Call to Artists for a temporary Public Artwork for Summer 2009
(3/7/2008) NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, March 5, 2008 – For the first time in many years, the City of New Haven Office of Cultural Affairs has issued a “Call to Artists” requesting basic conceptual ideas from professional artists for the design of a temporary outdoor artwork for downtown. The goal is to create a unique, New Haven–specific visual and/or performance work that is publicly inclusive, interactive, and sensory.
The Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) mission is to enhance the quality of life in New Haven and to support the economic development of the City by assisting, promoting and encouraging artists and cultural organizations in New Haven. They also produce and assist in the production of events in the City. OCA supports neighborhood activities through the Mayor's Community Grants Program Events produced by OCA include July 4th Fireworks at Long Wharf Park, the Mayor's Halloween Parade and the Holiday Tree Lighting on the Green.
Though consistently active in public art throughout its existence through the New Haven’s Art in Public Places (or Percent for Art) program which commissions artists to design place-specific artworks for municipal buildings and schools under construction or renovation, it has been some time since OCA has commissioned public art for temporary installation.
The Office of Cultural Affairs programs have shifted since the dissolution of the New Haven Jazz Festival in 2006, allowing more emphasis to be placed on its core mission of community events and public art. As a result, OCA assembled a few key community members in October 2007 for a focused discussion on public art. The New Haven Public Art Focus Group, comprised of representatives from arts, business and government, met to discuss public art programs in an effort to assist the Office of Cultural Affairs in defining policy and programs possibilities as well as a long range vision for Public Art in New Haven. What emerged from that meeting was a consensus that the Office of Cultural Affairs consider establishing an “iconic” public art event/installation for the City that would elevate New Haven’a profile as a center for arts and culture, much as Barnaby Evans’ Waterfire has done for Providence, Rhode Island.
In an effort to realize the vision of the New Haven Public Art Focus Group, the Office of Cultural Affairs has issued a Call to Artists which seeks to elicit ideas for what could become an annual venture for New Haven. The goal of this work will be to produce a piece which will speaks to the existing fabric of the downtown area and New Haven’s overall identity, history and culture, especially connecting the various “nine squares” of downtown to one another and to the Green. The work should be interactive and engaging, be visually compelling, especially for dusk and evening viewing, and might include light and sound. The ultimate challenge facing OCA is finding ways to entice visitors to explore the various residential and commercial districts of downtown. Artwork that has the potential to connect downtown districts in a visually compelling way is especially sought.
The project is open to artists worldwide, however, due to budget constraints, it is anticipated that most artists submitting will be from the northeastern U.S. For the complete version of the Call to Artists, please visit the City of New Haven’s website, Office of Cultural Affairs page: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/EconomicDevelopment/CulturalAffairs.asp
Deadline for submissions is April 11, 2008.
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Contact Name: Barbara Lamb
Contact Email: blamb@newhavenct.net
Contact Phone: 203.946.8378 Cell 203.410.1521
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