The Somerville Museum is gearing up for a super-fun retrofuturist 100th Anniversary Party for the Somerville Museum on Thursday, October 23 at the Crystal Ballroom.  They are  looking for a Somerville artist to design the image for their invitation.

Design the Invitation for the Somerville Museum’s 100th Anniversary Party Theme: “Rewind, Record, Play”  sponsored by Somernova.

They are looking for a vibrant visual concept that fuses vintage aesthetics with speculative futures—a mashup of old-school tech and forward-looking imagination. Think: a victrola meets AI, Spot the robot dog meets vintage cocktail party, and the Old Powder House blasting off into the year 2125.

Event Highlights:

• A DJ spinning vinyl on a Victrola
• Comedy meets technology in live performance
• AI-powered projection mapping and animation
• A special appearance by Spot, the robot dog
• VTubing experiences for guests
• A 3D printer recreating the iconic Powder House in miniature
• A Time Capsule Station where guests can record thoughts and messages for the future

The Ask: Submit a well-developed concept design that captures the playful collision of past and future embodied in Rewind, Record, Play. The selected artist will receive:

• A $500 artist award to finish the full-resolution design by August 15th.
• Full artist credit on the invitation and promotional materials
• The opportunity to have your work seen by a wide public audience during this landmark community celebration

Technical Notes:

• Final design will be used on digital and print invitations, projected at the event, and shared on social media.
• Submit as a high-quality image or PDF (a mock-up is fine for the submission stage).
• Consider dimensions that scale well across formats (e.g., square or portrait orientation is preferred).

How to Apply: Send the following to stephanie@somervillemuseum.org

• A rough sketch, concept, or draft of your proposed design
• A short artist statement (250 words max) explaining your vision and connection to the theme
• A portfolio or link to recent work (optional but encouraged)

Deadline for Submissions:
August 1, 2025

Let your imagination time-travel. Rewind the past. Record the moment. Play the future.