Attention local and regional artists: The City of Santa Clara has an opportunity for you to paint murals on utility boxes around Santa Clara. Santa Clara’s Cultural Commission is relaunching the Utility Art Box Program which was last active in 2016. This time, selected artists will add to the dozens of utility boxes that have been painted over the years.
The Utility Art Box Program began in 2011 as a pilot program intended to discourage graffiti on traffic signal controller cabinets and was later expanded to all types of utility boxes. If you’re interested, you can still see the murals painted on utility boxes over the past eight years at locations such as the corner of Scott Boulevard and Warburton Avenue, as well as Lafayette Street and Lewis Street.
Three artists will be selected for the 2019 Utility Art Box Program. The selected artists will receive a $750 stipend for supplies and to compensate them for their time. It’s also a unique opportunity for artists to showcase their design to the Santa Clara community on a regular basis. Artists of all ages are encouraged to apply.
Artists who wish to apply for the program can download the application on the Cultural Commission webpage at SantaClaraCA.gov/CulturalCommission. Complete applications and supplemental materials must be submitted by May 13.
The Citywide Utility Art Box Program is funded through the City’s Art in Public Places budget, which is designated to support temporary community art pieces and cultural events.
For more information, contact the City of Santa Clara Cultural Commission at 408-615-3192.