Special to 1812Blockhouse
The Richland Community Development Group Art Sector has announced that it is leading a public art initiative in downtown Mansfield.
The project will be funded by various businesses and organizations with a 50% matching grant from the Richland County Foundation as part of its Mansfield Rising Project.
During this public art initiative in downtown Mansfield, up to $50,000 in matching funds will be made available to businesses, nonprofits, and sponsors to help in funding the creation of art in a variety of methods, including traditional painted murals, installed artistic wallscapes, window art, as well as temporary and permanent public art on visible walls and surfaces. Organizations and artists in the area are encouraged to apply to take part in this transformative and revitalizing effort to beautify and create impact in downtown through art.
The artists and organizations who apply for matching funding for public art projects will be vetted by a panel of local individuals. All local artists that have examples of visual art, photography, and graphic arts are encouraged to apply.
Organizations may participate outside the designated area of the Mansfield Rising Plan, and may still be matched with an artist for any project, although projects that can receive matching funding are designated within 1st – 5th and Adams to Bowman Street area in Mansfield.
Public art has many significant contributions to a community, in its many art forms, and public visual art is both a feasible outcome and already gaining a renewed momentum in downtown Mansfield, Ohio. In part due to local artist organizations and individual artists rising to the occasion, this Public Art Initiative through the Mansfield Rising Plan will help to stimulate the economic advantages of art, and hopes to drive forward the inspiration of the community.
ARTISTS APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/rdXB2mEsSy25oeWZ9
BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, ORGANIZATIONS APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/GLxYE9xrWWwhnfoz8
CONTACT: Suzanna Hammond, President of the Mansfield Art Sector of RCDG [email protected]
Artistic Methods
A variety of methods and diversity are encouraged to achieve public art in this initiative. Matching funding is specified for artwork only, and not specific to branding or advertising.
Existing artwork in downtown Mansfield and revitalization mural work is encouraged. Recent revitalization efforts such as the painted Train Mural on State Route 13, Main Street Mansfield were completed by volunteers of local nonprofit Mankind Murals Inc. The original mural was created by muralists in Mansfield, in 1977. There are a number of buildings in downtown that have mural restoration potential, as well as viable space for vibrant new mural concepts and public art ideas.
One local method for exterior art installations can be a game-changer for the community. Wallscapes by Lind SignSpring Group provides local engineering pioneered in Richland County by Lind with experience in billboards and wallscapes as both a product and an independent billboard operator. Vinyl banner artwork can be tensioned by patented SignSpring, spring and hook technology, can be scaled to any size, and makes an interchangeable option for artwork on a seasonal basis.
Current examples of this method are located as public art installations at a Shawshank Redemption film location at KV Market designed by artist Robin Shoup, as well as the Story of the Library designed by artist Ruthie Akuchie located inside the Mansfield Richland County Public Library.
Both permanent and temporary art in downtown can receive matching funding and can include: paved areas for asphalt artwork, window painting, stenciled artwork both permanent and temporary methods, Rainworks, urban artwork, creative use of blighted walls as well as exterior pipes and fixtures, artwork integrated with blooming plants, with as well as artwork integrated within Mansfield parks such as Central Park.
Artists are encouraged to take part in two additional seasons of artwork for the Art in the Park initiative which will move forward and be commissioned by artists themed and inspired by Our Performing Arts, and Wintertime in Mansfield.
Source: RCDG; Photo: 1812Blockhouse
