You may notice some new artwork during your next trip downtown as more than a dozen traffic signal boxes are being transformed into works of art.
Signal boxes are being wrapped in digitally-printed vinyl designs by local artists.
It's part of a public art project led by Downtown North Bay in partnership with the City of North Bay’s Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC),
The project, which is being funded by an Association of Municipalities of Ontario grant, recently got underway following a call for design submissions issued in February. Proposals were juried by PAAC.
See: Artists needed to paint traffic signal boxes in city
The work will be continuing over the next several weeks. Two signal boxes are completed so far,
The goal is to increase the prominence of public art within high pedestrian traffic areas, provide an opportunity to recognize local and regional artists, and improve beautification within the downtown core.
“The response from local artists and creative professionals was wonderful," said Katie Bevan, a PAAC member and Vice-Chair of the Downtown Improvement Area Board. "We received more than 50 creative submissions, making it very difficult for the committee to narrow the field down to only 13 designs.”
This project is the first of many says Bevan.
Once the project is completed, a page will be created on the City of North Bay’s website featuring each box design, along with its location and artist.
Successful artists get a $200 honorarium.
