Deadline Extended: Virtual catalog of community art to wrap utility boxes

The deadline to submit has been extended to December 4, 2020.

The Business Improvement District (BID) and the Downtown Community Partnership (DCP) and The Arts Partnership (TAP) are seeking visual artists to submit their artwork as part of a Virtual Catalog of Art to be selected for utility boxes and other blank surfaces around the Metro area (Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo).

Based on the success of the Downtown Fargo Utility Box Art Programs, interest has increased from businesses and neighborhoods across the tri-city area. This virtual catalog will give people the opportunity to peruse and select art to transform ordinary objects of urban infrastructure into something artistic and unique, enhancing our public spaces across the entire community. Each piece of art will only be printed on one utility box or similar space, so when selected, the print will remain in the virtual catalog (including the name of the artist and contact information) but be listed as no longer available for printing.

If selected for printing, Artists will be compensated a $250.00 licensing fee for rights to use their image on the utility box or similar surface and in promotional materials. Artist’s name and title of artwork will appear on all prints.

This program is intended to highlight, encourage and promote Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo artists by giving them the opportunity to present their artwork publicly and to inspire businesses and neighborhoods to enhance and beautify blank metal structures and surfaces.

Selection Process

A public art committee will review the applications and high-resolution images for consideration. Once the sub-committee approves the design, selected artists will be notified that they have been chosen to be part of the virtual catalog. If selected for printing, artists will receive a licensing fee of $250.00 per image upon comple­tion of an art release/waiver. Location, layout, and length of artwork installation will be determined by a selection committee comprised of members of the DCP, the BID and TAP.

Art does not need to be new, but it can’t already be art printed on an existing utility box or bench in the Metro. You must also own the piece of art for printing purposes. Once it is scanned and part of the catalog, you are free to sell the work.

The DCP, the BID and TAP has the right to decline all submissions and retract this call for entries for any reason at any time.

How to Submit

Submit a high-resolution (300 dpi) jpg, pdf, or ai file of your artwork(s) along with the form below.

Your artwork can be any medium: drawing, photography, painting or graphic design. A graphic artist will work with selected artists to make adjustments to the art so that it can fit on the space

All application materials must be submitted to The Arts Partnership via the form below by 11:59 p.m. on December 4, 2020.

For general questions, please contact Melissa Brandt at president@downtownfargo.com or Danica McDonald at danica@theartspartnership.net.

Guidelines for Art Selection

The sub-committee will select Art based upon the following considerations:

• The images submitted are of high quality, engaging and positive
• The design submitted does not promote or advertise a particular community, group or business

• Art submitted for consideration should be able to translate well to a utility box or other similar surface wrap, such that parts of the image may be repeated, doubled, flipped, or even removed to accommodate openings, keyholes, protrusions and other general design constraints
• Selections will be made by December 18, 2020

Liability and Publicity Release

The submitted works (collectively or individually referred to as the “Art”) will be evaluated by a sub-committee. Selected Art may receive editing suggestions from the sub-committee.

By submitting Art and submitting an application form, you agree that:

• You are the sole designer of the Art that is submitted for consideration and that the contents of the Art are original and do not infringe upon any copyright or any intellectual rights of others, and that you have the unencumbered right to make this submission.
• You grant the involved organizations the right to perpetually use the Art, including, but not limited to: reproduction, posting, displaying, creation of derivative works, or documenting the work in any media or in any form, now known or later invented, without limitation for promotional, documentary, celebratory or any other commercial or non-commercial purposes. You will retain copyright of the Art.
• Individual artists who submit art are over 18 years of age and residents of Fargo, Moorhead and/or West Fargo.
• You have read and agree with all of the terms and conditions of this call for art and hereby absolve the DCP, the BID and TAP or their representatives from any claim or loss, either past, present or future, in association with the call for art. The terms of the call for art are binding on the artist, the artist’s successors, assigns, representatives or administrators.