Under this Call for Artists (“CFA”), the Library, Arts & Culture Department (“Library”) of the City of Glendale (“City”)— on behalf of the City’s Arts & Culture Commission (“ACC”)— is accepting proposals from qualified candidates who would like to participate in its’ Beyond the Box – Utility Box Art Program (“Program”).  A successful applicant will be required to adhere to the Program requirements set forth herein below.

This project is open to all local and regional artists. The ACC encourages applications from both new and established artists. Glendale artists may be given preference if all else is equal. Artists may apply as an individual artist or as a group. For group submissions, a signed Release of Liability and Indemnity Agreement for each participating artist must be included in addition to the application form and design template. Group submissions may be for a single utility box or multiple utility boxes. No more than three submissions per individual or group. City of Glendale employees are not eligible to apply.

The Library and the ACC have designed a program to support public art programs and to enhance the community and neighborhoods through the use of art. The Beyond the Box – Utility Box Art Program enhances the aesthetics of the city, promotes civic pride, increases pedestrian traffic and extends public art to new areas and unexpected places while creating an attractive environment and allowing art to be introduced to the public in a creative and inventive way. The program goal is to bring beauty to unexpected places such as public infrastructure and utility boxes.

This Call For Artists is for a Beyond The Box – Utility Box Art Program art painting event that will take place from October 14 - 20, 2024 with selected utility boxes throughout various locations in Glendale.

The theme of this year’s Beyond the Box – Utility Box Art Program is Art & Science Collide in celebration of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture’s participation in PST ART: Art & Science Collide, which is the Getty Foundation’s Southern California regional arts and culture initiative returning in September 2024. This year’s theme, Art & Science Collide, will create opportunities for civic dialogue around some of the most urgent problems of our time by exploring past and present connections between art and science. Applicants are highly encouraged to visit the PST ART: Art & Science Collide website at https://pst.art/en/about to gain inspiration for submissions and proposals.

The ACC would like to encourage artists and community members to create art in the City to beautify the streetscape by incorporating the theme as inspiration for proposal submissions. Artists are not required, but highly encouraged to incorporate volunteers into the art process. Artists may create a template or outline to help volunteers paint the art, or propose another concept for involving volunteers in the art process.

Artists will be required to prime paint their specific utility box. Artists may begin prime painting the utility boxes on Monday, October 14, 2024, and must begin painting utility boxes no later than Friday, October 18, 2024. Painting and application of the final protective coating must be completed by Sunday, October 20, 2024.

The ACC will fund $1,000.00 per utility box, inclusive of all artist’s fees, paints and materials. The ACC anticipates selecting artwork for up to fifteen (15) utility boxes. The utility boxes may maintain the integrity of the artwork for a period of 1 year (or when the City, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate to remove or re-paint the utility box).