The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region Presents
Art in Storefronts
Artist Request for Proposal
COPPeR is offering you the opportunity to showcase your work in an exciting, unique, new type of exhibition site in the heart of The Pikes Peak Region: vacant storefronts! We are currently seeking proposals from artists and creative minded folks for our Summer/Fall 2013 Art in Storefronts project.
The Project
Art in Storefronts is designed to reactivate vacant store windows by inserting non-commercial art installations, artwork, creative businesses or pop-up shops in order to brighten the downtown area, increase foot traffic, and showcase local artists. The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region seeks artists to develop installations for vacant storefronts in various neighborhoods in the Pikes Peak Region. The installation projects will be programmed in available spaces for the Summer/Fall of 2013.
Proposed projects may be in any two-dimensional, three-dimensional or digital medium. Installations may include video projections or other light elements, but successful proposals will engage passers-by both in daylight and in darkness. The installations are non-commercial exhibits in any medium, installed in a storefront and viewable from the street. Artists will receive a stipend to cover costs of time and materials.
How it Works
The Art in Storefronts program does not own or rent gallery space. Instead, we secure temporary exhibition sites inside vacant storefronts and public spaces. The most important thing to remember is that all spaces are for lease and will remain on the market throughout the entirety of the process. If selected, you should be prepared to remove your work within 10 days should the space be rented. Because of this reality, there is no entry fee or rental fee to the artist. Each space is available thanks to the generosity of various property owners in the Pikes Peak Region.
Every exhibit is a one-of-a-kind experience and has its own set of guidelines in terms of size, visibility, and other physical requirements. This requires all parties to communicate about appropriate and inappropriate content for a specific exhibit space.
Artist Stipend
Selected participants will be awarded a stipend of $250 help with the cost of time and materials. They will receive $50 upon acceptance and they will receive the remaining $200 if their work is installed. There will be no occupancy fee for the artist.
Selection Process
Art in the Storefronts is looking for artwork in a variety of media from individuals and groups:
2D & 3D visual artInstallations
SculptureCreative Businesses
Video or new media …and more
You will find the application form in the following pages. All interested artists must first submit a complete application to COPPeR by July 10th, 2013 at 11:59p.m. Applications are reviewed by an independent committee made up of local art professionals and leaders in the art community.
Selection Criteria
The review process is competitive and the review panel will be looking for a diversity of offerings. All applicants will be selected based on the following criteria (in order of importance):
1) Realistic Planning and Safety
2) High level of engagement with the street and passers-by
3) Benefit to the community and appropriateness for the public realm
4) Artistic Excellence
5) Innovation
6) Mobility (ability to move from one storefront to the next if a property is rented)
We hope to see projects that are more than just art-on-easels-in-store-windows, which is why we place a high priority on selecting projects that go beyond merely displaying art, and really make an attempt to engage passers-by through vision and concept. Instead of treating the storefronts as “display cases,” we encourage you to look at them as blank canvases or life-size dioramas.
Note: Please remember that these installations are viewed by audiences of all ages. Anything with explicit content will not be considered. Art that will be visible from the sidewalk should abide by the content restrictions that apply to public art.
The 3 Categories of Projects
We have narrowed storefront art into 3 distinct categories:
1) On-Window exhibitions
2) In-Window exhibitions
3) Creative businesses
On-Window Exhibitions
2-D art that primarily engages the surface of the window. This means window clings, vinyls, or anything else that sticks to the interior surface of the window.
In-Window Exhibitions
Projects that go beyond the window and into the interior of the space. This means sculptures, lights, curtains, fiber art, multimedia, you name it—if it goes beyond the surface of the window, it falls under this category.
Creative Businesses
As soon as your project requires your audience to open the door in order to engage with the exhibition, you have a creative business. Have an idea to hold unique and interactive workshops? Submit under this category. These are more difficult to get approved by property owners due to liability issues, but they are still possible.
But don’t let these categories limit your imagination! If you think of a new category, feel free to innovate!
Responsibilities of Selected Artists
- All accepted artists must agree to be ready to install their work by the opening on July 4th, 2013- two weeks after notification.
- If property is rented, artist must be ready to remove artwork within 10 days.
- Upon acceptance, you will be required to sign a an Artist Contract outlining the terms of the individual agreement between artist and property owner
- Design, install, maintain, and dismantle the installation (this includes any necessary build out, temporary walls, painting, electrical, et al.)
- Leave each location in the same or better condition than you found it (COPPeR or the property owner will not sustain costs to restore the location to an acceptable condition as a result of the installation/use of the exhibit space.
- Provide all installation materials
- Any/all permits related to selling of artwork
- Any insurance on artwork (optional and at the discretion of each individual artist)
- Actively promote your participation in this initiative to your followers (For Example: mailings, e-blasts, twitter, facebook, blog, press releases, interviews with press) and agree to participate in larger Art in the Storefronts
initiatives (For Example, if we were to hold any art walks, opening receptions, panels etc)
Responsibilities of the Art in Storefronts Program
- Find and secure appropriate locations at no charge to the artist
- Act as point of contact for artist
- Schedule and coordinate artist installation dates
- Review all artist marketing/PR materials in a timely manner
- Provide publicity and marketing support for storefronts (media alerts, Web site presence, links to artist sites, press release, signage, etc.)
Eligibility
Applicants may be creative individuals, organizations, or artist collectives. If you don’t consider yourself an “artist,” no matter! If you have an innovative and engaging idea and you can make it work, you’re eligible! All applicants must provide work samples with the application.
Application Procedure
To be considered, please complete the application form and return it by email to no later than July 10, 2013 at 11:59p.m.
For questions, email or call COPPeR at 719-634-2204
Acceptance
We will contact you to confirm the receipt of your proposal and we will contact you again once we have judged all applications and selected winners. Chosen artists will receive the first $50 of their stipend once they have signed a brief contract stating that they agree to follow through with the project and will be ready to install within 2 weeks.
Project Timeline
Call for Artists June 20- July 10, 2013
Application Deadline July 10, 2013 (11:59 p.m.)
Panel Review July 15, 2013
Artist Selection Notification July 16, 2013
Opening Day Aug 2, 2013
The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region Presents
Art in Storefronts
ARTIST APPLICATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
Date:
Name of Project (can be a working title):
Name of Artist/Organization:
Contact Name:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Web site:
Twitter Handle:
Facebook Fan Page:
Blog:
1) How did you hear about Art in Storefronts?
2) Artist(s) Bio/Statement (write a statement about your work in general and your process in 250 words or less):
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1) Project type:
___On-Window
___In-Window
___Creative Business
2) Media (check all that apply):
__2D & 3D visual art__Installations
__Sculpture__Photography
__Video or new media __Light installations
__Literary art __Performance
__ agriculture: __other:
3) Please provide a detailed description of your proposed use of a vacant storefront (take as much space as you feel necessary):
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
1) How much space (X’wide x X’ deep x X’ high) does your installation/work require?
2) What are your electrical needs?
3) Do you have any additional needs or requirements specific to your project?
Artist Work Samples
Please include additional attachments as detailed below:
For all artists: A Resume or CV
For 2D visual work and sculpture: Please include photographs or Web site links of your work along with 8 to 15 JPGS. All JPG file titles must include your name and the title of the work. In a separate word document, please include the title, medium, date and dimensions of each piece. If framed work will be show, please also provide a description of each frame. If submitting a DVD disk, it should be labeled with your name.
For installations: Please include a rough floor-plan and sufficient written description to clearly convey your concept. Any visual renderings are also welcome.
For video work: Please include the title, credits, length, date, and format. For curatorial previewing, please supply QuickTime data files on either CD or DVD (non-encoded).
For live art: Please include photographs or web site links that document previous work; title, credits, length, date, and format for proposed work, and a description of content and concept of proposed work.
Application Checklist
Before submitting your proposal, make sure you have completed all the necessary steps:
___Completed Artist Application
__General Information
__Project Description
__Technical Requirements
___ Attached Work Samples
___ Attached CV or Resume
___ Have read the Artist Agreement section (signature not necessary until accepted)
Apply!
Please return completed application form (.docx or PDF) by email to
Due no later than July 10th, 2013 at 11:59p.m.
For questions, email or call COPPeR at 719-634-2204
To find out about other creative opportunities and cultural events in the Pikes Peak Region,
visit us at
For Administrative Use Only
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[ ] Notified Applicant of receipt [ ] Reviewed application
Date: ______Date: ______
[ ] Evaluated Application [ ] Notified applicant of final decision
Date: ______Date: ______
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