Call For Artists for Trail Town Program

The Trail Town’s Program History:
The Great Allegheny Passage is a 150-mile system of biking and hiking trails connecting Cumberland, MD and Pittsburgh, PA. The economic impact from the thousands of trail users has had a significant effect on the small communities that border the trail. Businesses have sprung up to address the needs of the trail users and in 2007 a program was launched to assist in capitalizing on this market. This program, known as the Trail Town Program is an economic development initiative of the Great Allegheny Passage.

The Trail Town Program envisions a corridor of revitalized trailside communities along the Great Allegheny Passage that reap the economic benefits of trail-based tourism and recreation as part of a larger, coordinated approach to regional economic development. The long-term economic viability of participating communities is to be achieved through concentrated business development efforts that capitalize on the trail user market.

Additional information on the vision and goals of the Trail Town program can be found at www.trailtowns.org.

In recognition of the* Pittsburgh 250 Celebration, public artwork will be created that will serve two purposes: *(1) enhance each community’s unique culture, place, and perspective along the National Corridor of the Great Allegheny Passage and (2) help celebrate the completion of the trail into the City of Pittsburgh.

The Trail Town’s Public Art Program is a grant-funded project that seeks to commission Public Artwork through a community dialogue in six Western Pennsylvania Trail Towns: West Newton, Connellsville, Ohiopyle, Confluence, Rockwood and Meyersdale. The commissioned works will be selected via an interactive process with local residents in each community.

*Public Artwork Theme: * The theme for the artwork is Cycle of Renewal to reflect the evolution of the Trail Towns along the Great Allegheny Passage. Cycle of Renewal speaks to the inherent changes in nature/ecology that both destroy and recreate the landscapes whose natural resources gave rise to the national industrial center of the Pittsburgh region. Cycle of Renewal also references the economic shift in the region from heavy industry to recreation and models the creation of the Great Allegheny Passage as a reflection of that cultural shift. The rail trail, by its own creation, first envisioned by a few local citizens, then by local clubs and government officials grew organically out of the remains of the regional industry’s blood-line, the railroad. This theme speaks to the intrinsic presence of and celebration of the region’s historic past and vibrant future.

Cycle of Renewal represents the significance of both the environmental and cultural heritage of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail Towns. The local communities’ “story of place” should be a generator for all artworks. Public Artworks should capture the interest of area residents as well as the discerning trail user audience along this world-class bike trail and thereby reflect the environmental and cultural sense of place. It should also serve as a point of continuation for additional art and ongoing increased cultural awareness in the future.

*Submission: * Artists from the 14 counties of Southwestern Pennsylvania (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland), Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, and the other counties in Pennsylvania working in all mediums are encouraged to submit examples of their work and qualifications for consideration.

Interested artists are asked to submit five to ten JPEG images of their work along with a current resume. Interested artists may also include a brief statement of interest, bio, and/or artist’s statement. Any detailed information regarding pertinent prior public art experience is also encouraged.

Evaluation Criteria: Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

(1) stated interest, (2) demonstrated excellence of past work (3) approach and quality of submission (4) relevant experience with public art.

Following a jury process, finalists will be asked to submit a project proposal geared toward developing art for a specific location. The proposal will be publicly displayed and residents of the community will vote for their favorite artist’s work. Additionally, finalists will be invited to present their work in a public forum attended by committee representatives, community members, and respected individuals in the arts.

Site-based installation works/environmental works including murals that promote active trail use or connections between trail and town will be given preference over object-based artworks. Designs will be evaluated based on the technical expertise and professional experience of the artist in their proposed media.

If chosen, artists will be expected to interface with local community groups to finalize their designs and coordinate the installation processes. Each Trail Town community will determine site location and be encouraged to comment on the designs of commissioned works.

*Artist Commissions: * Compensation, which includes materials, will range from approximately $5000 to $8000 and will be discussed further after final selections.

*Key Dates: * Deadline for portfolio submissions is May 7, 2008. Artists selected to submit project proposals will be notified in mid-May and have 2-3 weeks to prepare a detailed preliminary design and rendering of their proposed artwork. Final selection and notification will occur on or before June 7, 2008.

Unveiling of each trail town’s completed work will take place on Celebration Saturday (September 27) with each location holding its own community celebration. Celebration Saturday is a featured event in the middle of a weeklong series of activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the naming of Pittsburgh, the completion of the Great Allegheny Passage into Pittsburgh, and the completion of the artwork.

Timeline for Trail Town Public Art Projects:

MAY 7……………………………..Deadline for submissions (5:00 PM Eastern Time)

JUNE 7…………………………….Final selection/Artists notified

JUNE - SEPT…………………….Artist Production/Installation Phase

SEPT 20…………………………..Art completed

SEPT 27…………………………..Public artworks unveiled during community celebrations for inaugural ride on the Great Allegheny Passage

Please send submissions to: Christina Lee, Public Arts Coordinator Trail Town Program 223 Wharton Furnace Road Farmington, PA 15437 clee@access995.com

This project supported in part by Pittsburgh 250 Community Connections and The Sprout Fund.