The Johnson City Public Art Committee is seeking proposals from artists or art teams for the commission of stencil designs to be installed on sidewalks by storm drains in Downtown Johnson City and surrounding neighborhoods.
The stencil designs will be installed using the product called “Invisible Spray” manufactured by the Rainworks company which, when applied, creates a superhydrophobic coating that repels water. The designs made with the spray are practically invisible when the concrete surface is dry, but when they become wet, the artwork will appear.
ELIGIBILITY: This opportunity is open to all professional artists over the age of 18 with previous art and design experience.
BUDGET: Up to eight proposals will be selected for the project, and each finalist will be paid a $300 honorarium for their finalized design. The artist will be responsible for submitting a digital file of the design only; they will not be responsible for fabrication of the stencil or installation.
DEADLINE: November 11, 2026 by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
This project is partially funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
PROJECT THEME:
The designs will be installed next to storm drains to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship in relation to water quality. They will contain imagery and text that remind passersby that the storm drains feed directly into creeks and rivers, and therefore, pollutants around them (chemicals, litter, pet waste, etc.) should be minimized. For more information about keeping the stormwater system and waterways clean, view the City of Johnson City’s Stormwater Brochure.
All designs must include the text, “Only Rain Down the Drain” to create a consistent educational message across all the designs on exhibit. The text formatting, text size, and all associated imagery will be left up to the discretion of the artist.
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
- Stencil designs should be creative, dynamic, and include a balanced composition with a moderate level of detail.
- The design area for the stencil will be 51 in. x 114 in. (4.25 ft. x 9.5 ft.), and all designs must be proportionately suited to these dimensions. Refer to the Stencil Template prior to creating your design.
- Artwork may be designed at either a landscape or portrait orientation.
- All interior elements should be designed so that they will remain attached to the stencil when printed (no floating elements). If the design includes floating elements, bridges (connecting parts) will be added to the graphics in a way that interferes with the design as little as possible.
- Digital designs are preferred, but hand-drawn designs are also acceptable.
- Initial designs must be submitted in black and white as a jpg, png, or pdf file
- If your design is selected, the final design must be submitted in one of the following file formats:
Digital files: Black and white, vector files in svg, ai, or pdf format
For hand-drawn images: Black and white, high resolution png or jpg - Artists may submit up to three designs
AI POLICY INFORMATION:
Please view our AI Policy information to ensure your design is acceptable prior to submission.
PLEASE VIEW THE STORM DRAIN STENCILS RFP FOR COMPLETE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL BELOW.