Have you seen the big gray metal boxes on street corners? They’re traffic signal boxes, and local artists can turn them into colorful public artworks that tell the story of your neighborhood.
In Southdale, artist Christina Hollering painted peony blooms and vining tomatoes as an ode to the Germans who settled in the southside neighborhood and built greenhouses. This spring, neighbors in Emerson Heights will complete a traffic signal box with a colorful compass, skyline of their neighborhood and their neighbor’s dog on it.
If you want to spruce up a signal box near you, you can’t just walk up to it with a brush. The city of Indianapolis owns the boxes. Indy Arts Council runs the city’s Streetcorner Canvases program, which works with neighborhood organizations and nonprofits to develop plans for public art on traffic signal boxes.
Usually, neighborhoods have to raise their own funds to pay the artists, which can cost anywhere from $750 to $2,000. But thanks to new funding from the city and the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, the Arts Council will pay the artists. Neighborhood organizations and nonprofits based in Marion County can apply until Jan. 4.
Julia Muney Moore, Indy Arts Council’s public art director, runs the program and can help you along the way. Reach out to her with questions at jmoore@indyarts.org.
Related
Turn those boring gray signal boxes into works of art
Neighborhood associations can partner with Indy Arts Council to create colorful public art pieces.
Tips from a neighborhood leader who’s done it
In 2022, the Emerson Heights Community Organization started planning to paint a traffic signal box on the corner of Linwood Avenue and Michigan Street. A neighbor’s idea won the design contest, then the organization submitted an application to the arts council. But the city announced it would convert Michigan Street into a two-way, throwing a wrench in their plans.
Earlier this year, Emerson Heights got the funding to find an artist and finish the project next spring. Joseph Tucker, the president of the Emerson Heights Community Organization, helped make it happen.
Here’s his advice:
- The application is long, and you need to gather documents and details before you get started.
- All the businesses or people who own land adjacent to the traffic signal box have to agree to the project. Getting them to sign on can take a month or more.
- “Lean on Julia because she’s very helpful.”
How the process works in five steps
- Decide on your idea and plan.
Your neighborhood organization or nonprofit will choose which signal box (or boxes) should be painted, decide what you’re looking for in an artist, talk about inspiration for a design and create a timeline. Pick one person from your neighborhood group to stay in contact with the Indy Arts Council. - Get written approval from the city and the landowners.
Just a warning: This is the part that takes the most time. Landowners might live out of state and can be hard to reach. The arts council will also help you get in contact with the city’s public works department and sign a document called a memorandum of understanding. - Submit an application.
You’ll need: the application, a timeline; signed letters of support from the neighborhood association and the landowners; the signed memorandum of understanding; and the location and pictures of the box. Moore can walk you through all the forms. - Choose an artist and select the design.
Maybe you already have an artist in mind. If not, the arts council can put out a call for artists through its website and Artist Opportunities newsletter. You’ll work with the artist to develop the design. - Paint – or wrap – the box, and enjoy!
The artist will paint the box or wrap it with vinyl. Enjoy the new public art in your neighborhood!
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