Project Summary
Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission (SCC&HC)
initiated a countywide public art project in 2010 entitled
Gallery 24/7 to further integrate the arts into non-traditional
venues to expand the reach of the arts to broaden and diversify
public exposure, interest in, and access to the arts; to expand
exhibition opportunities for New Jersey visual artists; and
welcome tourism to Somerset County. With the aid of dedicated
funding provided by an arts grant, and through a competitive and
professionally juried selection process, New Jersey visual
artists were invited to create and submit original artwork for
this project. A total of 17 original artworks were reproduced on
a special vinyl adhesive film and professionally applied to the
exterior of selected county-owned Traffic Control Boxes (TCB)
throughout Somerset County.
Project Summary
• Encourage, promote and support the talents and visibility of
NJ visual artists by expanding public exhibition opportunities
• Provide unique opportunities for an all-inclusive viewing
public to access and enjoy visual art beyond a gallery or museum
experience at their convenience, and “admission free”
• Stimulate the local economy by welcoming & increasing cultural
tourism
• Provide creative experiences in unexpected public places by
integrating the arts into non-traditional venues, and
transforming the ordinary, into the extraordinary.
• Provide a catalyst for dialogue; encourage socialization
• Graffiti deterrent
• Create and encourage partnership opportunities
• Responds to the SCC&HC’s Long Range Plan
Benefit to Visual Artists
• A honorarium is provided to each artist whose artwork is
selected
• Wide distribution of companion promotional brochure
identifying/highlighting featured artworks & artists, and
encouraging tourism
• Artwork accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 3+ years
• Planned expansion of this public art project to more county
TCBs, will continue to increase visibility for more
• NJ artists in successive years, contingent on availability of
grant funding.
This project has been made possible, in part, by the N. J. State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program Grant; the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholder; and Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. Source of funding for this grant comes from dedicated Hotel /Motel Occupancy Tax via state legislation (2003), which provides for a stable, renewable source for state funding of the arts, history and tourism. Cultural grants awarded by the NJSCA are supported by this revenue so the NJ taxpayer does not pay for public support of the arts through property, sales or income tax.
Project Logo by Steven Cipparullo, Graphic Design Student at duCret School
of Art, Plfd., NJ / www.ducret.edu
Photographs of TCB’s by Vivian Bedoya/Viviansville.com