Art: Outside the Box

Art: Outside the Box
A Downtown Joplin Utility Box Wrap Project

Sponsored by: Liberty and Visit Joplin
Presented by: Downtown Joplin Alliance, The City of Joplin, Spiva Center for the Arts, and The Joplin Arts District

Online entry is from April 14 – June 8, 2026 

OVERVIEW

The Art: Outside the Box (AOTB) Committee invites artists and creators to submit original designs for a public art initiative transforming electrical utility boxes throughout downtown Joplin into vibrant works of art.

Selected designs will be professionally reproduced as vinyl wraps and installed on utility boxes throughout downtown Joplin, adding color, creativity, and a stronger sense of place to everyday infrastructure.

This project celebrates the power of art to energize public spaces, reflect the spirit of our community, and create unexpected moments of visual interest throughout the city.

THEME

This is an open-theme call. Artists are encouraged to create work that is visually compelling, community-minded, and well-suited for public display.

Suggested themes and concepts include:

• Community and connection
• Nature, color, and pattern
• Movement, energy, and transformation
• Celebrating Joplin’s identity in creative ways

Both literal and abstract interpretations are welcome.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Selected artworks will be reproduced as vinyl wraps and installed on three-dimensional utility boxes. Artists are not required to design directly within a template but should keep the overall box format in mind when creating their work.

When developing your design, please consider:

• How the artwork will appear when wrapped around multiple sides of a box
• Whether the design works best as a continuous wrap or as a composition focused on one primary side
• Creating bold, clear imagery that is easily visible from a distance
  Avoiding overly fine details that may be lost when the image is enlarged
• How elements of the design may align, continue, or transition across edges and corners

Please note: Utility boxes include functional elements such as vents, handles, locks, access panels, and meters that cannot be covered and may interrupt portions of the final design.

Templates are provided for reference only to help visualize proportions and layout. Finalists will be asked to provide high-resolution original artwork, which will be professionally adapted for production. Please contact Spiva at 417-623-0183 if you have any questions.

Please refer to the provided templates and specifications when preparing your submission: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vKu7lVlu_MhBOoYsSk7hBwa3y91ecvVF?usp=sharing

CONTENT GUIDELINES

Submitted designs may not:

• Advertise or promote a business, product, or service
• Include political campaign messaging or explicit/inappropriate content
• Mimic traffic signals, signage, or directional graphics
• Infringe upon copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights
• Defame or violate the rights of any individual or group

All submitted work must:

• Be appropriate for all audiences
• Be the original work of the applicant
• Be suitable for highly visible public display
• Follow the provided template and design specifications

 Artwork that does not meet these guidelines will not be considered.

ORIGINALITY & COPYRIGHT

Submitted work must be the original creation of the applicant and may not substantially copy, trace, or reproduce copyrighted or trademarked material without written permission.

Fully AI-generated artwork is not eligible. If AI tools are used in a limited way as part of the design process, the applicant must ensure they hold all rights necessary for public display and reproduction.

AWARDS

A total of $2,000 in cash awards will be presented:

• Adult Category | 1st Place: $500, 2nd Place: $300, 3rd Place: $200, (2) Honorable Mentions: $100 each
• Youth Category | 1st Place: $300, 2nd Place: $200, 3rd Place: $150, (3) Honorable Mentions: $50 each

The jury and committee reserve the right to adjust or withhold awards based on the quality and suitability of submissions.

All entrants will be informed of acceptance or declination via email no later than June 25, 2026. Final files may be requested at this time.

QUESTIONS

General Questions | Lori Haun, Downtown Joplin Alliance | 417-501-9649 | lori@downtownjoplin.com

Art entry or CaFÉ Technical Support | 417-623-0183 | exhibits@spivaarts.org

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All entries must be submitted online through CaFÉ (CallForEntry.org) 

Entry Fee: $10 per artist, artists may submit up to two (2) designs

Important Notes About CaFÉ Submission:

• Due to the structure of the CaFÉ system for this call, applicants must upload two entries to complete submission.
• Artists with two unique designs should submit both.
• Artists with only one design may upload the same design twice to complete submission.
• Duplicate uploads submitted for technical purposes will not affect jury review.

To Complete a Submission, Applicants Must Include:

• High-resolution image(s) of artwork (minimum 300 dpi, JPG format)
• Artwork title(s)
• Medium (if applicable)
• Optional artist statement (2–3 sentences)
• Applicant Information
  • Age (for youth category eligibility)

ELIGIBILITY

This call is open to artists and non-artists working in any medium, including but not limited to painters, photographers, collage artists, mosaic artists, quilters, illustrators, designers, poets, and mixed media creatives.

Applicants do not need prior experience in public art or creative placemaking to participate.

Each applicant may submit up to two (2) design concepts.

Categories:

• Youth: Ages 17 and under
• Adult: Ages 18 and older

Applicants under the age of 18 who are selected will be required to have a parent or legal guardian sign a release/waiver form.