Artists Wanted to Create Window Projects

Request for Qualifications: Artists Wanted to Create Window Projects

Applications Due: Monday, February 15, 2021, 11:59 p.m.

Commission Fee:  $1,500 – $2,000

Project Description

The NCAA will stage the entire 2021 men’s basketball championship in Indiana, with the majority of the tournament’s 67 games taking place in Indianapolis. As Indianapolis prepares to host one of the largest college sports events in our history, all of Downtown will be turned into an exciting, welcoming site for the players, media, and local community to enjoy being safely together to experience the excitement around this unprecedented event.

The Arts Council of Indianapolis, with support from Indiana Sports Corp and Downtown Indy, is seeking artists/artist teams to create temporary site-specific installations on vacant windows and storefronts in downtown Indianapolis to serve as colorful and vibrant backdrops for visitors exploring the city. The storefront locations are in high traffic areas that are visible by pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The selected artists will be asked to propose a piece that creates a dynamic visual impact for both types of viewing experiences.

These window projects must be affixed to the glass by temporary methods. The artwork display period is expected to be through mid-April, but potentially as long as through December 2021. Possible window project ideas could include cut vinyl collage or patterns adhered to the window exterior, cut paper affixed to the interior side, and more. Windows do not need to be covered completely. Artists may consider using the window glass and interior background as an element of the design.

There is no conceptual theme for this project. The final artwork does not need to be related to sports or basketball. Note: No specific reference may be made to any venue, team, player, school, the NCAA or its trademarks, logos, or taglines.  

Window dimensions are variable and will be provided after artists are selected.

Eligibility

• Visual artists 18 years of age or older, living in Marion, Hendricks, Hancock, Shelby, Hamilton, Boone, Morgan, or Johnson Counties are eligible to apply.
• Team applications are welcome; teams will split the commission fee among themselves.
• This project is on a very aggressive schedule; please review the dates below to ensure you can meet the timeline if you are selected!

Project Timeline

• February 5, 2021:  Call released
• February 15, 2021, 11:59 p.m.: Deadline for applications
• February 19, 2021: Selected artists/teams notified and agreements sent
• February 26, 2021: Design first draft due
• March 8 – 12, 2021: Artwork installed
• March through December 2021: Artwork on display. Display dates may vary per storefront location. At the very least, they will be up through mid-April, 2021.

Commission Fee/Compensation

The commission fee is $1,500 – $2,000 and includes the following:

• Preliminary design
• License to reproduce the mural/installation for documentation of the project
• License to publish images of the mural/installation in event materials such as publications and websites
• The artist will have the responsibility of removing the artwork at the end of the project

If artists are interested in using vinyl (to cut up and collage/make designs/patterns), the Arts Council may be able to supply selected artists with free materials. Any other materials needed are to be purchased by the artist from the commission fee.

Copyrights

Full copyright to the artwork will be retained by the artist at all times. The artist will be required to license the Arts Council to produce and reproduce images of the artwork for promotional use, and to maintain archival documentation of the project.

The Arts Council is not responsible for any third-party infringement of the artist’s copyright or for protecting the intellectual property rights of participating artists. To learn more about how to protect yourself and your public artworks, visit the Arts Council’s Artist Resource Directory.

Promotions

• The Arts Council will host a project webpage and will keep it updated with current location information for the window murals/installations.
• The Arts Council will produce a publicly distributed paper directory of temporary downtown public art projects
• Our partners and the Arts Council will jointly promote the work through both traditional and social media channels.
• Artists are encouraged to promote their own work through their own promotional and social media outlets.

Selection Process

Arts Council staff, members of the Men’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee, the Arts Council’s Public Art Selection Committee, and partner representatives will identify the artists/teams to create the window projects.

Should the Arts Council receive an insufficient number of entries, we reserve the right to invite artists/teams to create the window mural/installations.

How to Apply

Apply online at https://indyarts.formstack.com/forms/march_projects. You will be able to start your application and come back to it later. The form will be able to be completed using a phone.

You will need to provide:

• Your legal name, and any preferred artist names you work under
• Your contact information (land mail address, email address, and phone number; social media handles optional)
• Names of any proposed collaborators or team members
• Images of your past work
  • If you have a website, you can provide a link to it so we can review your work
  • Instagram or other social media account links you provide should be dedicated to showcasing your artwork–please do not link to your personal social media!
  • If you do not have a website, please attach up to 10 examples of your past work to the application form.
    • Attachments can be individual JPG/JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIF, or PSD  images (maximum 1 MB per example, maximum resolution 72dpi) or PDF documents, or PDF documents containing multiple images.
• OPTIONAL: If you have an idea for the project, you can describe it. Do not include any sketches or any designs at this time!
• OPTIONAL: You may provide your demographic information to help us ensure equity in our programming.

The application deadline is Monday, February 15 at 11:59 p.m. 

The application will automatically close at that time.

• Applications still unfinished at this time will not be uploaded.
• Allow plenty of time to complete your application before the deadline!
• PRO TIP: if you plan to start your application and come back later, wait until you are ready to press “submit” before you add any attachments. Otherwise you will find they have vanished when you come back!

Questions?  

Contact Lindsey Lord, Director of Artist Services and Gallery 924, llord@indyarts.org