Last updated: 6/21/22

Food Justice Call for Artists

Highlighting conversations around food justice, sovereignty, and resources.

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The Mayor’s Office of Food Justice (OFJ) invites artists to apply to work with OFJ on two art installations. OFJ will engage community residents in conversations around food justice and decreasing stigma around food resources. Artists will reflect these conversations as two public visual art installations at food access and growing sites.

We are currently selecting partners and sites. We are recruiting artists to lead either one or both projects.

Questions? Contact:

haein.kim@boston.gov
Call for Artists Application

Applications close July 1, 2022

Apply Now

About the Projects

Artists will work with community members to co-design and create both art installations. An OFJ staff member will lead 1-2 community conversations per art installation to help inform themes. Community members will be compensated for their time spent brainstorming themes. OFJ is hoping to use the projects to:

reflect on what food justice and means to residents and
decrease stigma around resources like food pantries.

Details

Budget: Up to $14,000 per project for supplies, community engagement sessions, and art supplies, design, and installation.
Call Open: June 10, 2022
Call Closes: July 1, 2022

Eligibility and Application

Eligibility

This Call to Artists is open to all artists at least 18 years of age with a strong preference for artists that currently live, work, or organize in Boston. We are especially interested in artists who have experience with creating lasting art in the public realm (such as murals, installations, banners) and community engagement.

Selection of the artist partner will also depend on fit with the two proposed projects, experience working with residents, and availability for community conversations in July and August.

Non-Discrimination

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, or disability, nor will it fund projects that discriminate on these attributes.

Details on how to register for a City of Boston Vendor ID.

What you need To Apply

Artist Statement: A few sentences that describe your artistic style.
Community Engagement experience: Tell us about your experience creating lasting art in the public realm and community engagement processes.
Artist work samples: Up to five images of your work that you feel are relevant to this project. One image per file; jpg, tiff, or MP4 file types. Limit videos to two minutes or less. Max 100 MG per file.
Design: Artists must agree that murals or fence designs may be altered at any time by the City of Boston

Apply Now

Project Criteria

Artist must live, work, or organize in Boston and be at least 18 years of age.
All art installations must be completed by the end of September 2022.
Artists are responsible for ensuring the project's completion and photographing the art installation for documentation.
Designs must discreetly incorporate the artist's signature and the text "City of Boston Office of Food Justice".
Designs should reflect the themes from community conversations facilitated by the OFJ.
Your design should align with the City of Boston's Curatorial Vision.

Project Details

Project Award

Artists will receive up to $14,000 per project for supplies; community engagement time; and art design, production and installation. Payments will be staggered in stages.

Artists will need to register as a vendor with the City of Boston (or provide an existing vendor ID number).

To receive the final payment artists must submit photos of the completed mural or other art installation.

Schedule and Commissioning Process

June 10 - July 1: Call for artists

July 5 - 11: Artists are notified of their selection