By the way those are brand new coasters… catch them around North Adams!

 DownStreet Art is pleased to announce a call for artists for a mural project as part of the 2012 season. This is a great opportunity to make a mark in the history of North Adams. MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center will partner with the City of North Adams, MASS MoCA, local real estate and artists to realize a series of murals throughout the City. Please read details carefully and fill the application accordingly. DownStreet Art welcomes individuals or groups. If you are a duo/trio or a group of artists willing to realize a mural together please apply!

Image from Alef.net

DownStreet Art 2012 will run from June 28^th till October 25^th. It will begin with a kick-off celebration on June 28^th and will hold five “DownStreet Art Thursdays” on June 28^th, July 26^th, August 30^th,September 27^th  and October 25^th (with all galleries hosting opening receptions and downtown performances).

Please note that as a public art project, DownStreet Art – The Mural Project is dependent on available spaces, sufficient funding and adequate staffing.  While we are planning for 2012, the number of available walls (and thus opportunities) is uncertain at this time.  What we do know is that the City of North Adams is a art-friendly environment where locals and institutions support art and artists.

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DownStreet Art invites one and all to submit proposals for a mural project.  Work has to be realized between June 1^st and October 25^th. In occasion of DownStreet Art Thursday, we will organize a big ribbon-cutting celebration to inaugurate the mural. DownStreet Art Thursdays will take place on June 28^th, July 26^th, August 30^th,September 27^th  and October 25^th. If you have an idea, a project or a proposal that does not fill our requirements, please contact us. We would love to discuss this opportunity with you.

DownStreet Art welcomes international applicants!

Artist Opportunity:

• Realizing a mural downtown North Adams, Massachusetts

Requirements:

• Artist(s) is required to submit a proposal, possibly including renderings or images of past work, to be realized in Summer/Fall 2012 in North Adams.
• The work can be realized during the month before any of the DownStreet Art Thursday although it has to be finished in conjunction with one of the dates above.
• The proposal has to specify a time frame.

In case of acceptance of  the proposal, DownStreet Art – The Mural Projectwill provide a location and will

• Locate the wall and provide for measurements.
• Aggressively market the realization of the mural, as well as branding DownStreet Art and North Adams. Marketing materials will include, but not be limited to street signage, printed art maps, events calendar, weekly e-blasts, vibrant web presence (including links to all major cultural institutions, city governments and Berkshire Visitor’s Bureau, ads in programs for all major area museums, press releases etc…).

Artist(s) will

• Be in North Adams for the time he/she/they will be working at the project.
• Provide for tools.
• Market the work on view.
• Participate in DownStreet Art activities such as DownStreet Art Thursday (last Thursday of each month between June 28^th till October 25^th) according with the time frame specified in the proposal (for instance, if your project will take place between July 26^th and October 25^th you will be required to join DownStreet Art Celebration on Thursday, August 30^th, Thursday, September 27^th, and October 25^th).
• Participating in education activities and workshops in relation with your exhibition when possible.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

DEADLINE APRIL 5, 2012

Questions? Please contact valeria.federici@mcla.edu

Open call for artists/curators/performers : : :  Application Guidelines

Deadline April 1, 2012
DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE 

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DownStreet Art is a program of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) a non-profit organization that provides professional development training, resources, and support to the artists, art managers, and creative workers of Berkshire County run by the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. Through its multiple programs and presentations, BCRC brings the best of performance and art to the Berkshires and showcases the best of the Berkshires to the world.

DownStreet Art is a public art project designed to revitalize downtown North Adams.  A post-industrial city in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, North Adams first began its cultural revitalization with the opening of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in 1999.  More than ten years later, the city is in its second wave of economic development through the arts and other creative economy businesses.

By harnessing existing arts organizations and events and transforming vacant and open spaces into arts destinations, DownStreet Art defines North Adams as a cultural haven, driving tourists and community members’ downtown in a four month celebration of the arts.  Since its inception in 2008, over 65,000 visitors came downtown and through the doors of DownStreet Art’s galleries and exhibits. For DownStreet Art 2012 our goal is to build on what we have accomplished to date while deepening the   dialogue between our community and the arts.  DownStreet Art gives artists and curators competitive opportunities to exhibit their work and to be promoted on a national and international level.

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DownStreet Art 2012

 DownStreet Art is pleased to announce a call for artists and curators for the 2012 season. This is a great opportunity to have your work/project showcased in an art-friendly community, to be in touch with artists, curators, and professionals in the art world, and to be part of a larger discourse about contemporary art. Please read details carefully and fill the application accordingly to your needs. DownStreet Art welcomes any form of art and any art work team. If you are a duo/trio or a group of artists willing to show together please apply!

DownStreet Art 2012 will run from June 28^th till October 25^th. It will begin with a kick-off celebration on June 28^th and will hold five “DownStreet Art Thursdays” on June 28^th, July 26^th, August 30^th,September 27^th  and October 25^th (with all galleries hosting opening receptions and downtown performances).

Please note that as a public art project, DownStreet Art is dependent on available/empty spaces, sufficient funding and adequate staffing.  While we are planning for 2012, the number of available/empty spaces (and thus opportunities) is uncertain at this time.  What we do know is that, due to the success of DownStreet art in attracting permanent tenants for empty storefronts, for 2012 we will be working with fewer stores downtown.

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OPEN CALL

DownStreet Art invites one and all to submit proposals for art projects.   As well as more traditional gallery type exhibitions, we also welcome happenings, events and art-related performances to be held between June 28^th and October 25^th. If you have an idea, a project or a proposal that does not fill our requirements, please contact us. We would love to discuss this opportunity with you.

DownStreet Art welcomes international applicants!

Artist Opportunities:

• Exhibition in a gallery like setting (most likely an empty storefront)

Curator Opportunities:

• Curate an exhibition in a gallery like setting (most likely an empty storefront)

Requirements: 

• A Guest Curator or Artist/Curator is required to submit a proposal for an exhibition to take place in Summer/Fall 2012 in North Adams, including participant artist(s) and educational activities.
• The Guest Curator can be an artist and can be part of the show he/she curates.
• The exhibition can run from June 28^th till October 25^th. The proposal may specify a different time frame.
• The exhibition can run for one, two, three or fourth months between June 28^th till October 25^th
• Opening Receptions have to take place on the last Thursday of the month (June 28^th, July 26^th, August 30^th, September 27^th, October 25^th) in conjunction with DownStreet Art Thursday events.

In case of exhibition, DownStreetArt will provide a location and will

• Locate and arrange exhibition space, including where applicable negotiating highly favorable terms with local landlords (average of $200 a month with all utilities included).
• Aggressively market all exhibitions, as well as branding DownStreet Art and North Adams. Marketing materials will include, but not be limited to street signage, printed art maps, events calendar, weekly e-blasts, vibrant web presence (including links to all major cultural institutions, city governments and Berkshire Visitor’s Bureau, ads in programs for all major area museums, press releases etc…). DownStreet Art can process all sales of art if desired. 

Artist/Curator will

• Curate, install and de-install the exhibit(s).
• Provide for shipping of the work.
• Market the gallery, artist(s) and exhibit(s).
• Provide staffing***
• Participate in DownStreet Art activities such as DownStreet Art Thursday (last Thursday of each month between June 28^th till October 25^th) according with the time frame specified in the proposal (for instance, if your project will take place between July 26^th and October 25^th you will be required to join DownStreet Art Celebration on Thursday, August 30^th, Thursday, September 27^th, and October 25^th).
• Participating in education activities and workshops in relation with your exhibition when possible.

***Please note that DownStreet Art can help staffing your gallery. We run an Associate Gallery Manager program which trains college student to run gallery while taking specific class and gaining a real hands-on experience. The Associate Gallery Manager get a weekly stipend of $200 provided by you.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE

Questions?

Please contact valeria.federici@mcla.edu

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This open call is published on

Access Arts’ ArtDeadline.Com
The art world’s source for income and exhibition news. A searchable database and magazine that lists local, national and international juried exhibitions, competitions, grants, art jobs, percent-for-arts, art in public RFP’s, festivals, residencies, internships, & much more… Also see comprehensive artist support and representation services.

We had a GREAT SUMMER and a wonderful FALL. On December 1, we kicked off one more
DOWNSTREET ART ON ICE. Is now time to plan for the upcoming DOWNSTREET ART V!
Stay tuned as we will have news very soon…

 To see what we have done so far check photos and videos here… SEE YOU SOON! 

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DownStreet Art is a project of MCLA’s Berkshire Culture Resource Center, partnering with the City of North Adams, Develop North Adams, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The program is made possible through leading sponsorship support provided by Orbit Visual Graphic Design, Excelsior Printing, Scarafoni Reality and Berkshire Bank. Additional support is provided by: Adams Co-Operative Bank, Brewhaha Café, Edward Jones Investments, The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA, Moulton’s Spectacle Shop Inc., Persnickety Toys, Jarvis W. Rockwell and The Sushi House.

The initiative is designed to revitalize downtown North Adams by identifying the city as a cultural haven. The program serves not only to increase MCLA’s visibility, but also to showcase what local arts organizations have to offer.

Hometown Holidays features a variety of specials and activities for people to enjoy downtown. Each Thursday something different. Attractions include holiday crafts, face painting, live music, visits from Santa, and much more! Downtown North Adams. This week’s events include a Regifting Swap at Shima, Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, First Annual Santa Pub Crawl, a RAFFLE, live music a Desperados and multiple store special. Click here for full listing of events…

December 22, 2011, 5-8pm – Downtown North Admas… see you there…

This year’s events – which are free and open to the public – will feature six exhibition openings, two performances, art deals, art on a stick wandering cart, as well as specials at downtown businesses.

Exhibition openings include those at MAYA IV by Jarvis Rockwell, 49 Main St.; “99¢ and up: Art Mall” at MCLA Gallery 51, 51 Main St.; Melanie Mowinski’s installation at PIP Gallery, 53 Main St.; “Patterns and Pressure” at PRESS, 105 Main St.; and an MCLA student show in the window of 109 Main St.

99 Cents show at MCLA Gallery 51 in 2010

MCLA Gallery 51 Manager Ven Voisey said the event offers a wide variety of artistic holiday gifts for purchase. “Whether you’re a conflicted idealist, a die-hard capitalist, something in-between, or none of the above, you’ve probably found yourself befuddled by shopping malls and big box stores, and people’s behavior within them, during holiday shopping season. This upcoming exhibit is simultaneously an examination of that phenomenon, and a great chance support the local economy by adding artwork from a selection of MCLA Gallery 51 and DownStreet Art.  The gallery will be chock-full of affordable, ready-to-be-sold-off-the wall art of a wide variety of mediums priced between 99 cents and $99.”

MCLA Gallery 51 Merchandising 2010

 MAYA IV, 49 Main St., will feature new and old works by North Adams artist Jarvis Rockwell. In addition to new works – including a new wall drawing – Rockwell has on exhibit his “MAYA IV sculpture and works he created in the 1960s and ’70s.

MAYA IV – detail

The PIP Gallery will feature an installation by Melanie Mowinski, MCLA art professor. It consists of a series of hanging silk panels entitled, “Tree of Souls,” that was originally created for and shown as part of the “Festival of Trees” at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield.

“PRESS: Letterpress as a Public Art ” will unveil the new exhibit, “Patterns and Pressure,” featuring MCLA student projects printed at PRESS during the fall semester by students in Mowinski’s “Intro to Design” and “Concrete Poetry” classes.

PRESS Gallery

At 109 Main St.,“Coming up NEXT! MCLA’s Emerging Artists” is a preview of work created by some of the students who will graduate from MCLA this spring.

In addition, artist Mark Mulherrin and Kirsten Warming will return downtown with their “Artsicle” cart. Artists were asked to participate in the project creating their own “art on a stick,” which will be given away during DownStreet Art on Ice. The cart will be then parked at MCLA Gallery 51 as part of the “99¢ and up: Art Mall” show.

DownStreet Art on Ice also will see the culmination of the Window Decorating Contest. All businesses are invited to participate in this holiday window decorating contest. Judging will take place on Dec. 1. Judges will include: North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright, local artist Jarvis Rockwell, Michael Foster of the North Adams Transcript and Sean Taylor from Freight Yard Pub.

Michael Chapman’s window installation, 2010

A City Councilor’s Choice award and a People’s Choice Award also will be awarded. The trolley will take judges and interested members of the public to all decorated sites throughout the city. For more information about the Window Decorating Contest, contact Veronica Bosley at tourism@northadams-ma.gov or 413-664-6180

Performances include those by the MCLA Allegrettos, the College’s a cappella group that has performed throughout the county, as well as on public television. The students will perform traditional songs of the season at different venues throughout downtown the night.

And, the MCLA Jazz Band, under the guidance of local musician and teacher Jamie Choquette, will perform from 6-7 p.m., at 107 Main St. Starting at 8:30 p.m., Patrick Gray will perform on the stage at PUBLIC Restaurant, 34 Holden St.

In addition, a Children’s Scavenger Hunt will be held throughout North Adams, Dec. 1-8, as part of the Hometown Holidays celebration. Clues will be available at Verizon Wireless, I Got Goodies and MCLA Gallery 51 starting Dec. 1, as part of the evening’s events.

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DownStreet Art is a project of MCLA’s Berkshire Culture Resource Center, partnering with the City of North Adams, Develop North Adams, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The program is made possible through leading sponsorship support provided by Orbit Visual Graphic Design, Excelsior Printing, Scarafoni Reality and Berkshire Bank. Additional support is provided by: Adams Co-Operative Bank, Brewhaha Café, Edward Jones Investments, The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA, Moulton’s Spectacle Shop Inc., Persnickety Toys, Jarvis W. Rockwell and The Sushi House.

The initiative was designed to revitalize downtown North Adams by identifying the city as a cultural haven. The program serves not only to increase MCLA’s visibility, but also to showcase what other local arts organizations have to offer. For more information about DownStreet Art and MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, go to www.downstreetart.org and www.mcla.edu/bcrc .

For more information, call (413) 664-8718, or go to www.downstreetart.org .