Fast Track Call for Art: ArtWraps

The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) and The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) are teaming together to enliven downtown streetscapes with ArtWraps, a new project to “wrap” utility boxes with original designs by area artists. Selected designs will be commercially printed and installed by project partner, Digital Fringe. The goals of the project are to employ the utility boxes as bold, colorful, surprise works of art throughout the area and contribute to the appeal of a friendly, welcoming downtown; and to give local artists an opportunity to compete for commission and display of their work. Up to 15 designs will be chosen for this round of ArtWraps. Each selected design will be awarded $500.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: June 19, 2022

Design Guidelines:

• Designs may be representational or abstract; and/or be an allover pattern like wallpaper or wrapping paper; and/or include words or phrases.
• If designs are primarily representational (for example: a landscape, city-scene, figures in action), designs are encouraged to include multiple areas of interest so final display can be seen on all sides.
• Overall, designs should be positive, original, and colorful and may (but are not required to) reflect the following: Downtown points of interest, scenes from community history, images of favorite activities (for example: canoeing on Dayton’s rivers, listening to a live band at Levitt Pavilion, watching a Dayton Dragons Game or a Broadway show at the Schuster) or scenes from pure imagination.
• Utility boxes will vary in size. Selected artists acknowledge that printer may adjust designs to fit boxes properly including the possibility that some areas of artwork will need to be removed to allow for utility box function.

• Artists shall retain intellectual property rights of design. Artists name should not be incorporated into the design; but will be reflected on recognition plaque, and print and digital marketing materials.
• Full credit will be given to artist in print or digital marketing; in turn, if utilizing the proposal for future submissions, the artist shall give credit to the project.
• Proposed artwork must be original and unique to the project.
• Designs shall not contain any kind of advertisements.
• Project organizers will match designs/box locations.Submission Requirements:

• Any resident of Ohio within a 50-mile radius of downtown Dayton is eligible to submit.
• All ages are welcome to apply. If artist is under 18 years of age, name and contact information of parent/guardian is required.
• Designs may be hand-drawn or digitally-rendered, but must be submitted via email as a digital file, preferably a vector file or high-resolution jpeg (at least 300 dpi).*
• Designs should be depicted in a horizontal rectangular format and color(s)/design should extend to all edges. See provided examples below.
• Artists may submit up to 3 designs.
• Email the following to Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at [email protected]; Subject Line:ArtWraps Submission
  1. Artist name, home address, preferred phone number (If under 18 years of age, please include name and contact information of parent/guardian
  2. Title(s) and brief description of the design(s) artist is submitting
  3. Up to 3 designs attached to the email: please save each jpeg as artistr last name andtitle (for example: King-Sunrise Over Riverscape)

  *if artist does not have means to upload and submit design(s) via email, please contact Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at [email protected] or 937/224.3822 Wed-Sat, 10am-4pm to arrange for assistance. Please note: if artists need assistance, they must request it before Friday, June 17, 2022, at 12noon.