[Sponsored Listing] The City of Elgin, IL Social Justice Collective is searching for a mural artist for Making Space, work with the community to design and install a permanent mural based on the business board ups that were put up in Downtown Elgin in anticipation of protests during the summer of 2020. The mural will be installed in Downtown Elgin in an historically significant location.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 22 Feb 2021
The artist(s) will work directly with the Elgin Social Justice Collective and the community to design and install a permanent mural. The mural will be painted by the community members with the help and guidance of the mural artist. The mural installation will serve as a space for the community to engage in conversation about social justice and using art as a creative outlet. The artist(s) will be assisted in the project by all of the partners and the City of Elgin.
About the Elgin Social Justice Collective
What space can we make to allow for further artistic expression? How can we create a lasting reflection of the activities of the summer of 2020? What space can we make to allow for peaceful and impactful gatherings of community members to engage? How do we elevate equity in our community? An ad-hoc group of community individuals (now known as the Elgin Social Justice Collective) came together and worked to identify a project that would address those questions. The project consists of four parts: a mural, a documentary, a Juneteenth partnership, and a scholarship.
For more information, contact culturalarts@cityofelgin.org.
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The City of Elgin announces a call for artists for the New Works Public Art Plan 2020. The call is open to artists of all levels, worldwide. This year the call is specifically for a 2D piece to be applied to a covered pedestrian bridge and stairwell in downtown Elgin, IL. The Elgin Cultural Arts Commission will review applications. Successful applicants should demonstrate a clear purpose for the artwork, offer support to demonstrate their ability to successfully complete their proposal, a balanced budget and timeline, and a strong commitment to making artwork accessible and relevant to a diverse range of participants.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 2 Apr 2020
Applicants should show that their proposals have artistic and/or cultural value. It is recommended that proposals not include designs that would be considered inappropriate and/or indecent by community standards.
New Works Public Art Plan 2020 Participant Benefits
The selected artist will receive an honorarium up to $20,000 and support from the City of Elgin. Elgin has a vast network of local and regional artists that are active in the area. While this call is for one project, it is the City’s goal and intent to remain partners with the selected artist and build a lasting relationship. The selected artist will have the opportunity to meet the public during the installation process and engage with them on a very direct level. City staff will be on hand from start to finish to ensure success.
About the City of Elgin
The City of Elgin, IL, is a diverse community with more than 40% of our community identifying as Hispanic or Latinx. The community is active in historical preservation, sustainability, the arts, and outdoor activities. The City of Elgin has been establishing itself a community of the arts for years. The public art initiatives are a major part of that continued growth. The City of Elgin is located about 35 miles west of Chicago. It sits along the Fox River.
For more information, contact culturalarts@cityofelgin.org.
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The City of Elgin Cultural Arts Commission (ECAC) announces its’ third annual Call for Public Art. The ECAC is searching for two new pieces of public art as part of the “new works program” as outlined in the City’s Public Art Plan: one 2D piece and one 3D piece.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 4 Mar 2019
Available locations for the 2D work include the first floor of the Spring Street Parking Deck and the Highland Avenue bridge underpass along the riverwalk. Available locations for the 3D works include Newsome Park, Walton Island, or a pedestal on Riverside Drive. As part of the application, the artist must select a location from those available and propose their new public art piece specifically for that location. Artists must provide a completed application along with a narrative, design illustrations, budget, resume, work samples, references, and supporting materials (if applicable). The honorariums offered are $6,500 for each of the two new pieces of public art.
Applications are scored blindly by the ECAC based on the following criteria: artistic excellence, technical competence, narrative support, appropriate relationship to the function of the site, and long-term feasibility. City staff, to ensure installation feasibility, will evaluate the top three pieces scored. The ECAC will make a final determination based on the scores and recommendations by staff. Winners of the honorariums will be announced in late spring. After selection, production of the new works is expected to begin in early summer and be completed and installed in time for the annual Art Harvest event in late October.
Public Art Artist Benefits
Selected artists will receive an honorarium of up to $6,500 for their work and the support of the City of Elgin for their project. Being that the artist can select the location from those listed on the application, it is up to the artist to determine how they wish their work to impact the community. Once installed, the work will be on display for a length of time set by the artist. It will be included in the city’s public art map and online database. The work will be officially unveiled at the annual Art Harvest event at the end of October. Art Harvest is a family-friendly event that encourages our community to visit the public art installations around the downtown area. It is attended by about 400 people each year.
About the City of Elgin
The City of Elgin tasked it’s Cultural Arts Commission with creating a public art plan in 2016. Part of that process was to determine the needs of the community and how best to fit those needs. Components of the plan include other projects such as utility box wrapping and neighborhood public art grants. Since the plan’s implementation in 2017, the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission has selected and installed five new pieces of public art. The community has been extremely vocal not only in support of the pieces that were selected, but also in support of public art and how it impacts their daily lives.
For more information, contact harris_a@cityofelgin.org.