FireFish Festival 2023 is scheduled for September 16th, returning to its roots in downtown Lorain. As usual, we are looking for art installation/site-specific art proposals that will enhance the event and engage our audience. Locations include positions along Broadway, in the alley between 5th and 6th (in conjunction with the Alley Project), and along routes from Broadway Ave to the main stage and the burn circle.
Submissions open on June 1st, and close on June 23rd. Selected artists will be notified by July 6th.
Installation Proposal
Artists and artist groups may submit proposals for independently fabricated art installations or site-specific pieces. Submission requirements will include renderings and itemized budgets, and artists selected will be expected to provide their own materials and transportation for their finished piece(s). Installations will remain the property of commissioned artists unless otherwise discussed with FireFish Arts.
Submissions can include previously exhibited works (especially new imaginings or revamps of existing pieces) or proposed new constructions. Please consider placement in your proposals, including potential weather or accessibility concerns.
Learn more about the installation proposal by reading the Installations CFA
Bench Proposal
In keeping with FireFish’s mission of creative placemaking, this year’s FireFish Festival will feature functional, artistic seating throughout the festival footprint. Locations include positions along Broadway, in the alley between 5th and 6th (in conjunction with the Alley Project), and along routes from Broadway to the main stage and the burn circle.
Artists and artist groups may submit proposals for independently fabricated seating arrangements. Submission requirements will include renderings and itemized budgets, and artists selected will be expected to provide their own materials and transportation for their finished piece(s). Benches will remain the property of commissioned artists unless otherwise discussed with FireFish Arts.
Learn more about the bench proposal by reading the Benches CFA
Mural Installation Proposal
FireFish Arts is looking for up to seven (7) semi-permanent outdoor murals for our Alley Project program, which creates a permanent art alley between 5th and 6th Street thanks to funding from a GM on Main Street grant. Each artist or artist team may submit up to two (2) proposals for murals, though each selected artist will only be granted one (1) mural space. The Alley Project space will be a key site in the FireFish Festival footprint.
Murals will be created on pre-cut, primed boards (provided by the festival) which will then be installed in the spaces available on site. There are six (6) spaces along the catwalk above the alley and one (1) closer to ground level. All spaces have approximately the same dimensions of 40″ x 60″.
Learn more about the mural proposal by reading the Murals CFA
Through our partnership with Lorain County Community College’s Art Maker on the Move program and access to the Fab Lab, assistance from lab coordinator Ryan Corrigan may be available for artists. Our ongoing partnership with the Lorain Public Library also provides opportunities for the use of their maker spaces, as well. If your proposal could benefit from either of these partnerships, please indicate how you might use the technologies available in these spaces in your proposal.