Art sought for vacant First National Bank in Greenfield

The Greenfield Redevelopment Authority is searching for local artists to display their work on the exterior windows of the long-vacant First National Bank building on Bank Row in Greenfield.

The Greenfield Redevelopment Authority is searching for local artists to display their work on the exterior windows of the long-vacant First National Bank building on Bank Row in Greenfield. STAFF FILE PHOTO/ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

Staff Writer

Published: 09-18-2024 9:45 AM

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Redevelopment Authority is searching for local artists to display their work on the exterior windows of the long-vacant First National Bank building on Bank Row.

With applications due Oct. 14, the Greenfield Redevelopment Authority will select one piece of art for each of the two windows. The works will be on display for one month each, and new submissions will be added monthly for at least six months.

Community and Economic Development Director Amy Cahillane said interested artists do not have to create work particularly for the building, noting that the city will accept and print existing artwork that is submitted digitally.

“The building is vacant and there have been some beautiful photographs hanging on the front of it. We were talking as a department one day and thought that was a great canvas for some new public art that could go up there,” Cahillane said. “We felt that the photographs had been up for a while, so we wanted to just liven up some of that facade.”

The former First National Bank, which the Greenfield Redevelopment Authority described as a “striking” art deco building built in 1929, is located in the heart of downtown, facing the Greenfield Common and City Hall, and adjacent to other renovated buildings within the Main Street Historic District.

The property was home to the First National Bank & Trust Co. until 1972 and was acquired by the Greenfield Redevelopment Authority in 2017. The GRA is now seeking developers to give the historical building a new purpose.

Cahillane said the chosen artists will likely be selected within a few months following the Oct. 14 deadline. Although it is recommended that artwork be submitted in a digital file size of 4,000 by 6,000 pixels to be displayed on the building’s 40-inch-by-60-inch windows, Cahillane said the city is open to printing art of all themes and styles.

“We don’t want to limit the kinds of artwork. We are genuinely curious in seeing the artwork that our talented community creates,” she said.

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Interested artists can submit an application or ask questions by contacting Christian LaPlante (christian.laplante@greenfield-ma.gov) or by filling out the Google Form at tinyurl.com/2rc34rsj. The Greenfield Redevelopment Authority will provide a stipend of $50 for each piece of art selected.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.