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An Opportunity to Showcase Local Art on Penn Street Bus Shelters

By Berks Arts Council

Jun 29, 2020

Berks Arts Council is partnering with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, South Central Transit and Barta (Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority) to beautify the Bus Shelters located on Penn Street, Reading as part of their mission to inspire, unite and engage our local community through the arts.

The partnership with the City of Reading, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance South Central Transit Authority and BARTA are seeking local artists to help transform the Bus Shelters located on Penn Street with art. The initiative will commission local artists (amateur-professional) to produce artwork that respond to and are inspired by our community today.

Project Description: Artwork is to be installed on one of eight bus shelters located along Penn Street in Reading, PA. Artwork will be created on a polyester material and installed on the shelter using an outdoor grade adhesive. Artworks will be installed by a designated team.

Eligibility: Opportunity is open to all artists 16 years of age and older residing in Reading and Berks County, PA. All who are interested in creating and designing a piece of art are encouraged to submit. Groups, schools, organizations, businesses, families, and collaboratives are all welcome to participate. Berks Arts Council, City of Reading, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, South Central Transit Authority, BARTA and their designees will select artists without regard to race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age, gender or sex.

Budget: Each selected artist will receive an honorarium of $150 in addition to the paint and materials to create the mural.

Submission and Selection: Proposed art work must be emailed to [email protected] by July 10, 2020 by 5:00 PM in a jpg or pdf format.  Email should be titled: BARTA Art Submission. Work should embrace the theme of “Art for Hope, Healing and Community Unity”. Selections will be made by a committee representing Berks Arts Council, GRCA, City of Reading, South Central Transit Authority and BARTA.  Selected artists will receive all materials necessary to create a 3’10” x 5’ artwork to be made at their home or studio.

Finished artwork will be delivered on a designated date to a specific location identified.

Artwork will be created using Novacolor Acrylic Paints on a piece of primed polyester interfacing. After installing the painting, a UV blocker will be applied to the painting to help retain its original color.

Submissions will be judged based on relevant completed work and representation of theme. Experience making large scale paintings is preferred but not required. Submissions with any themes of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, violence, memes, religious or previously copyrighted or registered by another artist will not be considered.

Submission must include: Name of Artist, name of artwork, phone number, email, address and brief bio of artist 

OTHER INFORMATION: Berks Arts Council, GRCA, City of Reading, South Central Transit Authority and BARTA reserve the right to photograph accepted artworks for purposes connected

with this and future exhibitions. Artists will be asked to sign a release to give permission for photographs of art to be taken and used in promotional materials and websites. All reasonable care and security measures will be taken in handling and displaying the works submitted.

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