CALL FOR ARTISTS

Questions and Answers

Answers to questions submitted via CallForArtists@usmint.treas.gov are posted here.

Eligibility

Q1: I do not live in the United States, am I still eligible for the Artistic Infusion Program?

A1: An artist who meets all requirements detailed in the Terms and Conditions, including being a United States citizen, is eligible for the Artistic Infusion Program regardless of where he or she lives.

Q2: Are legal permanent residents (“green card” holders) in the process of obtaining citizenship by naturalization eligible to apply?

A2: An applicant must be a United States citizen to be eligible for the Artistic Infusion Program.

Q3: I meet some, but not all the qualifications, am I eligible for the Artistic Infusion Program?

A3: No, applicants must meet all requirements detailed in the Terms and Conditions.

Requirement to Use the Application Form

Q4: Can I submit my application via email?

A4: No, all applications must be submitted via the United States Mint’s website at https://www.usmint.gov/learn/artists/call-for-artists/application.

Q5: I am having difficulty submitting my application through the website.

A5: The United States Mint recommends checking the application form to be sure all required information is included, and the file restrictions noted in answer A6 below are met.

I’m Having Technical Issues Uploading Images…

Q6: I’ve chosen five to 10 images to submit and filled out the form. When I hit “Submit” I get the red lettered message, “Please ensure that your file conforms to the requirements above.” The images that I’ve selected are all .gif and .jpg. What can we do about this?

A6: File type and name restrictions are as follows:

File names may only contain letters, numbers, and dashes. Spaces, special characters, and multiple dots ‘.’ will prevent both your file from uploading and your application from being submitted. Accepted file types are .jpg, .jpeg, and .png. Maximum size limit for each individual file is 20 MB.

Q7: I am applying to this call and my application will not upload. Is the 20 MB limit the total of all the images or each?

A7: 20 MB is the size limit for each individual image. If your files are not over the size limit, please be sure that they meet the file type and name requirements listed in above.

Q8: I just tried to upload an application with images of artwork and it appears to have stalled after about a half hour of uploading. The “Submit Form” button is greyed out and when I click on it, nothing happens. Shall I start all over?

A8: Applications received by the system generate a confirmation web page and send the email address provided a confirmation email. Both will contain a confirmation number unique to your application. If you have not seen either, the system has not received your application. The United States Mint recommends resubmitting your application.

Next Steps

Q9: What happens next?

A9: The United States Mint will review and evaluate all applications against established criteria. Artists will be awarded contracts based on recommendations developed from the evaluations.

Anonymity

Q10: Do I need to anonymize the images I submit in my work samples?

A10: You are not required to anonymize the work samples you include in your application.

Q11: I am a current AIP artist. Just wanted to ask if I should/need to go the Mint website and formally apply for the Artistic Infusion Program Call for Artist.

A11: Anyone who wishes to participate in this Call for Artists must submit an application via the United States Mint’s website at https://www.usmint.gov/learn/artists/call-for-artists/application. Most current AIP contracts have remaining option years through 2025 that the Mint may exercise at its discretion. As such, you do not have to participate in this Call in order to continue to work under your existing contract’s option years, if offered. However, because the next AIP Call for Artists may not occur until 2025, if you elect not to participate in this Call you risk having a gap in your contract to design for United States coins and medals. If you apply for this Call and are not offered a new AIP contract, you may continue to work under your existing contract until it expires, and you may, of course, apply to future Calls.

Q12: I just wanted to know if there are any restrictions on what current AIP artists can submit for the current “Call.” Can we submit images that we have done for the United States Mint over the last few years?

A12: Yes, you may submit work sample images that you created for the United States Mint. Work samples should be representative of your work as an artist.

Q13: I’m planning to (re)apply to the AIP program via the current Call for Artists, and I believe I need to request permission from the U.S. Mint to use a few of the Mint’s coin images in my application.

Secondly, would you be able to tell me if it seems reasonable for me to include both the obverse and reverse of one coin/medal for one of the ten allowed images in the AIP application, or if each side of a coin/medal would need to count as a separate image?

A13: Permission is not required to use line art images that were created for the United States Mint as part of your application. Images of the coins or medals created from line art should not be used.

It is acceptable to include the obverse and reverse line art of a coin or medal as a single composition.

Work Sample Ownership

Q14: Will the five to 10 images on the application for the AIP be considered United States Mint property once submitted?

A14: No, the five to ten images uploaded as work samples will not be considered United States Mint property once submitted, unless they are already currently United States Mint property.

Q15: I’m one of the artists that worked on the Apollo coin. As one example of my work, in addition to others I’d submit, I’d like to show my work on the Apollo coin. The problem is, I realize I don’t own the work- all renderings, sketches, ideas, etc. are now property of the Mint, per the agreement. Is there a way to get permission to show my final rendering as an example for the AIP?

A15: Permission is not required to use line art images that were created for the United States Mint as part of your application.

Application Confirmation

Q16: I submitted my application for the Artistic Infusion Program. Google Chrome took a while to send it but there was no confirmation that it actually was sent. Can you tell me, please, if my application was received?

A16: Applications received by the system generate a confirmation web page and send the email address provided a confirmation email. Both will contain a confirmation number unique to your application. If you have not seen either, the system has not received your application. The United States Mint recommends resubmitting your application.

Q17: Upon submission of my application for the AIP program, I receive an “Invalid Submission” notification, in red text, at the top of the webpage. I am unsure what it is that is invalid; I have reviewed the submission guidelines multiple times – as well as filled out the web-form multiple times – and believe that all my application content was submitted accurately. Is it possible to confirm whether my submission has gone through, or is there any alternative method of applying?

A17: Please see answer A16 above for more information regarding application confirmations. If you have not received confirmation, the United States Mint recommends resubmitting your application, checking the form to be sure all required information is included, and the file restrictions noted in answer A6 are met. All applications must be submitted via the United States Mint’s website at https://www.usmint.gov/learn/artists/call-for-artists/application. There are no alternative methods to apply.

Q18: After submitting my AIP application I then saw a screen confirming my application with my application number. The confirming email sent to me has no message or application confirmation number. Do I need to resubmit my materials?

A18: If you do not have an application confirmation number as described in A26, please resubmit your application using an alternate email address. If this creates a duplicate application, your former application will be invalidated once your resubmitted application is received.

Questions About the Terms and Conditions

Q19: D.1 Packaging states the contractor is responsible for properly packaging all shipments… What does the contractor ship? Aren’t the designs sent electronically?

A19: Yes, most deliveries are electronic. In the event where something needs to be shipped under this contract, this clause will apply.

Q20: How long do the AIP contracts run for?

A20: Section F.1 CONTRACT TERM (JAN 1996) CLAUSE # F-017 of the Terms and Conditions has been updated in response to this question.

Q21: Under C.3 PERFORMANCE TERMS AND CONDITIONS section e. “All AIP Designers are required to attend symposiums to be scheduled, when needed…” What is the average duration of these symposiums, how often do they occur and are they always held in Philadelphia at the U.S. Mint?

A21: Historically, symposiums have occurred every 2-3 years and last for 2 to 3 days. More recent symposiums have been held at the United States Mint at Philadelphia, but future symposiums may be held at other locations including, but not limited to, Washington, DC.

Work Sample Requirements or Corrections

Q22: I sent my completed AIP application and attached images of my work but now wish to make a correction to one of the images. Please advise with the best way for me to swap out the original image with a replacement image.

A22: Please resubmit your application using an alternate email address. Your former application will be invalidated once your resubmitted application is received.

Q23: How would I go about swapping out some of my images on my application to show them translated into Illustrator Vector images, as well (…which I have already done with many of my original designs/paintings for reproduction purposes)?

A23: Please resubmit your application using an alternate email address. Your former application will be invalidated once your resubmitted application is received.

Q24: I recently applied to the United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program, and upon receiving my application confirmation, I realized one of my sample images did not attach. Can I email you that image to add?

A24: Please resubmit your application using an alternate email address. Your former application will be invalidated once your resubmitted application is received.

Q25: I am working on my application for the AIP program. I have a question about the images that I am about to upload. I know that you are asking for individual jpgs to be under 20 MBs each. Do you have any requirements as to the dimensions or the resolution size for each image?

A25: There are no requirements regarding the dimensions or resolutions of work sample images.

Q26: Could you please inform me if the images needed to be submitted for the application are personal artwork or designs proposals for the US MINT?

A26: Submitted images should be samples of your work as an artist, and do not need to be design proposals for the United States Mint.