The Salem Area Mass Transit District, known locally as Cherriots, seeks local and regional artists to participate in a project celebrating Hispanic/Latiné Heritage Month.

Hispanic/Latiné Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of individuals whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This project highlights the vibrant Hispanic/Latiné culture through artistic expression by wrapping a full-size Cherriots bus with the selected artwork.

"We are excited to announce the launch of our community call for artists as part of our celebration of Hispanic/Latiné Heritage Month," said Board President Maria Hinojos Pressey. “This initiative is a wholehearted tribute to Latiné culture and its profound impact on our community. We hope to provide a platform where art and cultural heritage unite to visibly remind us of the diverse and rich tapestry that weaves our community together."

Earlier this year, Cherriots launched its "Heritage and History in Transit" initiative, joining dozens of other public transit providers in recognizing Heritage and History Recognition Months. This is the second of three buses that will be wrapped to recognize and celebrate the broad and diverse community served by Cherriots. In February, the agency wrapped a bus to honor Black History Month. The unifying theme of this initiative is “Connecting Cultures, Creating Community.”

For the next bus wrap, Cherriots requests submissions from artists passionate about celebrating Hispanic/Latiné heritage and culture. This call is open to all artists, with a special encouragement for submissions from individuals who identify as Hispanic/Latiné and are actively engaged with Hispanic/Latiné communities. Applicants must be residents of the Mid-Willamette Valley or have strong ties to the area.

Artwork must be original and appropriately honor Hispanic/Latiné culture and heritage.

Submissions should be scalable to fit the dimensions of a bus. Vector images are preferred as they can be scaled up or down without affecting quality.

To participate, submit a digital portfolio of the proposed artwork and a brief description of how the concept celebrates Hispanic/Latiné heritage.

Entries must be received by July 12, 2024.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of members from the local art community, Hispanic/Latiné community leaders, and transit agency representatives. The winning artist's work will be featured on a bus for Hispanic/Latiné Heritage Month and up to four months following.

Artists interested in applying may send their submissions to kirra.pressey@cherriots.org, by July 12. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.cherriots.org/callforart/