DURHAM, N.C. – Local and regional artists are invited to apply now for an upcoming ground plane public art project at Lakeview Park in Durham.
As part of Bank of America’s Community Resiliency Grant Program, the City of Durham Cultural and Public Art Program is collaborating with Keep Durham Beautiful to invite professional artists or artist teams to submit their qualifications to create ground plane art at Lakeview Park by applying for the Pre-Qualified Artist Registry.
Lakeview Park, located at 3500 Dearborn Dr., is a wooded park in northeast Durham across from Lakeview Secondary School. The park features a baseball/softball field, basketball court, grill, picnic shelter and tables, restroom facility, and a water fountain. A new playground is also currently being installed at Lakeview Park. The site-specific public art installation will be a ground plane, inclusive mural located to the right of the new playground on the existing cement pad to engage people of various abilities in play and exploration. The budget for this project is $7,000 to complete the public art project, including community engagement, artist-design, fabrication, and documentation of the artwork.
This call is open to all artists who have applied to the Pre-Qualified Artist Registry with preference given to those living within Durham County. Candidates must either identify as, or partner with, a professional artist, designer, or fabricator, eligible to work in the United States, and age 18 and older. The City encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply. Candidates are eligible regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability.
All applications must be in digital format and include an artist statement, photos of previous work, a personal resume(s), and references. Full submission guidelines, project details, and the submission portal are now available on the City’s website.
The Community Resiliency Grant Program, led by the Arbor Day Foundation and Bank of America, funds programs that drive green infrastructure projects, expand tree equity, and increase resiliency in urban communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Keep Durham Beautiful is also focusing its efforts in Durham’s Braggtown neighborhood by hosting community tree planning events, environmental art and education, and community education to increase urban canopy.
For questions or additional assistance, artists may also contact Cultural and Public Art Program Manager Rebecca Brown with the City’s General Services Department at (912) 398-8075 or by email.
About the City of Durham Public Art Committee
The Public Art Committee serves as an advisory body to the Durham City Council and the City Manager, and its functions include assisting the City's General Services Department on matters relating to public art; implementation of the Public Art Policy; and reviewing proposals for public art projects brought to it by the City administration; and making recommendations to the Durham Cultural Advisory Board regarding project approvals. To further help artists connect with opportunities, the City has also launched a Durham Calls for Artists page on its website, which lists a number of upcoming opportunities for artists in and around Durham. Artists and other stakeholders who would like to be notified of current and future art-related opportunities and news can now sign up for alerts through the Cultural and Public Arts Calls for Art mailing list. For more information about the City’s Cultural and Public Arts Program, visit the City’s cultural and public arts page. Artists and residents interested in more information about the Cultural and Public Arts program may also contact Division Manager Stacey Poston with the City’s General Services Department at (919) 560-4197, ext. 21254 or by email.
About the City of Durham General Services Department
The General Services Department builds and maintains City properties to make Durham a great place for people to live, work, and play. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department’s core functions include the acquisition and sale of properties, design and management of new construction and renovation projects, building maintenance, landscaping and urban forestry services, cemeteries management, sustainability and energy management, and supporting the nonprofit Keep Durham Beautiful.
About Keep Durham Beautiful
Keep Durham Beautiful is a nonprofit, volunteer organization working in partnership with the City of Durham General Services Department and Durham County to encourage residents, businesses, and community organizations to protect the environment and enhance the appearance of Durham through cleanup events, beautification projects, waste reduction, and educational activities. To learn more, follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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