The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
The City of Watertown is excited to announce an open call to artists for its “A Pleasant Landscape” banner project, aimed at beautifying the fence screen at the former Sterritt Lumber site located at 138 Waltham Street. This initiative seeks to enhance the visual appeal of the area for local residents, visitors, and passersby.
The project invites artists to submit digital designs that will be printed on 6×12 foot banners. Up to six selected artists will receive a $400 award for their design, which will then be professionally printed and installed by the City of Watertown. Interested artists may apply online through the city website.
About “A Pleasant Landscape”
Banner designs, whether representational or abstract, should explore the theme “A Pleasant Landscape.” This theme draws inspiration from the natural beauty found in the parks and green spaces along the Pleasant Street corridor and the Charles River. Artists are encouraged to find inspiration in the natural environment, the urban landscape, or local ecology. Designs should be fun, vibrant, and colorful, and fill the entire 6×12 foot banner. Submissions can be digital renderings of photos, paintings, or other artistic media.
Eligibility and Application Details
This opportunity is open to all artists, regardless of their location. All submitted artwork must be original and complete at the time of application. Please note that applications from City of Watertown employees or those working for the City in any capacity cannot be considered. Incomplete or politicized works will also not be considered.
Key Dates:
- Monday, June 23, 2025: Application opens
- Sunday, July 27, 2025, 11:59 PM EST: Application closes
- July 28 – August 10, 2025: Application review and selection
- August 11 – 14, 2025: Artist notification
- September – October 2025: Banner installation (pending weather and printing lead times)
How to Apply:
Artists may submit up to six designs for consideration. Applications must be submitted online through OpenGov: https://watertownma.viewpointcloud.com/categories/1085
Application Checklist:
- Up to six designs per artist
- Artist Statement (1-2 paragraphs), related to the submitted artwork
- Artist Bio (1-2 paragraphs), about the artist
- Contact Information: Name, email, phone number, address
- Optional: Website and social media links
Artist Selection:
A jury comprised of members from the Community Design Division and the Department of Public Works will review each submission. Designs will be selected based on their contribution to a beautiful and vibrant community feeling, and how well they address the “A Pleasant Landscape” theme.
Selection Criteria:
- The design effectively addresses the “A Pleasant Landscape” theme.
- The design is fun, vibrant, and colorful.
- The design is engaging and/or compelling.
- The design contributes to a diverse and robust overall selection of designs.
Contact Information:
For any clarifications regarding the “A Pleasant Landscape” Banner application, please contact Liz Helfer, Public Arts & Culture Planner, via email at ehelfer@watertown-ma.gov.
This is a fantastic idea! The empty lot already looks better since the DPW installed the sheeting (whatever it is called) to cover the fence, but this will really look terrific. I can’t wait!
It is nice to see that our city is reaching out to talented local artists to do a project rather than going to outside paid consultants for ideas and suggestions. It will be interesting to see what the proposals are.
I hope that the residents in the area around Sterritt are consulted during this process before it is finalized. They will be the ones looking at this probably for a long time due to no final uses of the site are planned in the near future.
Can a community meeting be set up for those residents so they can give their opinions? As July is a busy vacation month, this process to select a date for a residents’ meeting should be determined and communicated well in advance.