A Public Art Initiative Sponsored by the Town of Abington
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Town of Abington is excited to announce a town-wide initiative to have local artists paint our utility boxes. This project is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council, Abington Cultural Council, Ann Reilly and Liz Shea. For questions, please contact Liz Shea at lshea@abingtonma.gov or 781-982-0069
APPLICATION
PLANNING SHEET
Project Overview
The Town of Abington invites local artists and designers to participate in Art Around Town by proposing original artwork to be painted on utility boxes throughout the Town. The Town will match an artist with each of the Town’s 10 utility boxes, and each chosen artist will have their work displayed for all to enjoy. We know that people of all ages will appreciate and admire the visual enhancement of the utility boxes!
August 12,2026 Applications will be available online at www.abingtonma.gov
September 7, 2026 Applications will be accepted no later than midnight on September 7th
September 14, 2026 Selected Artists will be notified and box preparation will get started
September 21, 2026 Selected artists shall provide a list of materials to be used
October 2-4, 2026 Upon approval of the materials list, selected artists may work on their assigned utility box. Extra time will be given if needed due to weather, etc. We anticipate that boxes should be completed by mid- October
Work on the boxes will be highlighted in conjunction with Abington Celebrates Oktoberfest!
Design Tips/Guidelines
Artists must supply their own paint and equipment
Artwork must be original
Utility boxes will be primed white before painting
We recommend exterior latex house paint or oil-based enamel paints
Avoid dark palettes to prevent overheating
Boxes are operational: hinges and locks should be lightly painted. Do not paint over keyholes
HOW TO APPLY:
Beginning on August 12, 2026, applications will be available online at online at www.abingtonma.gov
The applicant shall complete the application and Artist Agreement and shall illustrate their design on the blank utility box template provided.
Artists under eighteen (18) years old are encouraged to apply but their application must be signed by their parent or legal guardian.
Each Artist may submit up to two (2) designs, but only one may be chosen.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Completed applications shall be sent by e-mail to: lshea@abingtonma.gov. Applications must be received by midnight on September 7, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered. The Town will not be responsible for any applicant’s inability to submit an application by the specified deadline, including but not limited to delays caused by technical difficulties.
Decision Making
Ø There are only 10 boxes available to be painted as part of this project, and not everyone who applies will be accepted.
Ø After the close of the application period, each completed application will be reviewed by the committee.
Ø While there is no specific requirement regarding theme or subject matter, the works should create a sense of community and civic pride and engagement. Works that incorporate the Town’s historical heritage and natural features are favored.
Ø The selection of Artists to participate in the project shall be in the sole discretion of the committee, who may reject submissions for any reason or no reason at all, and the decision will be final with no right of appeal.
Ø Without limiting the Town’s discretion, the Town reserves the right to reject or disqualify any entries that violate the following rules:
o Designs cannot favor a specific political party or candidate;
o Designs must be the original work of the Applicant, may not have been previously published and must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity;
o Content cannot include or promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the aforementioned), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message;
o Content cannot be obscene or offensive or endorse any form of hate or hate group;
o Content cannot defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about any identifiable person, group or organization;
o Content cannot contain materials embodying the names, likenesses, photographs, or other identifying features of any person, living or dead
Project Details
Ø The Town has 10 utility boxes that will be available for this project.
Ø Each box measures approximately feet tall, feet long, and feet wide, and resembles the sample shown below:
Ø Prior to the commencement of the project, the boxes will be primed with white primer. Except for the box at the corner of Plymouth St. & Centre Ave. (at the Sunoco)
Ø Artists shall be responsible for providing their own paint, brushes, drop clothes, etc. Prior to applying paint, the Artist shall provide a materials list describing the types of paint that will be used (exterior latex house paint or oil-based enamel are required unless the artist can demonstrate that they are unavailable). Boxes are operational; hinges and locks should be lightly painted. Do not paint over keyholes.
Ø The work shall be nearly identical as possible to the work depicted in the application. Any work that substantially deviates from the work depicted in the application may be removed.
Ø Upon completion of the work, the Artist will receive a stipend of $300.
Ø The Artists’ work will be highlighted in conjunction with Abington Celebrates Oktoberfest!!
Ø It is expected that the Artists’ work will be displayed until it is time to paint again, but the Town reserves the right to remove or cover any or all of the work at any time.
Ø The Town reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the program, or any part of it, and it reserves the right to reject any and all applications for any reason or no reason at all.
The Town would like to see art reflective of “Abington” a partial list of ideas is below:
Shoe making, factories, etc
Strawberries, fields, Strawberry Queen, etc
Farming- there were multiple working farms in Abington – the most recent was “Beals” farm on Linwood St.
Fireworks – a staple of both the “Night before the Fourth” celebration as well as “Abington Celebrates”
Island Grove
Memorial Bridge at Island Grove
St. Patricks Day Parade
Ames Knoll State Park
Abington’s participation in the Revolution (celebrating our nation's birthday)
This list is just some ideas we came up with- we cannot wait to see your ideas.