Call for Artists

Synopsis: 

The City of Fitchburg is partnering with the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance to commission a temporary art installation at the FCA’s newly opened Main Street Studios. These affordable studio spaces are currently in the process of being leased by local artists while at the same time activating the common space for artist and community use. The City is looking for an artist to design a banner installation that will be located along the vertical brick portions of the building’s façade and will reflect the diversity of creativity in within the community.

Recent efforts: 

Main Street Studios was born out of a collaboration between the Art Stewards, a community engagement program and the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance. A public input meeting of the Fitchburg Cultural Council revealed that local artists wanted affordable studio space and a community art center. Based on this feedback, they began seeking spaces. After several years and a pandemic, an opportunity presented itself at 675 Main Street. This space is owned by Fitchburg State University Foundation. Although the space is a part of FSU’s long term plan to restore the Fitchburg Theater located within the block, they have no short term plans for the space. The FSU Foundation has since leased the space to the FCA which opened Main Street Studios in the summer of 2022.

Location Details:

675 Main Street, the Former Fidelity Bank Building, was donated to Fitchburg State University when Fidelity Bank vacated the space that is now Main Street Studios. Fitchburg Cultural Alliance is renting from the university and opened the studios and hired its Executive Director in June 2022. This space retains its bank layout, complete with teller counter, bank vault, and offices. Main Street Studios is in the process of renting out the eight office spaces to area artists began renting and utilizing the studio spaces in November of 2022. In addition, the common area will be available for workshops, exhibits, community events and performances. The Property owner, Fitchburg State University Foundation, is allowing interior renovation and reconfiguration, however they have requested the exterior remain unaltered. 675 Main Street is a highly visible property on the corner of Main Street and Grove Street. Both the side and front of the building are visible as you approach the building traveling westbound. The building has 16 vertical brick columns of similar widths, with the two brick columns that frame the entrance being wider.

The location is adjacent to the Fitchburg Theater Block which houses the vacant historic theater FSU plans to restore, multiple store fronts and FSU’s Idea Lab which includes a student game development lab and a multiuse public meeting space. Across the street is the City’s Legislative building and City Hall.

Vision:

Fitchburg is seeking to expand its identity as an arts and culture destination within the North Central MA region. A place for creatives and residents to learn, connect, engage and create economic opportunities through arts and culture. The City is seeking temporary art that will convey this to the public through an installation depicting the variety and diversity of art and artists in our Fitchburg community. This installation should also invite the public to think about what types of art they would like to see in their community. The temporary art created shall be three feet wide by nine feet long, (3’ x 9’), be installed on at least eight of the sixteen vertical brick columns of the façade and must be removable after 18 months without damage or alteration of the existing building. The selected artist will work with a local banner company identified by the City to manufacture and install the eight banners based on the above specifications. Banners shall be installed using masonry anchors attached in the mortar between bricks. Adding an interactive element such as a QR code linked to a survey or a more analog method inviting residents to share what art they would like to see is encouraged, but not required. Artists that include an interactive element will receive an extra point during submission scoring.