Calling Toronto’s Artists to Create Art on Traffic Signal Boxes: Apply Before Apr.22, 2014, 4:30 PM

This video presents “StreetARToronto (StART).”

  • “StreetARToronto (StART) was launched in 2012 as an innovative, public-private partnership program designed to develop, support, promote and increase awareness of street art and its role in adding beauty and character to Toronto neighbourhoods.
  • Discover more about the artists who participated and some of the projects funded in 2013.”

Artwork by Gary Taxali. Photo: City of Toronto.
Artwork by Gary Taxali. Photo: City of Toronto.

The City of Toronto invites local area artists to submit proposals to create art on City traffic signal boxes at various locations throughout Toronto.

The goal of this Outside the Box project is to provide opportunities for artists to create works of art that contribute to the vitality and attractiveness of the streetscape.

  • This project is being implemented by StreetARToronto (StART), part of the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services Division.

This year 30 Traffic Signal Cabinets will be transformed.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Good Luck! /Bonne Chance!

Above: Photographic image by Moira McElhinney. Photo: City of Toronto
Above: Photographic image by Moira McElhinney. Photo: City of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

NEWS RELEASE

March 25, 2014

Installation of Outside the Box art project to improve look of Toronto’s street infrastructure

The City of Toronto’s Outside the Box program, a collaboration between Transportation Services’ Public Realm Unit and local artists, is wrapping traffic cabinet boxes with a graphically attractive, synthetic wrap.

The project, which features original artwork by Gary Taxali and photographic images by the late Moira McElhinney, is designed to beautify city infrastructure while reducing graffiti vandalism. The more than 2,200 traffic-signal boxes across the city contain equipment that controls the traffic signals. The boxes are often susceptible to postering and graffiti vandalism.

“A cleaner Toronto is better for everyone,” said Mayor Rob Ford. “Discouraging and eliminating graffiti vandalism lets residents and visitors know that we care about our city.”

“A cleaner and more vibrant Toronto creates a more attractive place for our citizens, attracts a greater number of visitors and, as a result, improves our economic prosperity,” said Councillor Cesar Palacio (Ward 17 Davenport), Chair of the Licensing and Standards Committee. “This undertaking is a great step forward in achieving this goal.”

Taxali, a Toronto visual artist whose work has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Esquire and Rolling Stone, serves on Canada Post’s Stamp Advisory Committee. In 2012, the Royal Canadian Mint released a special edition of six Gary Taxali 25-cent coins.

McElhinney was a Toronto photographer who produced work that focused predominantly on nature and panoramic landscapes.

Many jurisdictions and companies worldwide have taken a pro-active approach to engage artists to paint or design protective wraps to beautify the streetscape and reduce the cost of cleanup and maintenance. Outside the Box is a creative way to help the City reduce the impact of graffiti vandalism while at the same time support local artists and contribute to the vitality and attractiveness of the streetscape.

This initiative is part of the City’s Clean Toronto Together campaign to keep Toronto streets clean and free of litter, posters and graffiti vandalism.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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