The Irvington Development Organization (IDO) is looking for artists to create new art on two traffic signal boxes in the neighborhood.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, artists must:
- Be over 18 (we cannot contract with anyone under 18)
- Live in Marion County, Indiana (due to the source of funds we must geographically restrict eligibility)
- All else being equal, preference will be given to artists living in or with a strong personal connection to the Irvington neighborhood
- Be willing to meet all contractual obligations and adhere to a strict budget and timeline
Deadline to Apply: August 1, 2025
Compensation/commission fee
- Painted box: $1,000 per box (includes paints, coatings, incidental equipment, PPE, etc.; artist must cover their own vehicle costs)
- Digital design for a vinyl wrap: $500 per design (artist is not responsible for the vinyl wrapping process)
The artist will be required to provide a warranty for the artwork to include one year of repair related to “inherent vice.”
Project Information
The purpose of the traffic signal box art program is to enable Indianapolis’ neighborhoods to express their identity, beautify their streets, and discourage “tagging” vandalism of the neighborhood’s traffic signal control boxes (TSBs). Other purposes are to provide employment opportunities for artists and allow artists the opportunity for personal expression. The process is neighborhood-driven, with the Arts Council of Indianapolis assisting neighborhoods or other citizen groups to ensure aesthetic quality and work with the City to permit the use of the TSBs. Neighborhoods are responsible for maintaining the completed boxes.
Art on TSBs can be hand-painted or digitally printed on vinyl wrap and professionally installed by the wrap vendor.
Irvington was founded in 1870 as a suburban town to the east of Indianapolis. The neighborhood soon became home to Butler University and a hub for artists, including the well-known “Irvington Group” consisting of William Forsyth, Simon Baus, Clifton Wheeler, Hilah Drake Wheeler, and Dorothy Morlan, among many others. These leading Indiana artists lived, created, and exhibited art in Irvington and beyond. Since then, Irvington has come to be known as a haven for the arts, historical preservation, environmentalism, and inclusivity.
For more than 20 years, the Irvington Development Organization (IDO) has preserved our community’s historic charm, promoted positive economic growth, and empowered surrounding neighborhoods through effective strategic initiatives. By assisting in grant applications, green initiatives, and philanthropic endeavors, IDO – pronounced I do – is an ally to businesses and residents alike. We’re dedicated to improving the quality of life for the residents of Indianapolis’ largest historic district and surrounding areas. With any public art opportunity, we seek to reflect what makes our community special.
This project will be managed by the Irvington Development Organization. The artist (and wrap vendor, if applicable) will be contracted to and paid by the Indy Arts Council.
Location information
- Brookville Rd. and Kitley St.: This traffic box sits on the northeast corner of the intersection, very near the Indianapolis Speedrome and Kitley Inn. Note that these community entities will be stakeholders in the process.
- Emerson Ave. and New York St.: This traffic box sits on the northwest corner of the intersection, adjacent to the Emerson Avenue Baptist Church and catty-corner to the Kin Hubbard Memorial pocket park. Note that these community entities will be stakeholders in the process.
Resources
Irvington Development Organization
Indianapolis – Historic and Conservation Districts
Selection Process
Neighborhood representatives will review artists’ qualifications and select the artists to commission to create TSB artwork. Artists may be selected to complete more than one box. Artists will then enter into a commissioning agreement with the neighborhood and will have from four to eight weeks to create a design using a scaled template of the box surfaces. The Art Committee, along with representation from the Arts Council, will review and approve designs prior to fabrication.
Note: while this is the intended selection process, in the event of an insufficient number of qualified applicants the neighborhood reserves the right to change the process to a Request for Proposals, to invite an artist to propose, or to directly select an artist or artwork; and also reserves the right to cancel the opportunity entirely at any point and for any reason.
Selection Criteria
Finalists will be selected based upon the following criteria:
Artistic quality: artist’s submission displays a record of appropriate, yet innovative, concepts brought to a site or project, and documents creative and stylistically distinctive solutions to design and site issues
Aesthetic sensibility: artist’s work displays an aesthetic that would be desirable for this project
Technical ability: artist’s submission indicates skill with materials and techniques similar to those that would be required for this project
Experience: artist’s submission has indicated familiarity with clients and conditions similar to those that would be used on this project, or has demonstrated the ability on past projects to quickly acquire the skills needed to be successful on a project similar to this one
Process: artist’s submission indicate that the working relationship will be pleasant and the completed project will successfully meet the challenges particular to the site and overall initiative, including successfully completing all documentation and managing the given project budget
Project Timeline
This timeline represents the project as it now appears. Changes may be necessary as the project progresses.
- July 1, 2025: Call issued
- August 1: Application deadline
- August 1-18: Application review
- August 19: Applicant notifications
- August 19-September 1: Artist Contracting
- September 2-4 (date TBD): Artist orientation meeting
- By September 26: Designs due for approval
- September 26-October 10: Approvals and Permitting completed
- October 3: Final digital file at full resolution due (if a vinyl wrapped box)
- October 2025: Completion of onsite work (dates onsite TBD per artists’ schedules)
How to Apply
Artists must provide the following information via email to info@irvingtondevelopment.org, with the words “Traffic Box” in the subject line.
- Applicant Information: Provide artist’s name, mailing address, email address, phone number (mobile preferred), website if applicable, and social media information as desired. This information can be provided on the professional resume or CV discussed below.
- Professional Resume or CV: No longer than 3 typed pages. Ensure the resume/cv includes a link to your website and/or preferred social media accounts for your artwork.
- Samples of Previous Work: List and Images
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- Previous Work Sample Images (maximum 10 images including alternate views or details of the same artwork). Images must be provided digitally and may be provided as individual image files or collated into a PDF or Word document.
- Choose images of artwork that best represent your experience, style, and ability as they apply to this project. Multiple images showing different views of the same artwork are encouraged!
- You may also provide images of any other work (large-scale or otherwise) that best represents your style and production over the past 5 years.
- Previous Work Sample List (provided digitally in .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx or .pdf format)
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- The work sample list should provide as much information about each of the example artworks as possible. Include at minimum the name/title of piece, client if applicable, location, medium, process, dimensions, year completed, budget if applicable, and a description of the concept or site challenge along with how you solved it.
- Organize the list according to the names of the images, or in the order the images appear in the single document. If using a document format, this information can be placed on the same page as the image within the document.
- Make sure your name and contact information appears at the top of the list.
- Information detailing any connection you may have to the Irvington community. You can include this information in the body of the email you send.
- Preference as to a painted or a vinyl wrapped box and box location (if applicable). You can include this information in the body of the email you send.
For questions, contact:
Emily Hillyer, Irvington Development Organization, info@irvingtondevelopment.org