Applications Due: Wednesday, August 25, 2021, 11:59 p.m.

Commission Fee:  $1,500 – $2,000

Project Description

The Arts Council of Indianapolis, The City of Indianapolis, Circle Center Mall and Downtown Indy, are seeking artists/artist teams to create temporary site-specific installations on vacant windows and storefronts in downtown Indianapolis and within its surrounding neighborhoods to serve as colorful and vibrant backdrops for visitors exploring the city. The selected artists will be asked to propose a piece that creates a dynamic visual impact for both pedestrian and vehicular viewing experiences.

These window projects can be affixed to the glass by temporary methods or be free standing. The artwork display period is expected to be through mid-March 2022, but potentially as long as through May 2022. Possible window project ideas could include cut vinyl collage or patterns adhered to the window exterior, cut paper affixed to the interior side, temporary paint on the glass, freestanding interior displays, fence weaving, 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.

Eligibility

• Visual artists 18 years of age or older, living in Marion county.
• 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

• July 28, 2021:  Call released
• August 25, 2021, 11:59 p.m.: Deadline for applications
• September 1, 2021: Selected artists/teams notified and agreements sent
• September 8, 2021: Design first draft and detailed budget due
• September 8 – 17: Design review by Arts Council and building owners
• September 18 – October 15: Artwork in production, Artwork installed
• October 2021 through May 2022: Artwork on display. Display dates may vary per storefront location. The artwork display period is expected to be through mid-March 2022, but potentially as long as through May 2022.

Commission Fee/Compensation

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

• Preliminary design
• Artwork materials, supplies, equipment, travel
• 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

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, 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 HERE. 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.
• PREFERRED: 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 Wednesday, August 25 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 Consulting Curator Mike Barclay at mbarclay@indyarts.org.