StreetSpark, a public art program in partnership with the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation, was founded to further the creative identity in Hamilton, Ohio through exciting murals and public art projects. The program creates engagement by producing high quality art, providing opportunities for local artists and enhancing the visual appeal of the city. With the goal of fueling Hamilton artistically, StreetSpark brings visible murals and artwork into our community.
This program is energizing our streetscape, creating awareness of the arts and sparking new development throughout Hamilton. Since the summer of 2016, sixteen murals and two utility boxes have been painted in a variety of styles. Each year artists are invited to submit a range of designs, and the winning murals are chosen by a selection committee of art professionals and appreciators in our area.
StreetSpark is looking for design submissions for one retaining wall and twelve utility boxes throughout downtown Hamilton. Each selected utility box designer will paint their design with the assistance of a student/emerging artist (selected by StreetSpark) during our “StreetSpark: ElectriCITY!” event on June 11-12, 2022. The designer selected for the retaining wall will paint their design with two supporting artists and will lead several community paint days.
November 29, 2021 Call to Artists for Public Art Designs released
January 30, 2022 Design application deadline; by 12am midnight
March 13, 2022 Painter-only application deadline; by 12am midnight
March-April 2022 Selected designers notified / Painter interviews held
June 11-12, 2022 Art created at the “ElectriCITY!” event in Hamilton, Ohio (retaining wall project dates TBD)
July 2022 Celebration events held (Dates TBD)
Please email streetsparkart@gmail.com with any questions.
See more info at https://www.fittoncenter.org/streetspark
Eligibility
- All visual artists/painters (age 18+) are welcome to submit designs using this application process.
- An individual artist or artist group may submit utility box designs. If a group is submitting, there must be one artist (18+) who submits the application on behalf of the group and acts as the lead artist overseeing the project. All artists in the group who plan to participate must be age 14 or older.
- Awarded utility box designers/groups will automatically be accepted to paint their box.
- While we strongly encourage local artists to submit designs or apply to be a mural painter, artists may be from any geographic location. Any related travel and/or lodging expenses must be covered by the artist.
- If submitting a utility box design, the designer or group must be available to paint on the “ElectriCITY!” event dates of June 11-12, 2022.
- See Utility Box Guidelines section for more details.
