Taking It to the Streets
Get on Board!
Online submissions for the design contest are being accepted from regional artists through Jan. 9, 2022. The winner will be announced publicly at Music Hall during ArtsWave’s annual fundraising campaign kickoff Feb. 2, 2022.
Visit artswave.org/streetcar to apply. The site includes downloadable streetcar design templates with dimensions and a detailed contest timeline.
The public will vote on the top three designs and an evaluation committee will select the winner in mid-January.
The Cincinnati Bell Connector is getting a new look, courtesy of local artists.
The City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bell, and ArtsWave have issues a call to artists for original artwork that will be used to wrap the exterior of a streetcar.
The winning design, which will be chosen in January, will highlight how the arts connects our region. The chosen artist will receive a $2,500 grant from ArtsWave
“As the arts connect us, so does the Cincinnati Bell Connector,” said Travis Jeric, the city’s Streetcar Director. “We’re excited to see the creativity of our local artists and how they reflect the theme.”
The new design and wrap are included as part of Cincinnati Bell’s sponsorship at no cost to the city. The design contest continues the arts-theme that was unveiled on the streetcar’s five-year anniversary.
“We continue to enjoy this creative exercise, which is transforming the look of the streetcar vehicle by vehicle,” said Leigh Fox, President and CEO of Cincinnati Bell, Vice Chair of ArtsWave and a former chair of the annual ArtsWave fundraising campaign. “We love the new look. The arts theme is a natural choice in Cincinnati where the arts play such an important role in driving the overall vibrancy of our community.”
The first streetcar to don a new wrap is specific to Music Hall and reinforces ArtsWave, the nation’s largest united arts fund that supports more than 150 local projects and cultural groups.
“This is an awesome opportunity for our local artists that have been hit harder than almost anyone from the pandemic,” said Alecia Kintner, President and CEO of ArtsWave. “Not only will the winner be awarded a $2,500 grant, they will enjoy unparalleled exposure as their original design wraps the exterior of the streetcar and their own artwork enlivens the inside in celebration of the 2022 ArtsWave Campaign.”