Call for Art:

Parking Garage Art - Phase 3

The City of Lowell, through the Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (CASE), invites artists to submit two-dimensional works of art to be considered for showing in City-owned parking garages in phase three of our Parking Garage Art Exhibit. Works will be reproduced by the City of Lowell on acrylic panels suitable for all weather conditions and will be affixed to the wall of City-owned parking garages. For more information, please contact Peter Crewe: pcrewe@lowellma.gov or Sophia Boucher: sboucher@lowellma.gov.

Submit your application online to the Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events using the following link: https://form.jotform.com/250854756356164

Project Timeline

• Call for Artists OPEN: Friday, March 28, 2025

• Info session via Zoom (optional): Tuesday, April 8, 2025

• Call for Artists CLOSE: Friday, April 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM

• Artists Notified by: Monday, May 5, 2025

• Finalized Work Due to the City: Friday, May 9, 2025 by 11 AM

• Display Period: Up to one year (June 2025 - June 2026)

The information session will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 6:30pm-7:30pm. It is optional and will serve as a space where artists can ask questions.

General Information

The City of Lowell is inviting Lowell-practicing artists to submit new or existing two-dimensional works of art to be displayed in the entryways of two City-owned parking garages. The City will license the work and reproduce it on a material appropriate to be displayed in all weather. This call will be managed by the Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (CASE), created by city ordinance in 2008, produces projects directly and serves as the main facilitator for organizations looking to produce art or projects within the City of Lowell. CASE works closely with other City departments and partner organizations to elevate arts and culture within the City of Lowell. This call is restricted to Lowell-practicing artists. Artists who do not maintain a residence or studio space in Lowell will not be considered.

Project Details

• Location: There are four total available spots, two at the HCID Parking Garage, and two at the Edward Early Parking Garage.

  • HCID Parking Garage: 350A Dutton St, Lowell, MA 01852

  • Edward Early Parking Garage: 132 Middlesex St, Lowell, 01852

• Medium: Artists may submit existing works they have created or they may create new work for this project.

  Submissions must be two dimensional. Work cannot feature any commercial, political, or religious content and should be appropriate for viewers of all ages.

• Selection: Selection will made based on the proposal that receives the highest score on the selection rubric (see below). Members of CASE, local artists, community members will comprise the selection committee.

• Number of Submissions Requested: The City will select up to four pieces to be included in this project, two per garage.

• Budget: The license fee for this project will be $300 per piece. The total budget for the project is $1,200.

• Site Prep and Installation: City staff will prepare the site and manage the installation process.

• Post-Project: Upon completion of the designated display period, CASE will work with the artist on a deinstallation plan and rights for future use.

Artist Selection Criteria

Artist selection will be based on the following criteria. For examples of the artwork from previous Lowell Garage Art calls, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Visit here for a PDF copy of the selection rubric.

Application: Application must include all required information (see application requirements below). Incomplete/unreadable submissions will not be accepted.

Qualifications:  Artist(s) demonstrates…

• Interest and commitment to creatively engaging with the community through positive reflections of the Greater Lowell Community.

• Artists must practice in Lowell (live in or maintain studio space).

Project Concept: Proposed project concepts must…

• Reflect the following community elements: family friendly, inclusive, and engaging.

• Be inclusive and welcoming to diverse audiences and appropriate for viewers of all ages.

• Be two-dimensional.

• NOT feature any commercial, political, or religious content.

Application Requirements and How to Submit Qualifications

Proposals must be received by April 25, 2025, and they must include:

Contact information: Artist name and contact information—phone number, email and mailing address. Team applications should include a brief description of the team and identify who the point person for the team is.

Application Elements:

• short bio (two paragraphs).

•  Work samples:

  • 1 -2 digital images of applicant’s related work with descriptions that include: title, year and medium.  Images may be uploaded as jpg in the online form, included with the rest of the application materials in a single PDF if emailed, or printed and mailed with application materials.

  • Links to artist’s website and/or portfolio if available.

Project Concept

• Please include a copy of the work to be submitted or a brief conceptual outline of the piece.

Proposals may be submitted the following ways:

• Online below

• Email to pcrewe@lowellma.gov or sboucher@lowellma.gov. Please submit all materials in a single PDF.

• Hand delivered to the Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events:

  Lowell City Hall Rm 7

  375 Merrimack St.

  Lowell, MA 01854

If you have any questions or to arrange a site visit, please contact Peter Crewe at (978) 674-1481 (pcrewe@lowellma.gov) or Sophia Boucher at (978) 674-1484 (sboucher@lowellma.gov).

Examples of existing Lowell Garage Art

The following four pieces were placed in the Joseph Downes Parking Garage and Leo Roy Parking Garage in 2023. Visit here for more information.