Rawlins DDA/Main Street 'fosters community': Artwork needed for Creative Hands Community Art Banners Program

Executive director Pam Thayer said that the idea for the banner project came from a number of local community members.

“The idea came from multiple facets; from community members, board members and our artisan community,” Thayer said. “The National Main Street Conference and Wyoming Main Street does a ‘best practices.’”

Thayer explained that once a year, they attend the National Main Street Conference.

“We actually go on what we call a ‘pre trip.’ Like, let’s say if the conference is in Dallas, then we go early and visit surrounding communities,” she added. “We go to the smaller communities and get ideas and best practices that they did.”

During a trip to a community outside of Baltimore, they got the idea for creating art specialty banners.

“It was a culmination of everybody coming together on it. The point of this project is for a sense of belonging, for a cultural experience, to think about civic/volunteer work and for beautification.”

Thayer said that one of the main goals of this project is to “foster community through the arts.”

This time around, it will be the third submission of the banners.

“The plan is for this third round of 25 banners...I’m sure that we will most likely do the graduations banners again in May. So, we will pull everything down so the graduation banners can go up.

“Then after they go down at the end of May, we will go through all of the banners and clean them up if needed.”

The banners will be hung on the city-owned light poles in the downtown area; these banners will be a part of the public art and beautification project for Rawlins.

Once complete, the banners will be 20 X 47 inches and will hang vertically.

Once the artwork has been selected, it will be professionally printed (digitally) on high quality vinyl.

Each year, the banners will be changed; in May, the banners will be replaced by the two high school graduation banners.

For those interested in submitting artwork, the designs should “accommodate variability in the banner manufacturing process;” it may require modifications.

For the printing of the banners, Rawlins DDA/Main Street will use the funds that were raised during the Passion & Pride 2021 event.

According to the banner program information sheet, designs that the public will “perceive in a positive manner” are being sought out:

No advertising, branding or commercial images allowed.

Works containing controversial images that are offensive in nature won’t be accepted.

What makes Rawlins special to you?

Artists preparing their work to submit should keep in mind that the theme for the banners is “What makes Rawlins Special to you?”

Art that is submitted can be any form of 2D media. All mediums can be submitted, such as pencil, paint and photography.

The submissions have to be as close to the exact size of the banner, 20 X 47 inches, as it will hang vertically.

Artists wanting to make a submission can pick up banner-sized paper from Rawlins DDA/Main Street. Call 307-328-2099 to ask about the paper.

“Artists could be involved with DDA/Main Street staff in the approval of final layout of their image on the banner if needed.”

One submission per artist will be permitted (child, adults and/or organization).

Those who submit art for the banners program must live within Carbon County.

“If images of real living people are included, the artist must obtain a release from these people for the images to be used in this way. The artist must also obtain all releases necessary for text.”

Project timeline

The due date for the submissions is Monday, Feb. 5; submissions can be made prior to that date.

During the winter 2024 season, the banners will be in production.

Finally, in June 2024, the banner installation will take place in the Rawlins downtown area.

The submitted materials are required to be labeled “Banner Proposal” and delivered in person.

Got a photograph for your entry? It can be mailed to:

Rawlins DDA/Main Street, 116 4th St. — Upstairs, Rawlins, WY 82301

It can also be emailed to the following address: downtown@rawlinswy.gov.

“All questions regarding this Artwork Submission must be submitted in writing to the above address/email.”