Painting a Traffic Signal Box

Who can participate?

Anyone can apply to paint a Traffic Sign Box (TSB). Families, professional or first time artists, school groups, kids or elders can get involved in Artforce.

Two essentials for the artist are:

  • You must reside within the City of Brisbane;
  • You must have your design approved by Urban Smart Projects.

What steps are involved?

  1. Choose a TSB.
  2. Contact Urban Smart Projects and have the TSB allocated to you.
  3. Have a look at the position of your TSB to determine how many sides of the TSB you will be able to paint.
  4. Create full colour designs of exactly what you want to paint on the TSB and email or post them in.
  5. Urban Smart Projects will advise you of whether your design has been approved.
  6. Once your design is approved you will be mailed an Artist's Agreement which needs to be read, signed and returned.
  7. You will then receive an Acceptance Notice and be advised where and when to collect your Artforce Pack.
  8. Collect Artforce Pack.
  9. Paint your TSB.
  10. Return Artforce Pack, submit photos and feedback forms.
  11. Celebrate the project and your artwork by attending the annual Artforce Awards event.

Choosing a TSB

Go to the Artforce website and view available boxes to select a TSB and request that the box be allocated to you. If you do not have Internet access you can contact Urban Smart Projects by phone to have a TSB allocated. The TSB will be allocated to you for 1 month to give you time to create and submit your design. If you have not submitted a design within a month the box will become available to another artist.

Designing your TSB

Your design needs to fit on a TSB. Dimensions of a TSB are: 140 cm high x 80 cm wide x 42 cm deep. You will need to paint all the sides of the TSB that are visible.
Have a look at the box to determine whether you need to design your artwork for 3 or 4 sides of the box. Provide a name for your artwork and briefly describe (30 words or less) the reasons or inspirations behind your design. This information will go onto the Artforce website.

Please submit three A4 pages of your full colour design as follows:

  1. Front of the TSB - one A4 page
  2. Rear of the TSB - one A4 page
  3. Sides of the TSB - half an A4 page each

Designs can be returned to you if required. Include your signature on your design as you would on the actual TSB. Signatures must not exceed 30cm x 10cm in actual size and may include the copyright sign "©"

What designs are eligible?

Urban Smart Projects acknowledges that everyone relates to their community and local surrounds differently.

Designs should be positive, original and colourful and reflect at least one of the following:

  • The immediate environment
  • The character or culture of the suburb
  • The history of the area
  • Community pride
  • Creativity

Designs should also:

  • Have minimal blank areas of colour to reduce the likelihood of graffiti tagging
  • Should not be predominantly dark in colour as this can cause the TSB to overheat

Designs will be ineligible if they involve:

  • A breach of Intellectual Property Rights (somebody else's idea)
  • Trademarks, brand or business names, logos or copyrighted images
  • Images of a potentially offensive or sensitive nature as determined by the project managers
  • Collage or gluing anything onto the TSB
  • Images that resemble illegal graffiti or tags

Check list of what to submit:

  • Submit your colour design (3 A4 pages)
  • TSB number
  • Artwork name
  • Artwork background information (30 words or less)
  • Contact details, address, phone number and email address
  • Proof of age (if under 18)
  • Email or post this information to Urban Smart Projects

What equipment do I need to paint a TSB?

Artforce provides approved artists with an Artforce Pack. Each pack contains paint (undercoat and primary colours plus green, white and black), safety vests, witches hats, painting rags and drop sheets.

Artists need to provide their own paintbrushes and must comply with safety and environmental guidelines.

How long do artworks last?

On average, TSB artworks last from 6 months to 4 years. TSBs are Brisbane City Council equipment and may require upgrading or need replacing at any time. There is no guarantee how long your artwork will remain on a TSB.

Artforce awards

The annual Artforce Award is an all ages celebration. The Awards are held annually in November and showcase Artforce artworks completed in the preceding 12 months. The Awards are judged by independent art authorities. All eligible Artforce participants will receive an invitation to attend.

The Awards recognise outstanding artwork in 5 categories with the following cash prizes:

  • Overall Winner - $1000 & Runner up - $500
  • Under 18 - $300
  • Under 12 - $250
  • Best School - $200
  • Best Organisation - $100

What about copyright?

The artist owns the copyright of the artwork on the TSB. However, the artist needs to agree to let Brisbane City Council and Urban Smart Projects use the artwork image in any way to promote Artforce, the City of Brisbane or associated events.

Contact us

Urban Smart Projects
PO Box 405
Clayfield QLD 4101
p: 07 3211 7178
f: 07 3161 4785
e: info@urbansmartprojects.com


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