First Night seeks artists to depict YWCA building

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

First Night Youngstown is seeking artists to participate in the annual design competition.

The winning design will be reproduced on all promotional materials for the annual New Year’s Eve entertainment event, including the admission button.

The artist will receive $50 and be promoted at all press events, including the Christmas holiday parade and tree-lighting, and the First Night opening ceremony. The winner’s immediate family will receive free admission to First Night Youngstown.

The button series, now in its third year, celebrates downtown Youngstown’s unique and historic buildings and architecture. The winning design will be donated to the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center.

This year’s design will depict the YWCA of Youngstown at 25 W. Rayen Ave., on the southeast corner of West Rayen and Phelps streets, just south of Youngstown State University.

The 1911 YWCA building was designed by architect Angus Wade. The five-story brick structure was designed to provide affordable, safe housing for young women coming into the city to find work.

Over the decades, the YWCA has been a health and recreation center, a social center, an education center, a crisis center for battered women, a homeless shelter, a child-care center and a place of worship.

In 2009, the YWCA of Youngstown began a $10 million renovation and restoration of the historic building. To better meet the contemporary needs of YWCA residents, the structure’s 36 dormitory-style single bedrooms — which originally had common bathrooms, living rooms and kitchens — were transformed into 30 handicapped-accessible one-bedroom and efficiency apartments targeting low- to moderate-income women with disabilities.

Button designs may be created using any art medium, including photography, drawing, painting, collage, mixed and digital media.

Here are the design requirements:

Must depict the exterior of the YWCA building in a manner that highlights its unique architectural elements.

A night scene that includes fireworks or other elements that represent New Year’s Eve (no champagne glasses — First Night events are nonalcohol and family-oriented) is preferable.

Must include the phrase “First Night Youngstown 2015.”

Must be rectangular in shape — horizontal or vertical.

Design artwork must be proportioned to a final reduction size of 2 inches by 3 inches.

An entry form — to be submitted by July 31, with the artwork on CD — is available at firstnight-youngstownoh.com.

Send the form with CD to First Night Youngstown, 25 E. Boardman St., Suite 405, Youngstown, OH 44503.