CALL FOR ARTISTS for the 2015 Farm/Art DTour – new guidelines Where artists explore the timeless connection between land and people OVERVIEW The Farm/Art DTour is a fifty-mile self-guided drive through the beautiful working lands of Sauk County, Wisconsin punctuated by Art Works (large-scale temporary art installations), Roadside Culture Stands (artist-built mobile farm stands), Pasture Performances, Field Notes (interpretive signage), and more. The DTour is the centerpiece of the 5th annual Fermentation Fest - A Live Culture Convergence, 10 days of classes, tastings, and art events celebrating live culture - in all its forms. This project has been supported in part through the National Endowment for the Arts and ArtPlace America. It has received national attention and in 2014 attracted over 15,000 people. The Wormfarm Institute, creator and host of the DTour, is an award-winning organization with the mission to integrate culture and agriculture. Wormfarm will commission 5-8 Art Works to be installed on land along the fifty-mile DTour route. The work will be on view from October 2-11, 2015. We are seeking artists (individuals or teams) who are interested in engaging with agricultural landscape, the farmers, landowners, and surrounding communities. This is an opportunity to contribute to a unique and exciting project with a growing reputation for its innovative approach to creative placemaking. We seek a diverse group of artists for projects on the edge of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. Artists are responsible for both installation and de-installation of their work and will have about 2 weeks to install and 1 week after to de-install. Artists retain ownership of the work after the DTour. BUDGET The Wormfarm Institute is looking to fund projects at two different levels - $5,000 and $2,500. 5-8 total projects will be selected from a combination of the two funding levels. Please indicate in your application which funding level you will be applying for. An itemized budget is not required for Phase One. A limited additional stipend for travel expenses will be available for the selected artists. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Please respond with: ● One page Letter of Interest including contact information ● Preliminary Project Concept, indicating which funding level you will be applying for, not to exceed one page ● Concept drawings or visual references encouraged ● 6-10 images of applicant’s recent work demonstrating capacity to realize large-scale outdoor project ● Resume or C.V., not to exceed two pages Format: ● Letter of Interest, Project Concept, drawings and Resume/C.V. should be saved as a pdf or word document ● Images must be JPEG format, “high” or “fine” quality, file size not to exceed 2 MB per image. Image files should be numbered with the last name of the artist and numbered, e.g. “Smith-01.”

Email [email protected] to the attention of Katie Schofield by March 20, 2015, 11:59 p.m. CST

Things to keep in mind when developing your proposal: ● Wisconsin weather in October can be unpredictable, so plan for rain and high winds. ● The landscape can dwarf even the most ambitious projects. ● DTour audience interaction with installations ranges from drive-by to direct engagement. Keep both scenarios in mind as you develop your idea. ● The DTour runs primarily through farm fields, but also includes woods, wetlands, and small towns.

SELECTION CRITERIA ● Artistic excellence ● Visual impact ● Community engagement ● Demonstrated ability to realize ● Feasibility in context of larger event SELECTION PROCESS Artists will be chosen to participate in the DTour through a two part selection process. Initial proposals will be reviewed by a jury consisting of event organizers and regional and national arts professionals. Up to 15 finalists will be selected. Finalists will be notified by April 3 and will be expected to attend a two-day orientation in Reedsburg, WI on May 2-3. The Orientation aims to deepen the participants’ understanding of the event and the landscape as well as provide an opportunity for finalists to meet with landowners, former DTour artists, and event organizers. The weekend will include a tour of the 50-mile route, shared meals, and ample opportunity to share ideas and questions. A stipend will help cover travel expenses and to subsequently develop a full proposal. Meals and housing will be provided. Finalists will then have three weeks to develop a full proposal including detailed budget. TIMELINE March 20: Email application due by 11:59 p.m. CST April 3: Finalists chosen, notification to applicants May 2-3: Finalist Orientation in Reedsburg, WI May 22: Final Proposals due June 1: Selected artists notified June: Contracts with selected artists, sites selection finalized September 16 – 30: Installation of Art Work October 2 – 11: Farm/Art DTour + Fermentation Fest October 13 – 19: De-installation of work

For information and images from previous Fermentation Fests: www.fermentationfest.com www.wormfarminstitute.org

https://www.facebook.com/FermentationFest

Media Coverage of Fermentation Fest & Farm/Art Dtour: http://arts.gov/exploring-our-town/farmart-dtour http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/farmart-dtour-marries-agriculture-and-culture-b99369989z1-279567472.html http://host.madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/two-special-weeks-during-year-of-the-ruralarts/article_19d91e0a-033b-54b1-93be-5af734773347.html

Feel free to contact Katie Schofield with any questions: [email protected]

Reflections from past Farm/Art DTour artists: “I am very inspired by what I see as a renaissance of art-making in rural areas and small towns in the US. To me the Farm/Art DTour is an outstanding example of that growing movement.” - Andrea Polli “Public art should reach communities that do not necessarily think about art in general, and involve the community directly or indirectly in the process. The Farm/Art DTour does both, and does both very well. I was very impressed by the organization and was happy to see the local community excited about the process.” - Isabelle Garbani