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https://raleighnc.gov/arts/services/artist-calls/public-art-greenway-sewer-risers
12/21/2023 4:21 pm

An artist paints a bird on a sewer up next to a Raleigh greenway

Local wildlife on greenway sewer riser, 2020, Nora Reston, located on the Neuse River Trail near River Bend Park

Public Art on Greenway Sewer Risers

Use this toolkit to add public art to greenway sewer risers!

Updated: Dec 21, 2023

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Things to Consider Examples Request Process & Approval Timeline Submit Your Request

Image Above: Local Wildlife on Greenway Sewer Riser, Nora Reston, Neuse River Trail near River Bend Park

Things to Consider

Location

  • Sewer risers must be located along a greenway and not on private property
  • Use iMAPS to find sewer risers on greenways. Click the Layers icon on the right, check the Utilities box, check the Raleigh Sewer box, and check the Sewer Manhole box. Zoom in to view the sewer risers marked in green. These settings are highlighted in the image below
  • If you have a specific location or sewer riser in mind, let us know on your request form. Include a screenshot of iMAPS, circling the exact sewer riser(s) and noting important location information like in the image below
A graphic of iMAPs highlighting correct sewer riser settings and noting important information

Cost

  • Paint and brushes to paint a sewer riser will typically cost $50 to $250 
  • Artists who are hired by an organization typically receive a stipend of $250-$1000 for their artwork 
  • This type of project does not include funding from Raleigh Arts. Check out other funding opportunities

Design 

  • The artwork will be applied as paint. Please use high-quality, exterior-rated paint 
  • Artwork must include the hashtag #RaleighArts 
  • Artwork must include the artist's credit. Crediting guidelines for temporary art in public spaces include:
    • Hashtags and artist signatures are allowed
    • No more than two hashtags are allowed
    • No logos are allowed
    • Hashtags and artist signatures should be sized so they are less than or equal to 2% of the painting surface. For smaller artworks, the artist can choose to use up to 2” x 24” instead to retain legibility. The artist has the digression to make the hashtag/signature smaller if they choose

Examples

a woodland scene with deer and rabbits is painted on a greenway sewer riser

Local Wildlife on Greenway Sewer Riser

Sam Greene

Walnut Creek Trail on NC State University's Centennial Campus near Hunt Library and Lake Raleigh

The letter B is spray painted to look three dimensional on a sewer up. By artist Morgan Cook.

Alphabet Project

Morgan Cook

Capital Greenway between Pullen Park Dr. and Hunt Dr. in Dorothea Dix Park

a downy woodpecker is painted on a greenway sewer riser

Local Wildlife on Greenway Sewer Riser

Nora Reston

Neuse River Trail near River Bend Park

Request Process & Approval Timeline

StepDescriptionTime Period
Request

You will need to provide the following on the request form:

  • Your contact information
  • The name of the artist creating the artwork *
  • Samples of previous artwork and a written or visual proposal
  • A proposed location if you have one *
  • A proposed project timeline
  • A summary of the project
  • The estimated project cost and its funding sources
  • A list of project partners, if any
  • The level of City involvement needed (help with finding a location, artist selection, permitting, etc.)
  • Acknowledgment that you have read the Community-Initiated Public Art Projects Policy

* If you don't have a location or artist selected, please email Jenn Hales at jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov for guidance.

Download request form

 

Request your project today!
Review

Your project with go through a three-step review process:

  1. The Arts, Education, and Collections Committee (AEC) will review your project and either approve, deny, or approve with a request for changes. This committee meets on the first Thursday of each month.
  2. After approval from AEC, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission (CORAC) will review your project and either approve, deny, or approve with a request for changes. The commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month.
  3. Raleigh Water will review the location and either approve, deny, or approve with a request for changes.  

Once approved, Raleigh Arts Staff will notify you. Please email Jenn Hales at jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov with questions about your project's review progress.

 

1 - 3 months, not including permitting and contract process
Permitting & Permissions

Raleigh Arts can help guide you through the permitting process. 

  • Anyone who is helping to paint the artwork will need to sign a City of Raleigh Volunteer form. Please reach out to Jenn Hales for a copy of the forms.  
  • Some projects may also require a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) if the location is in a historic district. 

Please email Jenn Hales at jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov with questions about signed agreements and insurance.  

 

1 - 3 months
Installation
  • Raleigh Water and Parks maintenance will trim the plants around the sewer riser before the installation. 
  • Please email Jenn Hales at jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov at least 2 weeks in advance with your installation date 
  • Artwork must include the artist's credit. Crediting guidelines for temporary art in public spaces include:
    • Hashtags and artist signatures are allowed
    • No more than two hashtags are allowed
    • No logos are allowed
    • Hashtags and artist signatures should be sized so they are less than or equal to 2% of the painting surface. For smaller artworks, the artist can choose to use up to 2” x 24” instead to retain legibility. The artist has the digression to make the hashtag/signature smaller if they choose
  • Provide photographs and social media details to Jenn Hales so Raleigh Arts can celebrate and promote the project

 

After the project is approved, the contract is signed, and permits are secured, choose the installation date.

Submit Your Request

Follow the steps below to submit a request for public art on greenway sewer risers:

  1. Review the above information and gather all necessary materials, including how the project will be funded.  This type of project does not include funding from Raleigh Arts. Check out other funding opportunities.
  2. Email a request form several months before your proposed completion date to Jenn Hales at jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov.

Related Links

 

Do-It-Yourself Public Art Projects

Raleigh Arts

Public Art

Raleigh Water

Artist Calls

Contact

 

Jenn Hales
Public Art Coordinator
jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov

Supported Services

 
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