ArtBridge + Con Edison @ 242 Cherry Street 

OPEN CALL

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THE OPEN CALL (“OPEN CALL”). Entry into this Open Call constitutes your acceptance of these Official Rules.

OPEN CALL ENTRY DATES:

The period for submission of Artwork shall begin April 29, 2024 12:00am and end on May 19, 2024 11:59pm (“Contest Entry Period”)

OVERVIEW:

Notification Date: June 15, 2024 (estimated)

Target Installation Date: Mid Summer 2024 (estimated)

Artist payment: $20,000
 

INTRODUCTION:

The Open Call Sponsors, ArtBridge and Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (“Con Edison”) are collaborating to turn a 135 x 18 foot wall into a painted mural, which will adorn a Con Edison substation in Chinatown at 242 Cherry Street.

OPEN CALL THEME:

Building upon Con Edison’s commitment to a clean energy future, artwork submissions should address themes related to environmental consciousness. Attention to local community needs and culture are also encouraged. The site, 242 Cherry Street, is located in Chinatown, Manhattan. Over the past few decades, studies exploring air quality as well as economic wellbeing in light of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Hurricane Sandy, have brought many local organizations together to support the longevity of NYC’s oldest Chinatown. We are looking for art that reflects an awareness for the environment in general, while capturing the brilliance of the neighborhood’s history. The artwork submission selected will serve to bring attention to issues of environmental stewardship and community cohesion, while creating a visually stimulating experience for passersby.

This resource may be helpful in learning about the environmental state of the neighborhood: Clearing the Air in Chinatown.  

WHO MAY ENTER:

Entrant must be at least 21 years of age and a New York City-based artist (or collective) who lives in one of the five boroughs. Entrant must be able to commit to working during the period designated, mid summer 2024, for design edits and installation. Winning artist must be able to provide a digital design draft, and lead the painting/install of the mural.  

Employees of the Sponsors and any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies are not eligible to enter or win. Artists may need to provide proof of residency upon request.
 

DESCRIPTION OF SITE:

Located at 242 Cherry Street, the Con Edison substation (the “Site”) is situated in a square block between Rutgers and Pike Streets, adjacent to New York City Housing Authority’s Rutgers Houses. 

The wall is 135 feet long by 18 feet high. It will need to be prepped and primed before applying paint. Artwork shall be 2 dimensional, and painted directly on to the wall. 

The substation can be viewed here and the site is also visible on Google Street View.   

ARTIST NOTIFICATION:

The selected artist will be determined and notified via email or phone call on or before the Notification Date.

COMPENSATION:

• One Artist will be selected, and will be paid $20,000 to design artwork for the full length of the Site, and be the lead painter for the installation. Supplies, lifts, and site-prep costs will be covered by Con Edison. Artist will bear no costs related to installation.
• The selected Artist will retain full IP rights to the design itself, however by participating in this Open Call, the Artist agrees Con Edison has the right, at no additional cost, to display the winning artwork at the Site for an unlimited period of time. 

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

• All entries must be received within the Open Call Entry Period. 
• Artwork that can be replicated in paint on the wall will be accepted for consideration.
• Artwork must be new. It is acceptable to submit rough sketches, along with a description. The proposal should be a general idea of what you would propose, that may be altered for the final work. 
• Submitted work does not have to match the exact aspect ratio of the 135 x 18 foot wall; but this layout should be a consideration in the submission.
• Depictions of violence and nudity are forbidden, along with other common-sense constraints of public art. If your work includes any representations of real people, you must be able to obtain explicit consent from those people or their estates (if deceased).
• You may submit more than one proposal (up to 3 per person), but each proposal must be its own, wholly separate submission.
• You can submit as an individual, or as a collaboration, or on behalf of an organization or collective.
• Submissions must be the original work of the Artist and, must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any other person and must not violate any law.
• The Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify any Submission for any reason, in their sole and absolute discretion.
• Odds of winning depend upon number of entries received.
   

ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS:

Submissions will be reviewed by an internal panel of jurors from Con Edison and ArtBridge. A selection of candidates will then be presented to a review panel of local community stakeholders, who will choose the final artwork. 

All Entries will be judged based upon the judges’ determination of:

• Artist’s own original creative work
• Theme relevant to the RFP
• Visual vibrancy of the Submission

The Judges’ decisions are final and binding.

MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS:

Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Open Call. The Sponsors reserve the right to permanently disqualify any Artist they believe has intentionally violated these Official Rules. Open Call subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law.

After the Notification Date, Artists that have provided a submission(s) may obtain the name of the selected winner by sending a request to the email address below.

CHOICE OF LAW:

All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of artists and Sponsors in connection with this Open Call, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of New York, USA without regard to New York choice of law rules. Except as prohibited by law, as a condition of entering into this Open Call, Artist agrees that under no circumstances will Artist be permitted to obtain awards for, and Artist hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than Artist’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with entering this Contest), and Artist further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. 

QUESTIONS:

Email: info@art-bridge.org with the subject heading Con Edison RFP. Or call: 646-450-1463.
 

About ArtBridge

New York City currently has 320 miles of street-level construction. Since 2008, ArtBridge has transformed these underutilized spaces into canvases for local, early-career artists. ArtBridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chelsea. 

art-bridge.org

instagram.com/artbridge

About Con Edison

Con Edison operates one of the world’s largest energy delivery systems. Founded in 1823 as the New York Gas Light company, their electric, gas, and steam service now provides energy for the 10 million people who live in New York City and Westchester County.

With a focus on investing in clean energy futures, Con Edison supports the development of new technologies that create and sustain equitable, climate-resilient communities. Their Union Square headquarters is the locus of these efforts. The artwork chosen for the building will reflect this interest in sustainable environmental practices. 

instagram.com/conedison

www.conedison.com

 

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