The Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition is pleased to announce that the cities of Norwich and New London, along with the Town of Groton, will be collaborating to apply for the newly announced Public Art Challenge Grant offered by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Now we need artists and arts organizations to deliver creative public art concepts!

Announced by Bloomberg Philanthropies on October 13th, 2014, the grant allows mayors of municipalities with populations of more than 30,000 to apply as lead applicant, with an artist or arts organization as a partner. The City of Norwich and Mayor Deberey Hinchey will serve as the lead applicant with Mayor Daryl Finizio and the City of New London, Town of Groton and the Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition to serve as partners. Additional municipalities, arts organizations, military and public and private partners may be added.

All interested artists and arts organizations may pitch a concept for this grant opportunity. The applicants are seeking temporary public art concepts that provide the highest potential for quality and most feasible temporary public art projects, while also reaching the widest audiences of our residents and visitors. Community engagement and accessibility are vital components of the concept and the grant. All forms of public art and artists will be considered — including, but not limited to, social engagement, dance, theatre, performance, sculpture, earthworks, etc.

The Thames River connects the cities of Norwich and New London and a number of towns in the region. The river is an important source of historic, modern and planned commercial, military, maritime, arts and cultural activities. For this grant opportunity, temporary public art concepts that focus on, utilize and/or feature the Thames River are sought.

Concepts should include:

• Excellent, innovative public art project(s) focusing on the Thames River
• Potential for positive impact for cities/towns surrounding the Thames River and the entire region
• Technical feasibility of the project idea and its implementation

Please read and consider all grant application criteria, click here to view.

If you or your organization is interested in providing a 5-minute presentation of a public art concept (verbal and/or visual) on Monday, November 17th between 9am and 11am, please click here to register. You must register to schedule a time and pitch concept.

Timeline:
Meeting to hear Artistic Concepts: November 17, 2014
Selection of Concept and Partner: November 24, 2014
Public Art Challenge application deadline: December 15th, 2014