Vibrance Festival

Would you like to be commissioned to paint your artwork onto a traffic signal box?

SIGNAL BOX is a City of Hobart initiative managed by Vibrance Projects.

Applications are now closed.

Applications were due midnight Monday 6th October, 2025.

Overview

A traffic signal box (TSB) is a metal cabinet located wherever there is a traffic light. The boxes in the City of Hobart are owned and operated by the Department of State Growth. They usually have four sides that can be painted with an artwork and generally measure 1.9 metres high, 0.8 metres wide and 0.42 metres deep.

Over one hundred boxes have previously been painted as part of this program with participants as young as four years old helping to create the artworks. The existing works have been painted by solo artists and community groups.

Twelve signal box artworks will be painted in 2025/2026 with eight to be completed by individual artists and four to be completed by community groups.

Who can apply?

• Those who live, work or study within the City of Hobart.
  View the council area map online.
• Artists of any age. Artists under eighteen years old are encouraged to apply
• Community groups are encouraged to apply
• Artists can work on this project alone or in a small group
• Artists who have painted previously can apply
• Please note that employees of the City of Hobart cannot apply.

When

If selected, you will work with Vibrance to discuss your project, create your design and then paint your signal box. Designs are expected to be completed by the 18th of November 2025 for approval by the City of Hobart Public Art team. Once your design is approved, we will work with you to schedule your painting between November 2025 and March 2026.

Important Dates

Applications were open: Wednesday 10th September, 2025

Applications closed: Midnight Monday 6th October, 2025

Notification of result: On or before Monday 20th October, 2025

Designs completed: Monday 18th, November

Painting: As negotiated some time between late November 2025 – End of March 2026

Payment

Artists will be paid a fee of $500 (ex GST) to design and paint their signal box. The fee is payable on completion of all participation steps and on submission of a tax invoice. Groups are welcome to apply, but the artist fee will remain the same.

Vibrance can assist you in the creation of an invoice if you have not done this before.

Design Brief

Please note: Designs are to be created AFTER you have been selected. Please do not submit a design as part of your application.

There is no specific theme or creative brief for the signal box designs. However, designs that are vibrant, have community appeal and connection to the location tend to be selected.

The City would also like to avoid visual cliches – e.g. typical views or representations of the Tasmanian Tiger or Devil and kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Instead we are looking for artworks that reflect unique stories and creative expression.

Signal boxes are functional pieces of critical infrastructure. For that reason they have some specific design and material requirements. Designs will NOT BE PERMITTED if they:

• Breach intellectual property rights (ie. somebody else's idea or imagery)
• Include trademarks, brand or business names, logos or copyrighted images
• Include images of a potentially offensive or sensitive nature
• Involve images that may dazzle or distract drivers
• Involve shapes and colours similar to traffic signs especially when in the colours red, orange, yellow and green
• Include images that resemble illegal graffiti or tags

Materials & Equipment

Vibrance will work with you to select the materials you will use to paint your signal box. There are some important restrictions to note:

• You must use brush paint to create your artwork.
• You will only be permitted to use products selected and approved by Vibrance. This is because we will ensure all products are sturdy enough to withstand significant weathering and sunlight.
• You will not be allowed to use vinyl, spray paint, markers, ink or glued collage materials.

Once your colours and materials have been selected, we will provide you with an equipment pack containing the following:

• Your selected paints
• Undercoat paint
• UV Coating
• Safety cones & safety vests
• Drop sheets, tape and rags
• Mixing palettes & pots
• An Artists Handbook with safety information, painting procedures, marketing guide and other essential information

What Do I Need to Supply?

• Paint brushes
• Water for cleaning up
• Personal protective gear - including long sleeve shirt and pants, wide brimmed hat, closed footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses
• Drinking water and food
• Basic first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, bandaids
• A trolley if required for your materials and equipment pack
• Safety stool or 3 step ladder if required

Location of Traffic Signal Boxes

Before you start to visualise your ideas for your selected box please visit the site. There are twelve different TSBs that will be painted within the City of Hobart. You will need to select one of the sites in the application form.

View Signal Box Sites

How Long Will My Artworks Last?

In general, artworks last up to six years. However TSBs are also critical pieces of road safety equipment and neither Vibrance Projects or the City of Hobart have control over emergency replacements of cabinets. The City of Hobart coordinates with State Growth to select boxes that are not on the list for scheduled replacement with the aim of having artworks last as long as possible.

How to apply?

Applications are now closed.

Applications were due midnight Monday 6th October, 2025.

What's next?

Applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of the City of Hobart public art team and community artist/s. One submission will be selected for each location. Unsuccessful applicants will also be informed via email of their application outcome.

Successful artists and community groups will be required to sign an Artist Agreement with Vibrance Projects. They will then proceed to create their design for approval by the City of Hobart public art team.

Note that it is not always possible to match the selected box with the artist due to the popularity of some locations. Sometimes an alternate box is suggested for selected artists or groups. This will form part of your offer should you be selected as a successful artist or community group.