Pedestrian Safety Murals

Project Summary

• Create a digital vector file that will be turned into a downtown pedestrian safety mural. 
• Eight artists will be selected to create a design at one of the eight downtown locations.
• Artists will be paid between $1,500 to $3,500 for their digital design (depending on size and complexity of the location).
• After the artists submit their print-ready files, the City will manage and pay for thermoplastic fabrication and installation.
• Deadline to apply: Jan. 15, 2025
• Submit proposal online.

Eligibility

1. This opportunity is open to individuals and teams who live or work in North Carolina.
2. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and have unexpired documents that establish employment eligibility. 
3. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. 
4. Applicants must have at least a three-year history of professional practice. 
5. Applicants must have demonstrated experience in design through the creation of high-quality work. 
6. Lead applicant cannot be enrolled in an undergraduate course of study in the visual arts as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Budget

Artists will be paid between $1,500 to $3,500 for their digital design depending on the size and location of their mural. City staff will handle the fabrication and installation of the artwork. 

Project Overview

Raleigh Transportation in collaboration with the Arts Department are implementing several new public street art and pedestrian safety initiatives in Downtown Raleigh. The City is working to improve safety at uncontrolled mid-block crosswalks in the downtown area. The overall project will include the design and construction of raised crosswalks at numerous uncontrolled crossings. The artistic murals should be installed next spring in locations that will complement the future raised crosswalks and not be impacted by their construction.

Public Art Goals and Opportunities

• The artwork should be colorful, creative and highly visible design that enhances pedestrian safety.
• Artists will need to design the artwork using the limited Thermoplastic color palate. 
• Artists will need to create their design using shapes that are large enough to be created using the thermoplastic technique. The thermoplastic will be cut out at the factory and assembled like a puzzle before being adhered to the ground. This technique lends itself well to bold/large design. Artists will need to avoid small shapes and overly detailed design elements.
• Artists are responsible for creating a vector based, print-ready file. Staff will be available to answer questions and provide feedback to the nine selected artists. 
• Artists should keep in mind passenger and vehicle visibility requirements when creating their designs. Avoid the use of artwork elements which look like traffic signs or signals (for example arrows, red octagons etc). 
• Text and letters are permitted when used as part of the overall design.
• Artists can include their signature and a hashtag (but no websites or social media handles).

Thermoplastic

Preformed thermoplastic, a material commonly used for traffic markings, can be printed in color with two-dimensional designs. Thermoplastic products are intended to last longer than traditional road paint and are what Raleigh currently uses for crosswalks. The artwork will be designed by the project artist and printed by a thermoplastic vendor pre-installation. Raleigh Transportation roadway staff will install the printed material with heat to complete the artwork. Possible colors include:

• White – RAL 9016
• Yellow – RAL 1023
• Blue – RAL 5017
• Red – RAL 3020
• BLG – PMS 375U
• Black – RAL 9017
• Brick Red – RAL 3011
• Gold – RAL 1015
• Orange – RAL 2009
• California Green – PMS 2258C
• Purple – RAL 4006
• Heather Violet – RAL 4003

Selection Criteria and Process

Applications submitted in response to this RFQ will be reviewed by the City of Raleigh Public Art Director, who will then forward all complete and eligible applications received by the deadline to the Artist Selection Panel. The Panel may include a member of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, community artists, arts professionals, design professionals, and other stakeholders. 

The Artist Selection Panel will evaluate the qualifications of artists based on three criteria: merit; appropriateness for the project; and social/cultural relevance.

Project Timeline

How to Apply

Apply online.

Those wishing to be considered must submit the following materials:

1. Statement of Interest: A brief statement, outlining your interest in the project.

You can submit this as:

• A written statement of 240 words or less
• Or a one minute or less audio or video clip. We can only play the first two minutes of audio for the panel due to time constraints. 

2. Previous Work, Digital Images

• Four digital images of recent previous work (created within the past ten years)
• Each image should include: image number, artist’s name, title, year, media, location, project budget, dimensions, commissioning agency, and collaborators or design professionals (if applicable).

Submission and Deadline

All RFQ materials must be received no later than Jan. 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Incomplete or late submittals will not be considered.

About the City of Raleigh Department of Transportation

The City of Raleigh's Transportation Department consolidates transportation and related infrastructure. From planning transportation projects, system operation, and infrastructure maintenance, the department works to optimize service delivery and position the City for ongoing growth.

Services provided by the department include mobility strategy and infrastructure, traffic engineering, transportation maintenance, parking operations, GoRaleigh transit services, highway maintenance, and development services.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The policy of the City of Raleigh is, and shall be, to oppose any discrimination based on actual or perceived age, mental or physical disability, sex, religion, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial or marital status, economic status, veteran status or national origin in any aspect of modern life. The City of Raleigh Arts Commission strives for a diverse representation of voices, life experiences, views, and interests to reflect the collaborative community we have and wish to serve.

Additional Information

For questions, contact Jenn Hales, Public Art Coordinator for Raleigh Arts, jenn.hales@raleighnc.gov.  

For relevant information regarding the project, visit the Raleigh Arts website.