Our friends at DATMA (Massachusetts Design Art Technology Institute) are producing a community-made public art piece and needs your help! The project, titled Being Seen: Celebrating SouthCoast Pride, will be first displayed in June 2025 on the facade of New Bedford City Hall, before traveling to prominent locations across the SouthCoast.
The full Call for Art details can be found on DATMA’s website, but we have included a portion of it below.
This exhibition is open to everyone; LGBTQIA+ folks, allies, friends, and families are welcome to participate and create a panel for inclusion in the installation.
Submissions will be accepted from February 1 through April 30, 2025
Questions about the project?
Please contact Amanda Hawkins, Education & Public Programs Manager at DATMA
programs@datma.org • 774-264-3696
Design Parameters
- Handmade panels & digital files for print submissions accepted.
- We are seeking abstract designs using a monochromatic color scheme. High saturated, vivid colors, or bold imagery are recommended.
- No sewing experience necessary.
- Materials: Choose most any fabric or supplies you have at home, or visit DATMA or CVPA to pickup materials (location & hours below). Soft/ flexible mixed media materials are welcome such as textile-based materials and durable paper (where sheets of wood or metal will not work- too heavy). Paint or spray your mixed-media materials with a sealant for weather proofing. Sew, staple, bind, glue down all materials so they are not loose or flapping.
- Select medium-weight, non-stretch fabrics and materials durable for outdoor display. Panels should be able to handle weather impacts for a 1-2 week outdoor duration.
- Each panel is 6.5′ x 6.5′ x 9.2′ — we encourage you to make a full square by creating two triangle panels, but submitting 1 panel is great!
- Individual and group submissions welcome.
- All levels of creativity are welcome. You do not have to be an art professional to submit.
FEATURED CONTENT: - Submissions using language and imagery should celebrate and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community, fostering inclusivity, respect, positivity, and Pride.
- If incorporating text, carefully consider its language and tone. All text must remain neutral to comply with regulations prohibiting “signs” on civic property. If there is any uncertainty about whether your text aligns with these guidelines, it is recommended to explore alternative design approaches. Submissions containing non-neutral language may risk disqualification from inclusion at Site 1, New Bedford City Hall. Please refer to the additional note on text below for further clarification.
- Designs must avoid offensive, hateful, negative, or discriminatory content and comply with all local signage regulations to ensure they align with civic property guidelines. Designs may not incorporate imagery of body organs unless rendered in an abstract and non-recognizable manner. This ensures compliance with civic property guidelines and maintains the appropriateness of the artwork for public display.
- It is recommended to be sure any important aspects of your design such as text and imagery are inside of a 4″ border “safe zone” on your panel. This will ensure that all of your design is visible when the panels are installed.
Assembling a Handmade Panel
- Sail cloth backing panels are available to everyone. You may pick-up a pre-cut panel at DATMA & CVPA (location & hours below).
- Any panels submitted out of your own backing or delicate materials will be subject to be attached via grommets to a sail cloth backing to be displayed the as part of the whole project. (Basically, if your panel is too stretchy, we will carefully attach it to a backing we know will not stretch.)
Some potential techniques that can be used when putting together your design:
- Applique: Sew, weave, or adhere fabric, letters, and small mementos onto a fabric background.
- Paint: Brush or textile paint, acrylics, permanent marker, or spray paint all work.
- Collage: Create objects in fabric and sew/adhere them onto the panel. Make sure any materials you add won’t tear the fabric.
- Stencil: 3D-print or hand cut your stencil; apply to fabric using paint, permanent marker, spray paint, or other lasting materials.
Submitting a Digital Design
PRINT OR EMAIL DATMA YOUR DESIGN
- Digital design templates are available for download here.
- Digital submissions are due no later than April 30, 2025
- Create a digital design and print it on canvas, fabric, or paper & deliver to one of the dropoff locations .
- Contact DATMA if you need assistance printing & submit your design via email to programs@datma.org.
IMAGE RESOLUTION
- Your design template should be sized to 78” (6.5 feet) wide
- Ideal Image size for high resolution printing: 23,4000 x 23,4000 pixels at 300dpi
- For optimal print quality, we highly recommend using images at 300 dpi. Higher resolution images result in sharper and more professional-looking prints.
- If you’re uploading photography or non-vector artwork (e.g., JPEGs, PNGs), be sure your images are minimum 96 dpi at full template size.
EXPORTING FOR PRINT
- Export your design with 1″-2″ bleed + make sure that your background extends to fill the bleed to avoid your banner having white edges when trimmed.
- Edit and save your file in CMYK
- Save as high resolution file
- Confirm that any important aspects of your design such as text and imagery are inside of a 4-inch border “safe zone.” This will ensure that all of your design will be visible when printed.
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