​Norwood Public Art Guitar Project

Calling All Local Artists
Music Drives Us is proud to launch GuitARTS – our inaugural public art project to promote the arts and importance of music education in the Town of Norwood and throughout New England! 

We have 10 electric 5-foot fiberglass guitars and 5 acoustic 4½-foot fiberglass guitars that will be displayed prominently in various public and participating private spaces throughout Norwood. Before these are ready to be displayed, we are seeking local artists who are interested in publicizing their artistic style through beautifying and painting these guitars.

Following the guitars’ public display, Music Drives Us will put the guitars up for auction. Music Drives Us will use the proceeds collected from the sale of the guitars to support music education programs throughout the six states of New England, including donating a portion of the proceeds to the Norwood Schools Fine Arts Department to support its Music Program.  

Music Drives Us designed GuitARTS to be a fun, creative opportunity to support the musical community by showcasing artistic talent throughout Norwood. Selected artists benefit by receiving exposure for their artwork through pedestrian traffic in Norwood, as well as any associated media attention throughout the Greater Boston Area. Most importantly, this is a chance to support a nonprofit organization that works to keep music in our New England schools!

Application Details
Music Drives Us will be accepting applications from May 23, 2018 through no later than midnight on July 10, 2018. Due to the need to carefully transport the guitars, Music Drives Us prefers for applicants to be located in the Greater Boston Area. All applicants must complete the following:

• Norwood Public Art Guitar Project Application: This online application form identifies the artist, his/her background and his/her artistic vision for GuitARTS.  
• Finished Guitar Rendering: All applicants must click the “Download Guitar Template” link. This zip file contains the electric and acoustic guitar design templates. Please utilize the design template(s) to create your rendering(s) of the proposed finished guitar(s).

Applicants may submit designs for the electric guitar, the acoustic guitar, or both. If you choose to do both, please complete separate applications for each. Please note that creating renderings for both electric and acoustic guitars does not increase the likelihood of being selected by Music Drives Us for GuitARTS. Artists may submit multiple guitar designs, but no more than one submission per artist will be selected. 

Music Drives Us will review all applications on a rolling basis. Selected applicants will be notified by no later than July 10, 2018 and will receive a $500 stipend for the project. The selected applicants must enter into an agreement with Music Drives Us for this project, including a copyright assignment of the design and finished guitar, to proceed with the project and receive the stipend.

Due to the rolling review process, it is possible that all 15 guitars will be assigned to selected artists before July 1st, so we encourage you to submit application materials soon.

If you have any questions, please email GuitARTS@MusicDrivesUs.org. 

Design Notes & Guidelines

• The guitars come on a non-removable base with flanges that will secure the guitars to a concrete pad or other structure when publicly displayed. 
• The guitars have only a factory applied primer, and are waiting to be designed!
• The more complete your design, the easier it is for the Music Drives Us Review Committee to go through your submission. 
• All submitted application materials, including design renderings, become the property of Music Drives Us, and no materials will be returned. The finished guitars shall be the property of Music Drives Us.
• All designs must be original artwork and graphic design. They must not violate copyright or any other legal interest.
• All designs must be appropriate for public display. Designs that are religious, political, or sexual in nature, or that discriminate on the basis of protected status or attack any known person, will not be accepted. Corporate logos and advertising are not permitted. The Music Drives Us Review Committee evaluates all designs, and has sole discretion to accept or reject any design for any reason.
• The finished guitars will be placed in outdoor areas for several weeks, accessible to the public. Artists are required to develop designs that can withstand the weather & external elements (including, but not limited to, sun, rain, wind, dirt, and snow) and the public, who will likely be touching the guitars. Any objects attached to the guitars should be affixed in such a way that they cannot be easily removed.
• The artists may paint, sculpt, transform, and adorn the guitars as they wish, but the structural integrity of the guitars must not be compromised. Also, the flanges on the base should not be altered or obstructed. Artists can use professional-grade artist acrylics & oil, putty, decoupage, fabrics, mosaic tile/mirrors, and epoxy. 
• Various tips, tricks and guidelines will be provided to the selected artists.
• Selected artists are responsible for securing their own workspace to design the guitars.
• In the event the guitar s/he designed is vandalized, the artist is expected to touch-up or repair the artwork in conjunction with Music Drives Us.
• All guitars will likely require touch-ups and cleaning prior to the auction. Artists are expected to be available to make these touch-ups in the time period preceding the auction.
• Music Drives Us will arrange for an automotive-grade clear coat to be applied to the guitars before their public placement in September. It is suggested that artists apply a protective coat before the guitars are transported back to Music Drives Us.

GuitARTS Tentative Timeline (subject to change)

• May 23, 2018 – (no later than) July 1, 2018: Music Drives Us accepts GuitARTS applications.
• Late June 2018: Guitars become available for pick-up at Music Drives Us.
• July 10, 2018: Last day for notification of selected applicants by Music Drives Us.
• July 2018 – August 2018: Selected artists are working on designing and completing their guitars. 
• August 20, 2018: Guitars to be dropped off at Music Drives Us by selected artists, unless otherwise arranged with Music Drives Us.
• First Week of September 2018 – Second Week of November 2018: All fifteen completed guitars will be displayed throughout the Town of Norwood.
• November 2018: Music Drives Us puts the guitars up for auction.

About Music Drives Us
Music Drives Us is a registered 501(c)(3), New England nonprofit organization supplying grants to music programs designed to effect positive change for people of all ages. We seek organizations and individuals interested in using music as a tool to better the lives of people in all segments of society. Through this project, it is our intent to continue raising funding and awareness for embattled music programs.