Utility Box Art Competition on Astor Place Plaza
The Village Alliance, the business improvement district for the Village, is inviting current students and recent alumni of Manhattan’s higher education art and design programs to design a vinyl wrap on four utility boxes on Astor Place North and South plazas.
Calling all student artists! Showcase your art in the iconic Astor Place.
The Contest:
The Village Alliance, the business improvement district for the Village, is inviting current students and recent alumni of Manhattan’s higher education art and design programs to design a vinyl wrap on four utility boxes on Astor Place North and South plazas.
Astor Place is a vibrant intersection of commerce, culture, and connectivity and is seen by residents, employers, and tourists alike as the heart of the Village. The two plazas are nestled between the East Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, and Union Square, and their central location and transit access contribute to up to 170,000 people a day walking through Astor Place. That’s two million visitors a month!
Competition entrants have the chance for their artwork to be featured for up to six months in the plaza and a prize of $400. Entrants can submit any kind of artwork (i.e. painting, drawing, etc.) and have the option of indicating how they’d like their work to fit onto the boxes using our templates, although the Village Alliance cannot guarantee that the final placement of artwork will match entrant preferences. We encourage entrants to check out the boxes on Astor Place Plaza to contextualize their art and understand what parts of the box will not be wrapped. The competition timeline is detailed below:
Timeline:
March 3, 2025: Competition Opens
April 4, 2025: NEW COMPETITION DEADLINE!
April 18, 2025: Winner Announced
May 5, 2025: Designs Unveiled!
Selection Committee:
A panel of distinguished judges, including local artists, community leaders, and local business owners, will review submissions.
The Plaza:
