Riverside CA – The Riverside Art Museum (RAM) is soliciting artist proposals as part of RAM’s inaugural Riverside Art Make project. Riverside Art Make events will take place in April and May of 2014 and 2015. Funded in part by a City of Riverside Arts and Culture Grant and the Exploring Engagement Fund for Priority Regions Grant from the James Irvine Foundation, the Riverside Art Make will produce art “happenings” that evoke a sense of shared community among neighbors, families, and friends who live, work, and play in the city. Art happenings are public events that include elements of chance, performance, and are seemingly spontaneous. Riverside Art Make happenings will draw upon the art movements of the 1960s and 70s and will reflect aspects of everyday life, confronting or dismantling conventional notions of art.

RAM is seeking artists currently engaging in public art activity, community outreach, and art education to facilitate a series of art happenings in four Riverside neighborhoods. RAM is seeking fun, interactive, experimental projects that create and increase opportunities for community participation in the arts. Projects will ideally place artists in the role of facilitators who can connect participants in the community to art through making, performing, and learning. These happenings will occur over three consecutive weekends in April or May in 2014 or April or May in 2015 and will be two to three hours in duration. Happenings should be structured to allow participants to create new original work – either something to take home or a community piece to be exhibited. Happenings in 2014 and 2015 will be in the following four neighborhoods in non-traditional venues: Eastside, La Sierra, Magnolia Center, and Mission Grove/Orange Crest. Artwork created at happenings and photographs of the events will be displayed at a non-traditional public art venue.

“RAM encourages artists to take part in this project to bring arts into our community,” says RAM Executive Director Drew Oberjuerge. “We know that there are so many people who are creating art in their homes. We want to connect them to the museum.”

The stipend for each happening is $1000 and artists will have access to a materials budget of $300-$500 for each happening. There is also $300 to fund musicians for each happening, so hopefully artists will consider how music might play a role in their proposals.

RAM kicked off the Riverside Art Make with “Motor Rhythms” by Jordan Hill at the Mayor’s Celebration for Arts & Innovation. “Motor Rhythms” is a drum set built from scrap auto parts. Hill’s project blends elements of percussion and automotive/salvage art to create a one-of-a-kind sound where he invites others to make music. The Riverside Art Museum is looking forward to two years of making art in Riverside neighborhoods.

Make music. Make art.

The artist proposal deadline is October 22, 2013 at 9:00 p.m.
For more information and an application: http://www.riversideartmuseum.org/artmake

RAM relies on the generosity of members and donors to support its exhibitions, education programs, and special events. A 50-plus-year-old, private, non-profit cultural arts institution housed in a National Historic 1929 building designed by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan, the museum welcomes over 50,000 visitors a year. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. For information on exhibits, events, classes, memberships, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.RiversideArtMuseum.org. Find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/riversideartmuseum) and Twitter (RAMRiverside).