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Generations of Pride:
Art for Traffic Signal Cabinets 2025

50 Years of Santa Cruz County LGBTQ+ History and Celebration

SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT JANUARY 15, 2025

HISTORIC AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

Santa Cruz County is a unique community with a rich Pride history. Since its inception in June 1975, the Santa Cruz Pride celebration has been the most prominent LGBTQ+ event on the Central Coast (the third oldest annual Pride Parade and Festival in California!), attracting more than 7,000 participants each year. Along with San Francisco, Santa Cruz has been at the forefront with an annual celebration helping forge a pathway towards a more inclusive and supportive society. Artistic designs can be inspired by Santa Cruz County’s landscape, iconic locations, and the rich LGBTQ+ history of the past 50 years.

Community Art Project-Graphic Traffic Cabinet Art

As an artistic community engagement element to foster awareness for 50 years of Santa Cruz Pride and the rich legacy of LGBTQ+ history in Santa Cruz County, the SC Pride Arts Subcommittee is commissioning artists or artist-led teams to provide 10 designs to decorate neighborhood Traffic Cabinets with art reflecting the vibrant history and diversity of our Queer community. Regional artists residing in or having been long-term residents of Santa Cruz County will submit proposals for art representing the people, events, and milestones, including a premier-placed design to celebrate the anniversary of 50 Years of Santa Cruz Pride. The art will be located strategically throughout the city to provide visual representation, uplifting the local LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate and honor the 50th anniversary of the first Santa Cruz Pride. NOTE: there will be space for a QR code included on each box with link for people to learn more about artists and local Queer history.

GOALS

All art submitted must offer a compelling artistic vision to promote the 50th Anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride and Santa Cruz County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+ ) history and contribute to the unique character of Santa Cruz's neighborhoods.

Some criteria for this project and benefits are:

Reflect the diverse cultural heritage and history of Santa Cruz County LGBTQ+ people and Santa Cruz Pride;
Serve as a welcoming beacon, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity through engaging design elements;
Celebrate the natural beauty of Santa Cruz County;
Beautification of City-owned traffic cabinets, a deterrent for graffiti, and an opportunity to learn more about our community.

SELECTION CRITERIA & ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

This RFP is open to a diverse range of participants, with preference given to Santa Cruz County artists.

Artists with experience engaging local and diverse communities are highly encouraged to apply.
Previous experience with public art projects encouraged, but not necessary.
Applicants must demonstrate a clear understanding of the project theme and objectives and how their artistic vision aligns with the community's needs.
Preference given to Santa Cruz County artists or artists with significant connections to Santa Cruz and the Queer community.
BIPOC artists and underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply, to better reflect our community's rich cultural tapestry.
Collaborative submissions from community groups and schools welcomed.
Demonstrate a commitment to the design process to ensure authenticity, cultural relevance, and meaningful representation in the artwork;
Ability to meet deadlines and budget and to perform work in according our timeline , professional manner required;
Art submitted may either be painted directly onto the cabinets or submitted digitally to transfer onto the vinyl wrap process.

Agreements: Willingness of the artist to consult and work collaboratively with the Santa Cruz Pride Arts Subcommittee, project stakeholders, community members, and City Arts;

Convey a strong understanding of sense of place and design in a context-sensitive manner.
Preference may be given to artists who express authentic, diverse viewpoints of the Santa Cruz County LGBTQ+ experience.
Submitted art must focus on a story or event or person related to Santa Cruz LGBTQ+ history and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride. (See resource links below for ideas)
Seeking artwork that expresses authentic, diverse viewpoints of the Santa Cruz County LGBTQ+ experience.
Space for 50th Anniversary Logo / QR Code / on the cabinet design.
Artists may submit one entry only.
When a proposal is accepted, reviewed, and contract signed, artist(s) will receive 50% to begin the project and 50% on completion of the installation. $250 for vinyl (2 payments of $125) and $500 for painting (2 payments of $250)

About the Cabinets: Cabinets are located on street corners and are visible to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Cabinet surfaces are approximately 54” high x 44” wide x 26” deep. Proposals should describe full surface coverage (how all four sides will be treated, and whether the image will be digitally printed or painted onto a box).

Materials: Artist(s) will be responsible for either;

providing an image file to be transferred to a vinyl wrap. City prints and installs the vinyl wrap.
providing priming and water-based acrylic paints to paint directly on the cabinets. Time of painting will be coordinated with the Santa Cruz Pride Arts Subcommittee and the City.