Call for Artists

Norman 2025 Artful Inlets: Campus Corner

Deadline for Submission: Feb 28, 2025 @ 11:59pm  

The City of Norman operates and maintains a series of underground pipes, open channels, ditches, and roadways used to collect or convey stormwater runoff from our homes and businesses to the nearest body of water, such as a creek, stream, or lake. In urban areas, stormwater runoff from hard surfaces, like roofs and driveways, flows along the side of the road until it reaches a storm drain, which is an opening or grate in the curb connected by a series of pipes and drainage channels to the nearest water body.  Water and other materials that enter these storm drains are transported directly to our creeks and streams without any treatment.  Some of the pollutants that enter our local creeks and streams with stormwater runoff include grass clippings, oil, trash, fertilizers, pesticides, and pet waste.

For the 7th Annual Artful Inlets program, the Norman Arts Council, Public Arts Committee, and City of Norman are inviting artists to submit designs that will transform city infrastructure into works of public art. These artful inlets will educate and raise awareness that pollutants that go down storm drains have a devasting impact on our local water quality. This year's theme is: Clean Stream Champions.

There are currently 25 Artful Inlets in the community in the Walker Arts District, Lion’s Park, and Colonial Estates Park. They are located in Vineyard Park (3111 Woodcrest Drive), Sequoya Trail Park (410 Sequoya Trail), and Chisolm’s Cattle Trail Park (2515 Wyandotte Way).

  • Artists (or a team of artists) must be 18 years or older and a resident(s) of Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

    ·  Artists who completed an Artful Inlets design in the past are eligible to submit in 2025.

    ·  All designs must be submitted on the provided Design Worksheet.

    ·  Design proposals must be submitted through the designated online submission platform via the Norman Arts Council and no later than Friday, Feb 28, 2025. Only applications submitted through the on-line process will be considered. 

    .  Designs should incorporate this year's theme: Clean Stream Champions

    ·  Artists must submit and install their original designs.

    ·  Submissions must include a short biography and information about the proposed design.

    ·  A list of materials to be used that are not provided by the City of Norman and Norman Arts Council must also be included and approved. 

  • All submissions we be evaluated on the following:

    ·  Artistic excellence

    ·  When designing artwork, each artist is asked to consider the following themes:

    1. Stormwater Pollution Prevention

    2. Environmental Protection:  the importance of cleaner water

    ·  The design must be appropriate for a public space.

    ·  Any materials supplied by the artist must be eco-friendly, not contribute to stormwater pollution, and be pre-approved by the selection panel at least two weeks before the designs are painted.

    ·  The design may not contain any business references, promotions, or advertisements.

    ·  It may not contain any breach of intellectual property, brands or trademarks, or depiction of illegal activity.

    ·  The final painting must match the proposed design.

  • ·  A $750.00 stipend when installation and sealing is completed

    ·  A clean, primed area stationed off with appropriate traffic control devices while painting

    ·  A tent to provide shade over the area while painting

    ·  Sherwin-Williams Armorseal paint – black, white, yellow, red, and blue with a non-slip additive

    ·  Artists will have an opportunity to mix paint colors prior to installation

    ·  Water for painting

    ·  Tubs and containers for water and paint

    ·  Drinking water

  • ·  The original design

    ·  The ability to execute the accepted design within the allotted time

    ·  Brushes

    ·  Any other supplies or tools they deem necessary to execute their design

    The artists will be selected based on the materials submitted. Artist selection for this project will be made by a panel including City of Norman and NAC staff and members of the Norman Public Arts Committee who will choose 5 artists and 1 alternate.

    Soon after the selected artists are notified, a staff member from NAC or the City will meet with artists at the parks to assign designated areas and to discuss the specific size and shape of their design relative to their assigned space.

  • ·  Submission deadline is Friday, Feb 28, 2025

    ·  Artists will be selected and notified by Friday, March 29, 2025

    ·  Artist meeting at Parks on Wednesday, April 2, 205

    ·  Paint mixing day on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:00 – 3:00 PM

    ·  Installation of the artwork will be on Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11, 2024

    During the two days of installation, the artists will be photographed and interviewed, and a video will be made to allow each artist to talk about their design, their motivation for participating, and their process. These will be used to create a feature segment for on the Norman Arts Council’s YouTube channel and other social media platforms.

    Please note that if there are any changes to the installation schedule due to inclement weather, selected artists will be contacted with alternate installation dates.