PURPOSE
The Midtown Raleigh Alliance (MRA), like many other non-profits, is working to alleviate the economic stress many are experiencing in our community. 2020 was a year like no other and has left many in financial hardship. MRA along with our sponsor Merz Aesthetics, and with support from the City of Raleigh, seek to engage local artists, while fulfilling our mission of enhancing Midtown’s visual community appeal.
The MRA and Merz Aesthetics are sponsoring the Second Annual Midtown Banner Art Contest. The MRA currently places banners in 26 locations of Midtown along St. Albans Road, Wake Forest Road and Six Forks Road. This year we are excited to be able to award two (2) artists with cash prize awards and a full year of public display of the selected winnings designs.
CONTEST DETAILS:
Interested artists will submit up to five (5) portfolio samples that show their style.
The Contest Project Team will review submissions and then select five (5) finalists.
Each finalist will be provided a stipend of $150 to produce a final design.
The final design will reflect the theme of “Wish You Were Here” and utilize the framing aspect which characterized the WYWH program (details below.)
Each finalist will submit their design.
The Project Team will review the final designs, and also establish a community engagement/voting system to obtain community sentiment.
Two (2) winning designs will be selected and the artists awarded a cash prize of $1000.
Social media print media and local news will feature articles/stories featuring winning designs and contest outcomes.
SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS
Banner art, because of viewing distances lends itself to large-scale colorful designs easily decipherable and free from too much/small detail. We are asking for artists’ samples that will show the use of these types of designs. When submitting examples artists should consider that reviewers will be looking for samples of work that would adapt well to visibility from a 13’ high pole. These banners will never be seen ‘UP CLOSE’.
We are asking artists to submit no more than five (5) samples that reflect the artist’s style and/or range. Graphic file types accepted: jpg, pdf. png., (no ai files please) Please email samples files to Emily Holton at eholton@midtownraleighalliance.org Include your name, address, and a good contact number. (Wake County residents only.)
The sample submission deadline is January 26, 2021. Finalists will be notified by February 3, 2021. Selected finalists will submit their contest entry by February 17, 2021. Community support/voting will commence Friday 19, 2021, and conclude on Friday, February 26, 2021. Winning designs will be selected, and artists notified on Tuesday, March 2nd. The target date for banner installation is the second week of April.
SPECS
The banners are produced on heavy-duty vinyl with a slightly shiny surface. Each banner will be printed double-sided. As per Duke Power requirements for wind-load, there will be four (4) half-moon shaped slits in the banner itself. The Banners that hang have 29” x 60” total visible space. Additional specs will be provided to finalists and will include framing details/tool and additional measurements.
