For 2008, seARTS will award six $1500 Partner With an Artist (PWA) artist grants to create work in response to Cape Ann's literary history.

seARTS envisions a series of public artworks using or responding to text from Gloucester's recently deceased acclaimed Poet Laureate, Vincent Ferrini, renowned poet Charles Olson or the numerous other literary figures who lived in, visited, wrote about and were inspired by Cape Ann.

The PWA vision is to have art spill out onto the streets and be discovered by the public in unsuspecting places, thus stimulating new ideas, experiences, and discussions for audience members. When art becomes a part of the fabric of everyday life, the community becomes enriched and activated. PWA uses Gloucester's working waterfront and historic downtown as venues, bringing an array of art practices to storefronts and marine industrial areas. At a time of transition in Gloucester, bringing art to these non-traditional spaces, particularly on the marine industrial waterfront, can generate artistic and public awareness of underutilized and changing commercial areas.

WHAT IS PWA?

PARTNER WITH an ARTIST (PWA) provides an opportunity for artists to exhibit work outside of traditional visual art spaces. PWA challenges artists to think about their work and their roles as artists in new ways and provides an opportunity for contemporary artists to collaborate closely with local businesses.

The goals of PWA are to:

• Provide high-profile exhibition and career-building opportunities for contemporary artists
• Provide quality, innovative arts experiences that are part of the daily lives of Cape Ann residents and visitors
• Strengthen the relationships between the arts and business communities
• Create exposure and economic opportunities for artists and business owners
  

ELIGIBILITY AND PROPOSAL GUIDELINES:

seARTS is accepting PWA proposals from seARTS members in the visual, sound, performance and media arts.

Proposals will be judged upon:

• Quality and clarity of the project idea
• Inclusion of relevant literary texts in the conception or manifestation of the project
• Innovative adaptation/expansion of the artists' work to meet the criteria of the grant
• A willingness and ability to be site-specific in the project proposal
• Merit of previous work

Proposals Should Include:

1. Cover sheet with your name and contact information
2. One-page project description (must include a specific business or type of business you would like to work with)
3. Copy of relevant literary text with author cited
4. Work samples (Visual art: 10 images on CD-ROM. Media or Sound Art: 5 minutes on DVD or CD)
5. Media list that corresponds to work samples
6. Include a SASE for return of CD or DVD

ENTRY FEE:

Your seARTS Membership is in lieu of an entry fee.
To become a member or renew your membership go to www.searts.org.

To review your project before submitting a full proposal or for any PWA questions, click on mail icon for contact:

Once selected, if you have a project idea, but do not have a specific business or type of business in mind, seARTS will help you select and partner with a business. If you have a specific business you would like to work with, but have not initiated a partnership, seARTS will help you initiate a partnership. Businesses that have expressed interest in partnering with an artist include downtown or waterfront restaurants, a bank, and a waterfront ice company.

Deadlines & Timelines:
Proposal Submission Deadline: June 1, 2008
Proposal Selection by: June 7, 2008
Projects debut in: October, 2008

Jurors: Filmmaker Henry Ferrini, Artist Susan Erony

Liability: Artists are responsible for insuring their work.

Mail Proposals To:
seARTS (PWA)
P.O. Box 1476
Gloucester, MA 01930

WHAT is PWA

ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES

DEADLINES

ENTRY FEE

SPRING '06 PROJECTS

FALL '06 PROJECTS

Past PWA Awarded Artists:

Chad Carlberg
Henry Ferrini
Rose-Marie Glenn
Paul Cary Goldberg
Kimberly Collins Jermain
Ernest Morin
Anne Rearick
Lynda Robinson

Past PWA Business Partners

Cape Ann Motor Inn
Cape Pond Ice
Captain Carlo's
CB Fisk Organ
Doyon's Modern
Marine Railways
Maritime Heritage Center
Seafood Display Auction
TV Sales and Services
Varian Semiconductor
White Rainbow Restaurant
Winchester Fishing