Author: C.J. Opperthauser

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It’s that time of year again! We’re looking forward to another summer full of events in Congress Square Park, with the grand return of our market series featuring local makers of all sorts.

If you’re interested in vending, please click here to fill out our application form. There is no tabling fee (though we welcome donations), and we are always excited to host vendors who have no previous market experience.

We are so ecstatic to announce the return of our beloved winter programming in Congress Square Park, featuring weekly S’mores Nights beginning in December, our Cozy Winter Market on December 10th, and monthly Sip-Offs showcasing local food-makers and their creative takes on sippable treats. (And, of course, a delightful list of surprises.)

But none of it is possible without support from folks like you! If your business or organization would like to empower this kind of joy for our neighbors, please consider becoming a sponsor.

Submit your short animation to Animation Planet! We are a regionally organized film festival with the mission to create a shared platform to showcase animated films made by local animators of all animation mediums and experience levels. We hope to create a pathway for animators to expose their work to the public and to build upon Northern New England’s community of animation creators and appreciators.  Submission Deadline is Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 at 12:00am. Event date: Friday September 8th, 2023 at Congress Square Park. If you have any questions OR interest in volunteering to run a demo or workshop related to animation, please email animationplanetfest@gmail.com

Be part of FoCSP’s Art in the Park program!

Please read the information below and find the application form link near the bottom of this post.

Friends of Congress Square Park (FoCSP) is the 501(c)(3) non-profit place manager of Congress Square Park, an urban public open space in downtown Portland. We seek to create an inclusive, welcoming, and vibrant community gathering place accessible to all through neighborhood engagement, programming, and the arts.

Congress Square Park sits at the heart of the Arts District and is located in the most economically diverse and densely populated neighborhood in Portland. The Park serves as the backyard for many of its neighborhood regulars, and our community members rely on the Park as a place to meet, rest, and access essential services. We are seeking an installation that enhances the Park as a gathering place and bring the community together. We encourage you to imagine a work that not only maintains in the elements (rain, wind, sunlight, street noise, wildlife, and human activity) but perhaps also responds to and excels in such natural exposure. Please consider how the work will be viewed and experienced by visitors utilizing the Park, walking by on Congress Street and High Street sidewalks, and driving by as well. Material selection is crucial to the life of public art. Consider materials that can withstand not just environmental elements but human interference as well (please note the what works well/what doesn’t section).

Most areas of the Park including curved stairs, lower plaza, and light poles are available for placement of work. All Park furniture, umbrellas, and planters, as well as planted garden beds may be incorporated on a case by case basis. Mobile Park furniture can be moved to accommodate installations. Park entrance to the Westin hotel may not be blocked. Handicapped walkways cannot be blocked, and adjacent building walls cannot be incorporated. The stage cannot be used.

Details:

Installation period will be early July – mid September, 2023.
Artists may propose any type of three-dimensional work for the Park, including but not limited to: sculptures, suspended objects, and mixed media installations
The selected artist will be paid a $2500 stipend
Artists are responsible for supplying their materials
FoCSP will supply cross-platform marketing, COVID-precaution supplies during install/deinstall, access to electricity and water supply during install/deinstall, original design signage, and a representative of FoCSP will be onsite during install/deinstall to provide support
Artist will be notified of selection status by April 20, 2023
Stipend will be distributed upon receipt of final materials, due May 15, 2023
Submission of application does not guarantee selection
There is no fee for applicatioon submission

What works well:

Items hung/suspended out of reach (banners, flags, etc)
Heavy, stationary items with strong bases
Color!

What doesn’t work well:

Materials within reach that can be broken (glass, soft plastic, etc)
Loose or unattached items
Materials within reach that are flammable
Writing utensils

Required questions in the Application:

Preferred name
Legal name
Pronoun(s)
Phone number
Mailing address
Web/social media handles you would like included in marketing
Artist bio
Title of proposed work
Artist statement
Physical description of proposed work
Technical requirements
Maintenance & safety plan
Approximate dimensions of proposed work
Materials
Has this piece already been made
Consent to press release

Required attachments in the Application:

Sketches or scale rendering of art work

Please review:

FoCSP Liability Info
*This will require a signature only if you are selected. However, please review the document to be familiar with our policy.
City of Portland Application for Temporary Art
*This will require completion only if you are selected. However, please review the document to be familiar with the permit requirements.
Map of Congress Square Park
*Colored-in areas are not available for installation

If Selected you will be asked to:

Sign the FoCSP Liability Waiver
Fill out a W-9
Participate in a scheduled Zoom meeting with FoCSP members and the City of Portland Temporary Art Committee for City permit approval
Spend time in the park as your are crafting your work to observe how the community uses Congress Square Park

TO APPLY:

Fill out all information and attach necessary documents in the 2023 Art In the Park Open Call Google Form by April 5, 2023. Any questions about the application or installation series please contact Julia at art@congresssquarepark.org. Selected artist will be notified by April 20, 2023. Please note: Application acceptance must still be approved by the City of Portland.

Congress Square Markets are BACK in 2023!

The markets will be twice each month on Sundays from 11-3 starting on May 7th and running through the month of September, and will include a variety of local artists, makers, shops, and tasty treats. During the months of July and August, our markets will shift to an evening time slot of 5-9pm. And, of course, we also have our signature All Hallows’ and Cozy Winter Markets toward the end of the year.

As always, we will have lots of places to sit and linger.

There is no fee for vendors, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Interested vendors can click here for the application form, where you’ll also find more details.

See you in the Square!

S’mores Nights are back! Join us every Thursday from 4-6pm starting December 1st all the way through February 23rd.

Cozy up around a fire pit and grab free s’mores fixins to craft your own treat! The Pink Waffle will also be on-site with hot beverages, and we’ll frequently have special guest food vendors and performers to enhance the vibe. (See below!)

S’mores Nights are free and open to all, with a suggested donation of $5. We’ll also have special edition S’mores Night blankets available for a suggested donation of $10. Click here to donate.

Date	Special Guest Food Vendor	Programming
December 1	Dila’s Kitchen	Ideal Maine Band
December 8	ME Powered Pastries	Shadow Puppets w/ Mayo Street Arts
December 15	Mellifluous Portland
December 22	Milk Bottle & Sunnyfield Baking	Owen Kennedy
December 29	Milk Bottle & Sunnyfield Baking	Lavender Choir
January 5	ME Powered Pastries
January 12	Dila’s Kitchen	Shadow Puppets w/ Mayo Street Arts
January 19	Mellifluous Portland	The Shank Painters
January 26	Cheese Louise
February 2	ME Powered Pastries
February 9	Dila’s Kitchen
February 16	Mellifluous Portland	Shadow Puppets w/ Mayo Street Arts
February 23	TBD	Owen Kennedy

2021 was an incredible year for Friends of Congress Square Park! New events, new friendships, and a vibrant gathering place buoying the community through a pandemic. Check out the full annual report below.

Due to the success of our pop-up market series, we’re delighted to announce that we are bringing them back in 2022 and making them bi-weekly!

The markets will be every other Sunday from 11-3 starting on May 8th and running through the month of September, and will include a variety of local artists, makers, shops, and tasty treats. As always, we will have lots of places to sit and linger.

Interested vendors can click here for the application form.

See you in the Square!