Who can Adopt-a-Box?
“Our city is a ‘living work of art’ where everyone is engaged in creating spaces, interactions and an aesthetic that inspires and motivates”.
from Hamilton’s Creativity & Identity Strategy
Anyone can apply to paint a traffic signal box. Families, clubs, friends, professional or first time artists, school groups or children can Adopt-a-Box. Budding Adopt-a-Box artists only have to be two things:
- You must live in Hamilton, and
- You must have your design approved by Hamilton City Council.
What designs will be approved?
To make your mural relevant to Hamilton and your community, your design should incorporate at least one or more of the following criteria:
- Say something or tell a story about the area/suburb it is located
- Reflect the character, culture, history or heritage of the suburb or area
- Be ‘city centric’ (e.g. have images that relate to Hamilton as a city)
- Show aspects of the immediate environment - like landmarks, sights, sounds or experiences
- Acknowledge the youthfulness of Hamilton’s population.
To make sure your design is approved it is important that:
- It is not commercial in any way. Adopt-a-Box does not allow designs which promote businesses and organisations or ones which include branding, advertising or logos
- It does not contain any words, phrases or slogans. You are able to use nonsensical lettering and numbers - that is letters and numbers which have no written meaning
- It does not contain any 'grafitti art' or 'tagging'
- It is appealing to the wider public and not offensive in any way
- It is completely original, unless written permission is given from the copyright holder
- It is painted with material supplied in the Adopt-a-Box pack provided for approved designs. No spray cans are allowed to be used to paint your Adopt-a-Box design
For more information or inspiration, please refer to the Hamilton Art in Public Places Policy or the Hamilton Creativity and Identity Strategy at www.hamilton.co.nz
