Maurice J. Tobin Memorial Bridge over the Mystic River between Boston and Chelsea | Photo Credit: AdobeStock_347286751
Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) are seeking artists to develop creative projects as part of a Summer 2025 Cool Communications extreme heat communications campaign serving Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere, and Winthrop.
The project aims to develop creative engagement methods to supplement traditional messaging on heat risk through art and creative storytelling. The goal is to reach residents disproportionately impacted by extreme heat.
Questions? Please email: [email protected].
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Project Context
The Lower Mystic Cool Communications to Build Regional Heat Resiliency Project builds on years of work to address climate-driven heat impacts in Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, Malden, and Everett. These communities face increased heat risks and limited resources to adapt. As extreme heat becomes more frequent, more severe, and longer lasting, the existing communication systems and protocols are not effectively reaching priority populations before, during, and after heat events.
This project, led by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), will collaborate with local partners to enhance resilience to extreme heat. By integrating community knowledge into the communications design, the project aims to foster stronger social connectedness and resilience.
The call for artists seeks to complement traditional heat messaging with art and creative storytelling, promoting more interactive and engaging communications, particularly for those most affected by heat.
For more information on the project:
Call for Artists - Now Open!
The Call seeks artists, designers, and creatives to propose creative concepts for community engagement around heat resilience in the media of their choice.
The following are the core values that will guide our approach to creative cool communications. We welcome proposals that align with these principles as we work to create meaningful and impactful engagement within our communities.
- Culturally Relevant: Communications will be tailored to the specific needs and cultural contexts of priority populations, ensuring relevance and accessibility.
- Strategic and Impactful: We aim to address communication gaps and support long-term heat resiliency through targeted, impactful engagement.
- Participatory and Community-Driven: We prioritize models that actively integrate community voices, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment over heat resilience actions.
- Capacity Building: The project will strengthen municipal and local capacity for effective, meaningful heat engagement.
Selected artists will work collaboratively with MyRWA, and will have the opportunity to get feedback from community-based organizations, MyRWA’s Climate Leaders, and municipal staff.
Timeline
March 7, 2025
Call for Artists Opens
March 12, 2025 | 12:00 p.m.
Call for Artists Information Session (virtual) | Register
March 20, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
Call for Artists Information Session (virtual) | Register
March 24, 2025 (by 11:59 p.m.)
Submissions of Questions Deadline
Send Questions to:
[email protected]
March 28, 2025 (by 6:00 p.m.)
Responses to submitted questions will be posted on this webpage
April 4, 2025 (by 11:59 p.m.)
Application Deadline
Access the Application Form
April 11, 2025 (on or before this date)
Announcement of Awards
April 16, 2025 (on or before this date)
Signing of the Grant Agreement
May 31, 2025 (on or before this date)
Prototype to be submitted
June 30, 2025 (on or before this date)
Final artwork to be completed and installed