Those wacky and wonderful festivals that take place in Union Square each summer, while some are produced directly by the Somerville Arts Council and by Union Square Main Streets, most are developed by can-do, inventive folks right in the community. Ever want to produce your own cultural festival? If you’re selected to present your event in Union Square you’ll get the support of the Somerville Arts Council’s ArtsUnion you make your creative dream a reality.
Now in its eighth year, the Somerville Arts Council’s ArtsUnion Project is an initiative designed to boost the cultural economic development of Union Square, Somerville. ArtsUnion presents numerous events and markets, develops and leads cultural and historical tours, commissions street furniture and public art, and has revised zoning to incentivize arts related development in the Square. The Arts Council brings in numerous community partners, including Union Square Main Streets, in this effort.
For this Producer Call we’re looking for creative individuals to create, produce and manage cultural events that will take place in Union Square, Somerville from June through early October, 2012. We seek producers who will develop 2-4 hour cultural events/performances, or public art initiatives around a certain theme. Working with the Somerville Arts Council, producers will be responsible for the following: selecting a theme, lining up talent and/or vendors, creating activities, submitting a budget, planning and managing the event, and helping to promote the event. Themes can be broad or specific, ranging from dance, food, or performance art to film and multimedia work. Past ArtsUnion events include the well-known Fluff Festival, a Haitian Film Festival at Somerville Community Access Television, and the Hungry Tiger Street Festival celebrating food in Union Square.
Programming that reflects and include the diverse Union Square community is particularly encouraged. We also urge you to find ways to work with area businesses. For example, several area restaurants and food markets have participated in recent events and we have a good relationship with them. Most events take place in Union Square Plaza, but we are open to other ideas. In general, we encourage you to discuss any ideas with us.
The goal of the ArtsUnion event series is to increase the visibility of our strong local artist population; increasing economic activity for participating vendors and the area in general; and cultivating the square’s artistic, diverse and unique ambiance. For the series we’re looking for events and markets that are: centered on a theme, are unusual and creative, and will garner good press and attendance.
Ginger Explosion number 3
Last winter, during the barrage of winter storms, we incurred some damage to a number of Union Square pieces. But now two of these pieces have been repaired and installed. With the physical prowess of Hilary Scot, we reinstalled one of Aaron Binkley’s V-shaped glass benches that had been “glassless” since last winter. Of the four benches, this piece features a flowing river of poems engraved on the glass.
Also, David Tonnesen recently fixed and reinstalled his sculptural tree, which was first installed 12 years ago outside where Eat restaurant used to be (home of new Casa B restaurant). The piece had broken into two parts, in part because it was completely consumed by a tangled trumpet vine. Ironically, this elegant faux tree was built after a real tree came down during the April Fool’s Day blizzard of ’97. Charlie Robinson, owner of Eat restaurant, wanted to plant a new tree but was advised against it due to an underground gas pipe. So Robinson and sculptor Tonneson came up with the idea of a metal tree that could support a trumpet vine. We hope the newly planted version of this tree will last at least another 12 years.
And after two years of a temporary home in the square, Bevan Weisman’s “RippleRun” sculpture was permanently purchased and installed, thanks to generous funding from the New England Foundation for the Arts Public Art grant. Weisman’s piece is particularly dynamic when it rains, as rain ripples on the glass pains and cascades from one pain to another and down the central stainless core. As we turn to spring and summer, another flow of productive ArtsUnion work will emerge with our outdoor event and market series.
