SCOPE & BACKGROUND The Shreveport Regional Arts Council and Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau announces an Artist Call for Artists’ designs for Gateway Signage along the Boom or Bust Byway in Northwest Louisiana. The Boom or Bust Byway runs along High 2 from Vivian to Lake Claiborne where it circles the Lake and returns to Vivian. These large roadside signs will feature iconic imagery for the towns they are representing and include a QR Code to share information about local attractions. There will be up to 11 signs representing up to 11 locations spanning the 163-mile Byway including Gilliam, Oil City, Plain Dealing, Vivian, Belcher, Hosston, Red River Bridge, Sarepta, Homer, and Lake Claiborne. The icons were selected by each community to represent the distinct heritage, culture, and attraction. The Artist will determine which symbols best describe the community vision. The purposes of the Artists’ designed Gateway Signs are to: 1. ENCOURAGE travelers to take the BOOM OR BUST Byway for a spin! It’s a beautiful trip through Northwest Louisiana. 2. MOTIVATE travelers along the Byway to explore the “off the beaten path” treasures in each Town/Village. This is authentic Louisiana! 3. INSPIRE travelers to stop for a “Selfie,” Post on social, and click a QR code to the app to access the history of the area and directions to the town’s shopping, eating, and attractions. Note: The Artist will submit the “to-scale” Design(s).Selected Designs will be FABRICATED and INSTALLED by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. ELIGIBILITY The Design Entry is open to all artists on the Northwest Louisiana Culturalyst Directory at the time of submission. Register on the CULTURALYST directory, (at no cost) if you are an Artist residing or owning property in Northwest Louisiana and have at least 10 works of art ready for digital upload, along with a professional resume and Artist’s statement. Culturalyst: https://nwla.culturalyst.com Designs for signage will be accepted through Submittable.com. ENTRY DEADLINE Deadline for submission is 4:00 pm, Thursday, September 28, 2023 PROJECT Artists will submit designs that will be laser cut signs on a white background. -out designs for up to 11 signs. Artists may submit up to three (3) Sign Designs per Town. Each sign design focuses on one discrete “icon” or “theme” for the town. An Artist may submit up to three single icon designs. EX: 3 separate images of GUSHER DAYS for Oil City. Or… Three (3) separate icons for one Town. EX: Oil City : A. Gusher Days B. Offshore Drilling Rig C. Earl G. Williamson Park The Artist will use the digital or physical template to design the one-sided sign. Each sign measures 16’L X 6’H. The top of the sign has a city name that measures 18”H. The sign sits on a concrete base that measured 4’H by 18’L and 1.5’W. These measurements bring to the top and the cement foundation holding the sign brings the overall measurement to 11.5’ H x 18’ L x 1.5’ wide. SITES and Imagery Each Artist’s sign design must uniquely identify each site with ONE of the listed site assets. Example: Vivian Redbud Festival. Note: You may not combine the Vivian Redbud Festival with the Country Christmas Festival or any other event. SPECIFICATIONS The 11 Gateway Signs are uniform in structure, size, color (white), materials and “silhouette” approach. The image on each sign will be unique. Artist’s may enter up to 3 designs for each Gateway Sign (as many as 24 designs, total). VIVIAN • Redbud Festival • Black History Festival • Country Christmas Festival • Oil Industry • Railroad Museum • Old Firehouse Museum and Air BNB • Outdoor Activities: Fishing, hunting, boating, golfing GILLIAM • Sunflower Festival • Cotton • Corn • Raceway • Railroad BELCHER • Belcher Veterans Memorial Park • Cotton • Caddo Indians • Historic Churches • Bayou’s & Red River • M.C. “Five Cent” Jones OIL CITY • Earl G Williamson Park (Caddo Lake) • Gusher Days • Oil and Gas Museum • Christmas on Caddo • Offshore drilling rigs PLAIN DEALING • Dogwood Trees • Fishing • Swimming • Ladies Basketball Championship • Lake Plain Dealing HOMER • Downtown Historic District • 1861 Antebellum Courthouse • Herbert S Ford Museum/1890 Claiborne Hotel • Antique Shops • Louisiana Legends Festival LAKE CLAIBORNE • Lake Claiborne State Park • Camping/Glamping • Fishing • Hiking • Swimming Beach • Two 18-Hole Disc Golf Courses HOSSTON • Black Bayou • Fishing • Oil Industry • Railroad • Agriculture/ Cotton VI. SELECTION / COMMISSION 1. Notification: On or before Friday, October 6, artists will receive notice of the Jury Selection. There are 3 forms of notification: A. The work was not selected. B. The work was selected “As Is.” C. The work was selected with recommended revisions. 2. The Jury of professional Artists will select up to 3 designs per Town as follows: A. The Jury may select the submitted design “As Is.” These selected designs will receive a $500 award and progress to the next level. B. The Jury may make aesthetic and safety recommendations. In this case, the selected designer may choose to make the requested revisions, which are due within 7 days of notification (by October 13). The Artist receives a $500 fee per approved revised design. C. The Artist may choose not to make the revisions and step out of the process with no fee. The Jurors may move to an alternate design. 3. The Final Designs will be displayed for Parish Citizens to vote once for their favorite design. They may vote online, at the library, or at the Courthouse. 4. The Steering Committee will tally scores and submit them to the Parish Commissioners (local authorizing elected officials) who will have final say to approve the design for the site. 5. These selected Artworks/Artists will receive an additional $1,500 Award per Design. TIMELINE: 1. August 23: Activation/Distribution of the Call to Artists 2. 4:00 om, Thursday, September 28 – Deadline for Submissions 3. Friday, October 6 – Announcement of Finalists, with notes for “As Is” Acceptance or “Please Revise” Acceptance. 4. Friday, October 13 – Revisions are due. 5. Mondy, October 23 – Friday, November 10 – Community /Town Voting 6. November 15 – December 1: Town Council/Parish Approval 7. Friday, December 8 – Tentative Announcement of Selected Designs; contingent upon Parish approval process.