The Wonders of Port Angeles — Utility Box Art Call

Port Angeles is known as the ultimate wilderness basecamp, rich with cultural heritage and natural beauty where the mountains meet the sea. We invite artists to join us in creating works that celebrate The Wonders of Port Angeles. Designs should highlight our city’s cultural vibrancy, unparalleled beauty, or showcase well-known landmarks and hidden gems. Additionally, as the Uptown Arts District (UAD) is tucked just below the Olympic Mountains at the leading edge of Olympic National Park, we seek works that highlight our specific unique location.  

The UAD is seeking 5 artists working across all mediums to transform 5 utility boxes into playful, vibrant, and engaging works of art. Each artist’s original design will be reproduced as a vinyl wrap and applied to one utility box.

Design:

Submitted works may be realistic or abstract in nature and we encourage feature elements such as:

• Bright and bold colors, reflecting the vibrant artistic mission of the Uptown Arts District.
• Flora and fauna, symbolizing our city's harmony with nature.
• Iconic locations, honoring the placemaking history of Port Angeles.
• Geometric and abstract shapes or icon style imagery representing natural and vibrant cultural influences of our area.

Artwork must:

• Align with or complement the color palette of the UAD as defined below.
• Be an original artwork created by the artist.
• Appropriate for all ages.
• Be provided as a print-ready file.
• Engage all sides and the top of the box.
• Include the UAD logo on each box, which will be provided to the selected artists. 

Terms & Conditions:

• The Uptown Arts District will be responsible for printing and installing the vinyl art on the utility boxes.
• Artists selected will receive a $500 honorarium after their final design is submitted on November 1st, 2024.
• The artist agrees to the UAD using and reproducing images, videos, etc. of the selected project from promotional purposes. 

Process:

• Artists will submit their original design that showcases one of The Wonders of Port Angeles.

If Selected:

• The artists selected will be required to attend an online orientation meeting where they will be provided with additional information on the process and expectations for creating a successful utility box artwork.
• Artists will receive a digital file with the dimensions of the utility box that they will modify their original design to. Final sizing will be managed by the Uptown Arts District Coordinator to create and facilitate with the vinyl wrap vendor.
• Artists will submit a digital, high resolution file or scan of their artwork.
• Artists will be expected to participate in a video and photo shoot to document the completed artwork and give a brief interview about their utility box art.

Timeline:

August 29– Call for art opens

October 16- Call for art closes

November 1- Artists are notified  

November 12- Zoom meeting at 5 PST

November 15- Make-up Zoom meeting at 5 PST

December 1- Final designs must be submitted

February, 2025- Tentative install dependent on weather (artist is not involved in installation process)