The Town of Parker is excited to announce a creative opportunity for local artists and designers! In 2025, two new vinyl utility box wraps will be installed at Salisbury Park, and we want your artwork to be featured.
We’re inviting the public to submit bold, original concept designs that will transform these everyday utility boxes into vibrant, eye-catching public art. Don’t miss your chance to add your unique touch to Parker’s visual landscape!
The submissions will be divided into two categories:
- Adults (18+) – Your design could be featured on a utility box near the equestrian ring.
- FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE UTILITY WRAP DESIGN CONTEST (18 AND OLDER), CLICK HERE
- Youth (17 & under) – Submit your artwork for a chance to wrap a drinking fountain by the playground.
- FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WATER FOUNTAIN DESIGN CONTEST (17 AND UNDER), CLICK HERE
Once the winning designs have been chosen, we will work with the selected artists to get their designs prepared for printing and bring their creative visions to life!
Public Art in Parker:
The Town of Parker has elevated the importance of public art in the community through the development and adoption of a Public Art Master Plan. The plan provides a comprehensive framework to guide the Town of Parker with through siting and staging art in any media in the public domain. Adding colorful wraps to utility boxes around town is one of the short-term goals outlined in the Parker Public Art Master Plan.
Utility Box Wrap Program:
This program aims to transform utility boxes into captivating public art installations in unexpected places across the community while protecting the boxes from graffiti, weathering, and other damage, resulting in cost savings over time. The program also helps foster awareness of local artists by utilizing artists and non-profit groups to create designs for the vinyl wraps.
Eligibility:
- The call is open to individual artists, artist teams, or community groups with a designated lead artist.
- Professional and non-professional artists, including emerging artists and students may apply.
- All artists must reside in Douglas County.
Selection Process:
- Parker Arts staff will review all submissions to ensure completeness and compliance with the submission requirements.
- Artist designs will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Artistic quality and vibrancy of submitted designs
- Appropriateness of artwork in scale and imagery to be visually effective on public boxes or drinking fountains
- Ability to successfully translate original artwork to a digital file for a three-dimensional surface
- Ability to relate to multiple types of viewers (pedestrians, motorists, cyclists)
- Uniqueness of the design
- The Parker Public Art Commission and Parker Arts staff will select finalists.
Additional Information and Requirements:
- The selected artist or artist team will receive a $500 honorarium for the unlimited, licensed use of their design, regardless of how many artists contributed to the single design.
- Selected artists will be required to sign a contract (or have a parent or guardian sign), provide a W-9, and other contractual requirements and/or documentation.
- Artist’s name, photo, selected artwork, biographical information, and other requested information may be featured on the Parker Arts website, social media, and other promotional materials.
- Parker Arts reserves the right to modify any aspect of this program at any time or request additional information from any or all participating artists, to re-open the call and/or to accept or reject, at any time before the execution of contracts, any or all design proposals.
Installation and Other Information:
- The final selected artwork will be printed on a vinyl wrap and installed directly on the utility boxes and drinking fountain.
- The Town is responsible for coordinating the printing, fabrication, and installation of the vinyl wraps.
- Wraps are intended to last up to five years in favorable conditions.
- Printed artwork created for the utility box project will be considered temporary artwork and the sole property of the Town of Parker. As such, the Town retains the right and sole discretion to remove, modify, or replace the artwork. Situations in which the Town may exercise this right include, but are not limited to, damage to the boxes/drinking fountain, vandalism, or the box/fountain needs to be accessed by an authorized agency, organization, or individual.
Considerations:
- Because of the public nature of these wraps, designs cannot include political or religious content; any breach of intellectual property; trademarks; images of illegal activity; sexual, violent or other content not suitable for all ages; advertisements; logos; signage; promotion of any business, organization, individual, or product; or involve the attachment of objects to the boxes.
- Designs must not defame or invade the rights of any person or people, living or dead.
- Designs must be family-friendly and unique to the Town of Parker.
- Submitted designs must illustrate original artwork and/or graphic design and comply with all existing copyright laws.
- Given the desire for high visibility from passing traffic, artists are strongly encouraged to consider submitting larger designs with bright colors. The design should add to the vibrancy of our town and contribute to a sense of community and connection.
- Artists may submit up to three designs for consideration.
- A third-party fabricator will be used to print and install the vinyl wraps.
- The selected designs will remain on the utility boxes as long as the vinyl remains in good shape. Images of the boxes will also be posted on the Art in Public Places page of the Parker Arts website.
Project Schedule:
- Call for artists announced: Week of August 18, 2025
- Concepts due to Parker Arts: September 15, 2025
- Concept reviewed by Public Art Commission: September 15–19, 2025
- Winners notified: by September 19, 2025
- Wraps installed: Q4 2025
Submission Information:
- Initial designs should be submitted as a small JPG or PNG file for jurying.
- Send submissions to [email protected] with the subject line: 2025 Utility Wraps Design Contest or drop off at the PACE Center (20000 Pikes Peak Avenue – Parker, CO 80138) – Attention: Carrie Glassburn
- Please include name, age, address, and phone number with submission.
- If selected, artists will be required to provide final artwork in one of the following formats: PDF, TIFF, EPS, AI, or Vector format. Assistance may be provided if artist is unfamiliar with digital formats.
Digital/Vector Submissions
For best results and compatibility, we recommend opening the template & creating the file in the latest version of Adobe Illustrator CC or Adobe Photoshop CC.
- Place artwork in Layer PLACE ART HERE.
- Hide LAYER 1 when file is ready for export.
Acceptable file formats for printing:
- – CMYK
- – 300dpi
- – Any of the following file formats:
- .pdf (Adobe PDF)
- .psd (Adobe Photoshop)
- .ai (Adobe Illustrator)
- Any fonts must be converted to outlines or curves.
Print/Raster Submissions
- Scan or photograph your artwork and convert to a digital format for emailing.
Acceptable file formats for printing:
- – High resolution scan/format of artwork
- – Any of the following file formats:
- .pdf (Adobe PDF)
- .png
- .jpeg
