Painting the Town: Art Competition for Utility Box Designs Building on the success of several years of traffic utility box projects, the Shaker Arts Council (SHAC) is pleased to announce this year’s project: *Painting the Town*. SHAC is sponsoring a juried *art competition* for the design of *utility boxes* located in Shaker Heights. Local artists are invited to participate. Please download the *attached template and application* *here <https://www.shakerartscouncil.org/utility-box-design-competition-application.html>*. All designs must be submitted electronically on the template provided. Designs and applications must be submitted to SHAC via email ( info@shakerartscouncil.org) no later than *Friday 22 March 2024.* Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 21 years old and live or work in Shaker Heights. Applicants who reside in the Shaker Heights School District or are a member of the Shaker Arts Council also are eligible. Learn how to become a member *here* <https://www.shakerartscouncil.org/membership-form.html>. Artists whose designs have been installed in three (3) consecutive years may not apply. Applicants may submit more than one (1) design, but each must be submitted in a separate email. There are no entry fees. Artists retain all copyrights to their artwork. Artists whose designs are selected will receive a $500.00 stipend after the work is installed. All entries must be anonymous. *Do not sign your submittal nor indicate your name on the submitted design document.* André Taylor, Art Educator, will serve as this year’s jury chair. Since all of the boxes have slightly different dimensions, artists whose work is selected may have to reformat their designs to fit the matched boxes. Design Criteria: - Black or very dark backgrounds are not permitted. - Words are not permitted in the designs, per the City of Shaker Heights code. - Art created in non-digital media must be digitized for submittal. - Final designs must be submitted as camera-ready, 600 dpi files. By submitting a design proposal, all artists agree to: - allow SHAC to use images of the designs on printed materials, websites and social media for promotional purposes only; - allow SHAC to photograph the work; - allow SHAC to submit the proposal to the city’s Shaker Heights Arts Task Force for their final approval and to obtain the artist’s modification of the design, if necessary, to meet the city’s requirements. Artists whose works are not selected are welcome to ask SHAC for jury feedback. Celebrating Shaker Artists Shaker Artist Exhibit Please join us in celebrating *SHAC-aversary*, the Shaker Arts Council’s (SHAC) 21st birthday. We are inviting local artists to participate in a two-day exhibit, *Celebrating Shaker Artists*, to accompany the fundraising festivities on Friday evening 17 May 2024 and the free, open-to-the public activity on Saturday 18 May 2024. All events will take place at *Edwins Too*, 13220 Shaker Square, Cleveland. Artists are invited to submit up to three (3) pieces appropriate for a family-friendly event; at least one (1) piece by each artist will be displayed, unless deemed inappropriate by the exhibit curator. Depending on available space and the decision of the curator, additional pieces may be shown. If desired by the artist, artwork will be for sale; 70% will go to the artist, 30% to SHAC. All payments will be made to SHAC, and checks will be issued to the artists the week following the celebration. Friday evening buyers may take their work at the end of the gala. Based on the curator’s advice, additional pieces will be added to fill in any empty spots for the Saturday celebration. Saturday buyers will take pieces once they have paid SHAC for the work. Otherwise, purchasers will pick up the art on Saturday afternoon during the artists’ artwork pick-up. Eligibility: This call is open to artists who are 18 years or older and who live and/or work in the Shaker Heights school district or are members of SHAC. Please fill out the form here <http://weebly-link/864256359982802819> or send the attached form to register your participation. Please make checks payable to Shaker Arts Council and mail to SHAC, PMB 232, 16781 Chagrin Blvd Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120. Registrations with payments are due no later than 30 April 2024. Entry fees: 1 piece - SHAC members: $10.00; non-members: $12.00 2 or 3 pieces – SHAC members $20.00; non-members: $25.00 Maximum matted size of art: 16” x 20” either horizontal or vertical. All artwork must be matted, only, and wrapped in sleeves. Artists will retain all copyrights to their artwork. Artwork must be delivered to Edwins Too: Thursday 16 May from 5:00-7:00 pm or Friday 17 May from 1:00-3:00 pm Artwork must be picked up: Saturday 18 May between 2:00-3:30 pm All artists agree to: - allow SHAC to use images of their artwork on printed materials and websites for promotional purposes only; - allow SHAC to photograph the work. *---Amara Romano* *Administrative Assistant **Shaker Arts Council ** shakerartscouncil.org <http://shakerartscouncil.org>*