Pianos on State 2022
Call for Entries
PIANOS ON STATE is an interactive public art and music experience that takes place each October and November. After an unusual and remarkable two years in 2020-21 with COVID, we are delighted for our 13th year in downtown Santa Barbara!
Each piano becomes its own interactive piece of art as painted by local Santa Barbara artists. The pianos are displayed on designated pads along State Street for the public to play. Every year piano-painting at the Community Arts Workshop is a weekend of artists of all styles and stripes rubbing shoulders, trading tips and information, and making art together.
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 collaborative teams are both eligible, though teams must use one application.
Piano-painting at the CAW will follow current COVID guidelines. The CAW has abundant airflow, and we will be able to enforce mask requirements and allow for space between the pianos as needed for current COVID conditions.
How It Works
Each artist or artist team painting a piano will be given a $350 stipend to purchase materials of their choice for a designated piano. All pianos will be provided and transported by the Pianos on State team. Space to paint the pianos will be provided at CAW. Participating artists will be recognized on the Pianos on State Street website, piano banners, and all other marketing and publicity materials.
Guidelines:
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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.
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To ensure the longevity of the artwork, loose materials like glitter and sand cannot be included in the design.
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This project is open to artists living and working in Santa Barbara County.
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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.
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In order to accommodate as many new painters as possible, preference will be given first to artists who have not previously painted a piano, and to artists who have not painted a piano in several years. If you were a piano-painter in the immediately preceding year (2021), the selection committee will likely pass on your submission in 2022 in order to give new artists, or artists who have not participated in some time, a chance.
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If you participated in 2021, please apply again in 2023! If you participated in 2020 or earlier, please apply this year! We love having veteran piano artists back, but we also want to give new artists a chance.
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To Submit, Please Include:
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Three digital examples of your artwork design.
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Two digital examples of past artwork.
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One paragraph stating your concept and why you are interested in participating in the project.
Important Dates
The application deadline is August 15, 2022, at 5pm. Painting will take place at the Community Arts Workshop (CAW) located at 631 Garden Street, Santa Barbara, September 30-October 2 between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
There will be a special party for piano artists and sponsors Monday night October 3rd.
Pianos will make their debut on State Street on Tuesday, October 4 and will be on display through Sunday, October 23. 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.
Questions?
Please contact Casey Caldwell at hello@sbcaw.org.
PIANOS ON STATE is a collaborative experience between local organizations:
Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Education Foundation, Downtown Santa Barbara, the Children's Creative Project, and more.
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.