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APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Artist Call

 

Artists or artist teams whose designs are chosen will be given a $650 stipend to purchase materials of their choice for a designated piano. Artists will be given a space at the Community Arts Workshop (CAW) to paint pianos. All pianos will be provided and transported by the Pianos On State team. Participating artists will be recognized on the Pianos On State Street website, piano banners, and all other marketing and publicity materials.  
 

This year we are asking for designs using the theme of Time


Applications open on June 1st and close on July 10th at midnight.

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Guidelines (please read the following carefully):

  • Pianos on State exists to foster a sense of community, connection, and shared humanity. Piano designs should be suitable for all ages and apolitical. Advertising, political lobbying, copyrighted images, hate speech and profanity are prohibited.

  • To ensure the longevity of the artwork, loose materials like glitter and sand cannot be included in the design.

  • This project is open to artists living and working in Santa Barbara or Ventura Counties.

  • As a public art program, this is an opportunity for emerging and professional artists alike to showcase their work through a unique project. Individual artists and small collaborative teams are both eligible, though teams must use one application.

  • In order to accommodate new painters preference will be given to artists who have not previously painted a piano, or to artists who have not painted a piano in several years. If you were a piano-painter in the immediately preceding year (2024), the selection committee will likely pass on your submission in 2025 in order to give new artists, or artists who have not participated in some time, a chance. 

    • If you participated in 2024, please apply again in 2026! If you participated in 2023 or earlier, please apply this year! We love having veteran piano artists back, and we also want to give new artists a chance. 

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To Submit, Please Include:

  • Three digital examples of your proposed piano design that deals with the subject of "Time". 

  • Two digital examples of past artwork that shows your ability to paint a piano.

  • One paragraph stating your design concept for your piano and what drew you to apply to this project.  

 

Important Dates

Painting will take place at the Community Arts Workshop (CAW) located at 631 Garden Street in Santa Barbara.
Piano painting dates are September 26 - September 28,10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. You must be available these dates to be eligible.

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The Pianos On State Kick-Off party for piano artists, partners, sponsors, and donors will happen on the evening of Monday, September 29th. All artists must be available to attend this event to be eligible.

 

Pianos will be delivered to State Street and other various locations on Tuesday, September 30th and will be on display through Sunday, October 19th. Pianos will be available for musical exploration, impromptu play and group performances from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. for the duration of their display on State Street. Amateur, professional and public musicians alike are invited to sit down and play. 

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Questions?

Please contact adrienne@artscollaborative.org

PIANOS ON STATE is a collaborative experience between local organizations

Some Videos from Previous Years of POS:

A video produced by the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2012, explaining Pianos on State's history and purpose.

Pianos on State 2020 — an extraordinary year.

An example of one of the many spontaneous videos posted to YouTube by artists. In this instance, pop-violinist Lindsey Sterling had just finished a show at SOHO, and she and her band wandered out to State Street late at night and found the piano on the corner of State and Victoria. This is the video of what happened next.

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