Current Public Art Projects

Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Public Art Projects

Locations:

Public Art Projects will be located in nine (9) neighborhoods across Durham.

Artists: David Wilson (Bragtown), Claire Alexandre (Southside). Other neighborhood artist are to be determined. Apply today!

Artist(s) Selection Process: Pre-Qualified Artist Registry. The deadline to be considered is rolling based on neighborhoods. Apply today!

The Pre-Qualified Artist Registry has a rolling deadline for other upcoming public art projects, including the other eight neighborhoods for Celebration Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Project. Apply today at https://durhamnc.gov/2984/Durham-Calls-for-Artists!

Expected Delivery: 2022

Description: The Celebration Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Public Art Project is a series of community-led public art projects in nine under-represented historically Black neighborhoods across Durham. The primary goal of the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods is to use art as a tool of engagement to promote community healing and equality in nine of Durham’s under-represented historically Black neighborhoods. In coordination with a community leader, each neighborhood will work with a local artist to create public art that speaks to their history and culture on public streets, public amenities or buildings in their community.  

For more information, visit https://durhamnc.gov/4430/Celebration-of-Black-Artistry-in-Neighbo.

Fire & EMS Station 18

Pictured: Example of Archival Photography. Source: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection. National Museum of American History.

Location: 6919 Herndon Road, Durham, NC 27713

Artists: Katy Clune and Julia Gatrell

Artist Selection Process: RFQ. The deadline to apply for this public art project was Thursday, October 28 by 11:59 P.M. EST. Visit https://durhamnc.gov/4428/Fire-EMS-Station-18 for more information on the RFQ process.

Expected Delivery: Fall 2022

Description: Recognizing the need to facilitate storytelling and documentation with a focus on Durham’s diverse and unique history, the Cultural and Public Art Program will hire a Public Historian and Photographer team (“Candidates”) for a public art project centered around historical documentation and education of Durham’s Fire Department history. The City seeks Candidates to create artworks that contribute to the interest and aesthetic appeal of the Fire Department and develop archival resources for the public to learn about Durham’s history. The Candidates will work in collaboration to capture and archive the Fire Station's objects of historical significance as digital images, large-scale photographs and/or vinyl printed murals along with interpretative text, which will be displayed inside of the Fire & EMS Station 18 and through an online platform. The total maximum budget for this project is $47,000, including engagement, artist-design, fabrication and documentation of the artwork on site.

For more information, visit: https://durhamnc.gov/4428/Fire-EMS-Station-18

Merrick-moore Park Public Art

Location:
632 North Hoover Road
Durham, NC 27703

Artist: Aaron Earley and Jeannette Brossart

Artist Selection Process: Selected through a RFQ process (Closed)

Expected Delivery: 2023

Description: The City of Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program (the “City”) and Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) have partnered to commission artists or artist teams with experience in creating public art that fosters a unique sense of place based on community-informed designs for the Merrick-Moore Park on Hoover Road to support a welcoming user-experience.  The selected artist or artist team will have a total public art project budget of $50,000, including artist fees, artist-design, community engagement, fabrication, and documentation of the artwork on site.

For more information, visit: https://durhamnc.gov/4393/New-Athletic-Park-at-Hoover-Road---Publi

South Ellerbe Restoration Project

Location:
808 West Trinity Avenue
Durham, NC 27701

South Ellerbe Restoration project webpage:
https://durhamnc.gov/1616

Public Art & RFQ webpage: https://durhamnc.gov/4598/South-Ellerbe-Restoration-Project

Artist: Julienne Alexander, Ben Reid & Anna Wagner

Artist Selection Process: Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The deadline to be considered for the project was Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.

Expected Delivery: 2023

Description: In collaboration with the City of Durham’s Public Works Department, the City of Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program (referred to as “City”) is seeking an Artist or Artist Team (referred to as “Candidates”) with experience in projects centered around environmental design and functional, sculptural and/or integrated artwork to design and fabricate public art installations at the South Ellerbe Restoration project located at 808 West Trinity Avenue in Durham. The selected artist or artist team will have a total public art project budget of $50,000, including artist fees, artist-design, community engagement, fabrication, and documentation of the artwork on site.

For more information, visit: https://durhamnc.gov/4598/South-Ellerbe-Restoration-Project

Public Art at Bus Shelters

Location: 9 locations throughout 3 Wards

Artist(s): Tanya Lipscomb, Jermaine “JP” Powell, and the artists team, Tim Stallmann and William Paul Thomas.

Artists Selection Process: Selected through a RFQ process (Closed)

Expected Delivery: 2022

Description: As part of the Participatory Budgeting initiative, the City of Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program is partnering with the Budget and Management Services Department to hire professional artists or artist teams to create public art that will enrich the new solar-powered bus stops. Bus shelters will be installed throughout Durham at existing stops that lack shelters and other amenities. To improve ridership experience as well as contribute to renewable energy generation, shelters will include 2-D artwork commissioned by the City, as well as solar panel installations at select shelters that will power lights and USB charging stations. The artwork will feature reclaimed or sustainable elements, with the themes that promote community healing and equality.

For more information, click here.

Public art at wheels roller skating rink

Location: 715 N Hoover Rd. Durham, NC, 27703

Artist: TBD

Artists Selection Process: Selected through a RFQ process.

Expected Delivery: 2024

Description: The City of Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program in partnership with Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) are seeking an Artist, Artist Team, or Artist and Fabricator Team with experience in projects centered around community-based engagement and storytelling that enhances the sense of place to design and fabricate a site-specific exterior public art installation at Wheels Roller Skating Rink. The selected artist or artist team will have a total public art project budget of $143,000, including artist fees, artist-design, community engagement, fabrication, installation, and documentation of the artwork on site.

For more information, visit https://www.durhamnc.gov/5132/Public-Art-at-Wheels-Roller-Skating-Rink