Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the Salem Public Art Commission seek Creatives of all types to participate in the City of Salem’s revitalized Artists’ Row initiative.

Artists’ Row, at the heart of historic Salem, was originally built as a marketplace. Today, it is a thriving downtown public plaza, located at 24 New Derby St., across from Old Town Hall and Derby Square. It consists of four artists ‘stalls’, a restaurant, a public restroom, and a long pedestrian way. The Artists’ Row initiative is a seasonal program that provides space for artists and artisans looking to build their audience and/or business through daily engagement with residents and visitors. Through this initiative, the City of Salem hopes to celebrate the diverse life experiences and unique heritages, attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person who they are, while providing a springboard opportunity for creatives. Wherever artists are in their career, we hope to help take them to the next phase in their unique professional development journey. As a shared space for artists and visitors alike, artistic expression and creativity happens at Artists’ Row, and arts-related goods, performances and activities can be experienced in an animated public place.

The City of Salem is currently looking to fill:
• three (3) studio/retail space stalls, each with a two- year tenancy agreement from January 2025 through December 2026: and,
• two (2) paid positions for Public Artists in Residence:
o one lasting from May to December 2025
o one lasting from May to December 2026.

The City is interested in tenants whose artistic expression will contribute to the vibrancy of the Artists’ Row community and this important gateway to Salem’s bustling downtown. The variety of activities and uses considered for Artists’ Row spaces include, but are not limited to, original, uniquely produced or hand-crafted artworks and products, performance art, art ‘happenings’, art ‘interventions’, art making, and temporary public art installations.

OVERALL PROGRAM GOALS

• To give Artists/Creatives an opportunity to share their artisan products and artistic endeavors with the public in an engaged environment and leverage that exposure to advance their artistic endeavors.
• To offer cultural enrichment to the public in the form of workshops, demonstrations, presentations, performances, participatory activities, etc.
• To create a lively atmosphere and contribute to the diverse cultural offerings and economic vitality of historic downtown Salem, through placemaking activities that help residents and visitors re- imagine public spaces as places to play, engage and create.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

• Emerging and established Artists/Creatives working in any media and at any stage in their artistic profession are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be able to show that they have been working in their field for at least one year.
• Eligible Artists/Creatives include, but are not limited to: public artists, visual artists, creative entrepreneurs, place-makers, urban planners, landscape architects, performance artists, collaboratives, collectives, etc. Note: An artist collaborative or collective is a group of artists working together as one practice.
• Salem is committed to providing equal opportunities for ALL. Artists/Creatives of any gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation/identity, religion/beliefs, familial status, education, or physical ability are encouraged to apply.
• Previous tenants of Artists’ Row are welcome to apply. However, artists may not participate for more than two consecutive two-year contract terms.
• Previous Public Artist in Residence (PAiR) of Artists’ Row must have at least one year between previous PAiR residency before applying for the role again. However, former PAiRs are eligible to apply for a full Artists’ Row stall at any time.
• Salem residency is not required.

For full project information and application instructions, please see commission document. Click here to apply