in Northeast Reno off of Valley Road north of I-80. EMNECC has a year round pool, fitness center, gymnasium, teen room, and meeting rooms. Additionally, EMNECC is located directly next to Dick Taylor Memorial Park that has baseball/softball, basketball court, soccer/football, tennis court, as well as picnic shelter with barbecues and tables. EMNECC serves a diverse population and is one of the main recreation centers that offers programming operated by the City of Reno.  

The immediate surrounding area is mostly residential. The University of Nevada, Reno is adjacent to EMNECC to the west. Many students live nearby, in formal student housing and rentals. The largest age demographic in the area is 20-29 year olds. There are two elementary schools nearby: Coral Academy of Science Elementary School and Dorothy Lemelson S.T.E.M. Academy Elementary School. In the larger neighborhood, the average median income is $45,000. An estimated 21% of the neighborhood live below the poverty line, more than the 12.5% Nevada state average. In the area 35% of households speak languages other than English.
 

Submission Requirements:

1. Resume or CV: Current professional resume or curriculum vitae (CV), detailing professional artistic accomplishments, list of relevant past projects, and references from previous public art projects.   
2. Digital Images: 5 digital images of previously completed artwork. Include image information including date, size, location, and description of work. 
3. Letter of Interest: This letter should address how the applicant’s previous experience and current artistic direction will result in a successful public art project for this space. Include information on how you would approach this project, particularly the community engagement portion.
    

The Artist Selection Process: 

• Artists/teams submit qualifications, past work examples, and a letter of interest online through Submittable (see below).
• The Public Art Committee, with input from stakeholders, and RACC will select an artist/artist team for the commission.
   

Tentative Timeline:  April 30, 2024 - Submission due online at 11:00 pm PST 

• May 2024 - One artist/team selected for commission 
• June/July 2024 - Community engagement and mural design 
• August/September 2024 - Artwork installation
   

How to Submit Your Qualifications:  Submit images of past work, resume, letter of interest and biographical information to this Submittable application.

For more information about City of Reno programs, visit www.RenoCulture.com. For questions on submitting through Submittable, please contact the Submittable Support Team. For questions regarding the call, please contact City of Reno Arts & Culture Program Assistant, Anza Jarschke, at jarschkea@reno.gov, (775) 689-8459.    

Images of Evelyn Mount Northeast Center:

Full details with images of the site can be found on the project PDF.