Announcements / Jul 6th, 2018

2018 Call for Parade Floats

Creative Alliance | Lantern Floats

19th Great Halloween Lantern Parade 
Drawing 8,000 fans, The Great Halloween Lantern Parade has been a beloved Baltimore tradition since 1999.  Held outdoors in Patterson Park always on the last Saturday before Halloween (Oct 27ththis year, rain date Oct 28), this is a community-made, artist-supported evening spectacular. Working with our neighboring schools and community groups, Creative Alliance will produce over 2,000 lanterns that people of all ages will carry in the Parade, creating evening of light-filled wonder.

What We’re Looking For
We are asking artists and community groups to create NEW, BIG, BRIGHT, FUN, MOBILE objects over 10’ feet tall, less than 6’ wide, that are lightweight and can be carried by you and your crew! We’re looking for Baltimore-based illuminated sculptures or floats that compliment this year’s frightening theme – EEEK! This is about COMMUNITY. We encourage community participation led by a select number of skilled artists! We also expect for awarded artists to help promote the Parade by submitting designs, photographs, or video of their building process, as well as being available for television or newspaper interviews. Completed floats should be mobile, easy to carry around the mile-long parade route and designed to withstand the weather in late October which can be cold, rainy or windy.

Compensation
Creative Alliance will provide awards of up to $600 each for the top four proposals to support materials, transportation, and artist fees. Selected artists have the opportunity to share studio space at Patterson Park’s Pool House or Crown Industrial Park. Selected artists may spend additional monies, but anything over awarded amount is the sole responsibility of the artist or artist group.  Awarded artists and groups  earn a complimentary membership and tickets to Creative Alliance’s post-parade Glowball! Creative Alliance may be able to provide large high-powered batteries in partnership with Best Battery (to be determined).  Select artists may be invited to teach public lantern making workshops prior to the Parade for an additional salary and under the supervision of Creative Alliance’s Education department.

Selection Criteria
We are looking for dynamic EEEK! floats made by Baltimore artists and community groups who can make magic out of limited resources! Background in public art projects, puppetry, sculpture, performance, and other public performance is helpful. Final selection of the 19th Great Halloween Lantern Parade sculptures are chosen by Creative Alliance staff. Awards will be announced by August 14 2018 (see timeline on 2ndpage).

Payment & Ownership
Creative Alliance will pay 1/2 of the award upon receipt of an approved proposal. Creative Alliance will pay the balance within 30 days of the completion of the event. All floats become property of Creative Alliance and may be used in future events including future GHLP.

Timeline

July 31: Submission Deadline at 5:00pm. Late entries will not be accepted.

August 14: Awards are announced via email. Confirmation is required.

September 4: Press release w/ awarded artists & artist groups announced.

September 11, 6-8pm: Mandatory parade artists meeting at Creative Alliance.

October 26: Artists bring sculptures to Patterson Park Pool House by 6:00pm. No exceptions.

October 27: Artists set up at 2pm. Line up at 5:30pm next according to Line Up. 7pm Parade & Glowball!

October 28: Halloween artists- clean up pool house and park! Volunteers desperately needed!

November 1, 6-8pm: Evaluation meeting.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Application Requirements
Interested artists need to submit:

  1. Application sheet completed as the first page of application.
  2. Illuminated Sculpture Design (PDF or Microsoft Word): Provide a full-color design to scale of float proposal with dimensions.
  3. Letter of interest (PDF or Microsoft Word): A one-page document describing the content of your design. If appropriate, describe collaborations with other artists or community groups involved and their role(s).  (500 word max).
  4. Images or a video of past work (jpg or mov file): provide 3-5 images of previous art work on a CD. Jpg format, at least 300 dpi (3MB max). Video of public art pieces are also accepted on a DVD (5 min max).
  5. Budget: provide a list of materials with anticipated artist fees for your proposal. 

Please email, mail, or hand-deliver submissions to:

Creative Alliance
Jessica Blackwell, Halloween Lantern Parade Director

3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
jessica@creativealliance.org 
(410) 276-1651