STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The city Department of Sanitation is inviting artists to once again makeover one of their 46,000-pound collection trucks – and offering compensation this time.
In partnership with the Sanitation Foundation, the department announced the third installment of Trucks of Art. Artists will compete for the opportunity to paint five new collection trucks, with submissions due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 8. Selected artists will receive up to $1,500 as a stipend.
The department last hosted Trucks of Art in 2022 and 2019. Trucks from previous iterations still run collection routes throughout the city.
Priority will be given to proposals that celebrate keeping New York City clean, according to DSNY. The department recommends bold and simple artwork that can withstand year-round weather conditions as the trucks collect trash, recycling, and compost throughout the city.
Paint will be provided for selected artists using recycled materials. The paint will come from donations. Non-artists can participate by delivering unwanted paint cans, sprays and tubes to special drop-off locations.
This year, the trucks will be painted in April over a five-day period.
Previous participants include artist Timothy Goodman, who has worked with brands such as Target, Google and Airbnb. He has also created several murals in New York City. In 2019, sanitation worker Jillian White designed a truck, too.
But the contest is not limited to New York City artists. In 2022, submissions were received from as far away as Sweden.
Full project details and submission guidelines are available at nyc.gov/TruckArt. Interested artists should complete the online application, include design mock-ups, and submit their materials by February 8.