The Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art is extending an open call for artists to submit original designs for Phase Four of the Hattiesburg Utility Box Series, a growing public art initiative aimed at bringing vibrant creativity to the city's streetscapes.
The latest phase will feature up to 20 utility boxes placed along some of Hattiesburg’s most traveled thoroughfares and within neighborhoods across the city. There are currently 44 painted utility boxes in the series, each showcasing a range of color, pattern and design as part of the Hattiesburg Public Art Trail.
“HAPA is dedicated to continually broadening the reach and variety of public art in Hattiesburg,” said Marlo Dorsey, CEO of VisitHATTIESBURG and HAPA. “This new round of utility boxes is another opportunity to showcase the creativity of our community, and we look forward to the fresh perspectives artists will bring.”
Applications must be submitted electronically by noon on Friday, Oct. 3. Painting of selected designs will begin in mid-October and continue through November. Artists selected to participate will receive a $500 stipend for each completed box.
“With each addition to Hattiesburg’s public art landscape, we celebrate the talent and creativity of our artists,” said Kristen Brock, vice president of marketing and programs for VisitHATTIESBURG and HAPA. “The utility box series provides a platform for emerging and established artists to share their work and contribute to the city’s vibrant identity.”
Phase One of the Hattiesburg Utility Box Series launched in the summer of 2020 with five painted boxes. Phase Two added 22 more in fall 2021, and Phase Three contributed another 17 boxes in 2022. Many of these boxes are set up around Southern Miss and Downtown Hattiesburg. A list of completed boxes and participating artists is available at hburgart.com/utility-box-trail.
For more details, applicants can visit hburgart.com/artists. Additional information about HAPA and other public art in Hattiesburg can be found at HBURGArt.com or on HAPA’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Existing boxes can be found around Southern Miss, Downtown, and many other places across the Hub City.
