Shorewood Business Improvement District

Seeking Milwaukee Area Artists To Participate in Annual Public Art Event - Business Sponsors Also Solicited

The Shorewood Business Improvement District is pleased to announce its public art event for summer 2010 - and invites area artists to apply to participate. The theme for this year’s event revolves around a custom-made bench. Artists whose proposals are selected will be paired with a Village business or organization to be their sponsor. Each decorated bench will reside outside a storefront on public display in Shorewood’s business district through the duration of the event (June 5-August 15). A public auction will be held at the end of August, when the benches will be auctioned off to benefit the Shorewood Foundation, the event’s presenting sponsor. “Best Seats in the House” is being produced by the Shorewood Business Improvement District (BID).

Cash prizes will be awarded for the best five designs ($400 first place, $300 second place, $200 third place and two $100 honorable mentions). Each artist will receive a $100 stipend to cover the costs of supplies.

Postmark deadline for proposals is Friday, March 12. There is no fee to submit a design, and more than one entry can be submitted. Applications will be juried the week of March 15 with notification by March 19. Artists will need to pick up their bench on Saturday, March 27 in Shorewood. Artists will be given approximately 7 weeks to complete their work before a deadline of May 14 to return the decorated bench. Any media can be used to decorate and embellish the bench, including paint, mosaic and mixed media. The more unique and imaginative, the better!

After Shorewood’s very successful “Butterflies in Flight” public art exhibition last summer, this year’s “Best Seats in the House” promises to be an even bigger and better event. Let your creativity run wild by custom-decorating one of our handsome benches (size: 48 inches long x 36 inches high x 22 inches wide, weighing approximately 35 pounds). Enjoy the public display of your bench for over 2 months, including a plaque with your name on it. Your name will also be listed in an event brochure and on the Shorewood Business Improvement District website and other marketing materials.

SPECIAL NOTE: Seeking business sponsors for this event! As a sponsor of the event, your name will be prominently displayed on a plaque mounted to the bench, which will be displayed in front of your store or business from June 5 to August 15. Your name will be included on the Shorewood BID website, in the event brochure, posters and other marketing materials. But most importantly, your business will be a DESTINATION this summer with a bench on display for 2+ months to attract new customers/visitors to your location. The cost for a business sponsorship is only $295.

“Best Seats in the House” will engage Shorewood’s attractive, walkable community this summer in a celebration of discovery as residents and guests stroll the business district to discover our fabulous benches! For more information and to request an artist or sponsor application, please e-mail barb@shorewoodwi.com or visit www.shorewoodwi.com.