NEA Press Release from Public Arts

About Edible Watertown
Edible Watertown, now in its third year, is a long-term interdisciplinary project that promotes awareness
of our local environment through community engagement and the artistic and scientific exploration of
edible plants in Watertown.

Edible Watertown aims to uplift the importance of local flora and their ecosystems to connect people
with the environment right outside their door. The community connections created by this local
movement, in response to the global issue of climate change, will encourage us all to be better stewards
of the environment and increase recognition of the known natural gifts in our community. More about
Edible Watertown: https://www.watertown-ma.gov/815/Edible-Watertown

About “Edible Watertown: Expert Pairings”
Expert Pairings invites artists and scientists to explore the ecology of Watertown and collaborate on
temporary public artwork. Artists and scientists can submit qualifications individually or as a pair.
Individuals will be paired up so that each Expert Pairing features one artist and one scientist as lead
collaborators. Together, this interdisciplinary team will create an educational, temporary, outdoor
installation in Watertown, MA focused on edible plants, local ecology, or other topics of environmental

resiliency that may be found in the Resilient Watertown Climate and Energy Plan (www.watertown-
ma.gov/209/Sustainability-Energy-and-Resiliency).

The goal of Expert Pairings is to expand the range of public art outdoors in the city while providing
education about edible plants and related ecology that can be expanded into school and public garden
curriculum. All Expert Pairing projects must be accurate and contain an educational component. Selected
pairings will have creative control of their artwork, which may take any public format (sculpture,
installation, performance, reading, etc.), with oversight and final approval by the Public Arts & Culture
Committee to ensure public artworks are appropriate for the intended location(s) and relevant to the
theme of Edible Watertown.

Artists across genres and experts in a scientific field are invited to submit qualifications, individually or as
a pair, to create temporary public artwork for outdoor locations in Watertown, MA. If individuals
applicant are selected, they will be assigned a partner, based on mutual interests and at the discretion of
the review committee. Four selected pairings will be awarded $1000 to develop their temporary public
art project with periodic check-ins with the Public Arts & Culture Planner. Each pair will present their
final project proposal with dates and location(s) for their public artwork to the Public Arts & Culture
Committee in February 2025. With final approval from the committee, the pairs will receive $4000 to
implement their project between March 2025 – April 2026. Upon final project implementation, the pairs
will receive a final payment of $4000, a total of $9000 over the course of the project.

For Artists
Artists in all disciplines are invited to submit their qualifications individually or as part of a team
consisting of one lead artist and one lead scientist. Emerging artists are encouraged to
apply. If you are both an artist and a scientist, please indicate which role you would like to be
considered as in your application.

Eligibility
Black, Indigenous and People of color, women, LGBTQ-identified persons, and others from historically
underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. There is no geographic requirement for artists
and experts, however, selected experts must be able to complete their public artwork in Watertown
between March 2025 and May 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications
from City of Watertown Employees cannot be considered.

Timeline
June 17, 2024: Launch of Expert Pairings call
July 18, 12-1pm: Virtual Information Session about the call
September 15 at 11:59pm: Call closes
September 16-22: Review of Artist/Expert applications by review committee (jury)
September 23: Final selection of Artists/Experts and pairing assignments
October 1-11: Selected Artists/Experts are notified
November 1: Expert Pairings development of project proposals begins
November-February: Expert Pairings monthly check-ins with Public Arts & Culture Planner
February 24, 2025, 6-8pm: Expert Pairings proposal presentations to Public Arts & Culture Committee

February 28, 2025: Public Arts & Culture Committee feedback to Expert Pairings
March 2025-May 2026: Expert Pairings project implementation

How to Apply
Application materials should be submitted in English but proposals in other languages are welcome.
Apply online: https://watertownma.viewpointcloud.com/categories/1085.

All applications must include:
1. Your Name
2. Your Contact Information
a. Email
b. Phone number
c. Address
d. Website (optional)
e. Social media handles (optional)
3. About You
a. For artists: this includes an Artist Statement, Artist Bio, or combination
b. For scientists: this includes a Bio, Statement of Work, or combination
c. Resume (optional)
4. 1-3 Recent work samples
5. A description of intent that includes:
a. For teams: how you plan to work together
b. For individuals: how to like to collaborate
c. How the Expert Pairings project relates to your own work
d. The style or genre of artwork you anticipate doing if selected

Selection Process
Artists and scientists will be selected by a review committee consisting of the Public Arts & Culture
Committee, a representative from the Watertown Community Gardens, the Watertown school district
Math & Science Curriculum Coordinator, and a representative from the Conservation Commission.

Contact + Info Session
If you need clarification about the project or the application process, please contact Public Arts & Culture
Planner, Liz Helfer, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 617-972-6417 x12167.
Virtual Information Session: Expert Pairings
Thursday, July 18, 12-1pm via Zoom