TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cash, Public Works Director
1. Subject
title
Approval of an “Adopt a Box” Utility Box Art and Sponsorship Program in the City.
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2. Summary
The Orange “Adopt a Box” Utility Box Art Program aims to enhance the visual appeal of the City of Orange by transforming city-owned traffic signal control boxes into vibrant public artworks. Artists and sponsors will be solicited for utility box locations throughout the City.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Approve “Adopt a Box” Utility Box Art and Sponsorship Program and authorize staff to solicit artists and sponsors for the program.
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4. Fiscal Impact
None. This program would ask individuals or businesses to sponsor the costs of the art wrap and maintenance for select utility boxes in the City.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology
6. Discussion and Background
The Utility Box Art Program aims to enhance the visual appeal of the City of Orange by transforming city-owned traffic signal control boxes into vibrant public artworks. These installations would serve as a unique form of communication to a constantly moving audience, adding artistic expression to the City’s streetscapes.
Utility box art will be solicited by a call for a design contest that will invite artwork submissions. Qualifying applicants must reside in Orange. The utility box program will be open to individual artists, a team of artists, and community groups who have the vision and skills required to create a visually engaging image or artwork design.
Submitted artwork would be screened by City staff to ensure that submittals meet basic program criteria. After the initial screening, a jury of community members, which could include local community organizations, local artists, interested community members, and other City stakeholders, would be assembled.
Selected designs will reflect the spirit and identity of the City of Orange,
celebrating its culture, history, and community values. Designs should demonstrate creativity and a strong sense of place, helping to foster community pride and cultural engagement.
The program will be fully supported through a sponsorship program. The program will allow sponsors to support a utility box for up to three years. The sponsorship amount for a will be $3,000 based on the cost to wrap and maintain the box. Wrapped boxes can expect to have a seven-to-ten-year life span. With sponsorship, the City commits to maintaining the box for no less than three years, but it is likely the box will be in place longer. Sponsors will have an area of no more than 20% of the printable area where they can display their brand or note the name of the donor. Sponsors may request a specific utility box location provided the utility box is owned by the City. Utility boxes will be wrapped as sponsorship commitments are received.
Sponsored artwork will be professionally printed on vinyl wraps and installed directly onto utility boxes throughout the city.
City staff will seek both sponsors and artists for the program. In the first year, staff is proposing the sponsorship of seven utility boxes - one in each Council District plus one at large. The actual number of boxes that participate in the program will be fully dependent on the level of sponsorships received.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Draft “Adopt a Box” Utility Box Art Program