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Project Summary
- Create a sensory-friendly Public Artwork at Caraleigh Park.
- Artists who identify as disabled or neurodivergent are encouraged to apply.
- Artwork will be located along the eastern property line, serving jointly as public art and screening between neighboring properties. The piece should be approximately 50 feet long by 6 feet high.
- $38,000 budget to design and fabricate.
- Up to three semi-finalists will be selected to interview and paid a $100 honorarium.
- Deadline to apply: Nov. 4.
- Submit proposal online.
Rendering of new playground at Caraleigh Park, which will include sensory elements like music play.
Eligibility
- This opportunity is open to individuals and teams who live or work in North Carolina.
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and have unexpired documents that establish employment eligibility.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
- Applicants must have at least a three-year history of professional practice.
- Applicants must have demonstrated experience in design through the creation of high-quality work.
- Lead applicant cannot be enrolled in an undergraduate course of study in the visual arts as of Jan. 1, 2024.
Budget
$38,000 budget - inclusive of design, artwork fabrication, taxes, travel and fees. The budget will cover both the cost of decorative/sensory artwork as well as any footers, materials and construction required to create the screening.
Project Overview
The City of Raleigh seeks to hire an artist to create public art at Caraleigh Park!
Caraleigh Park is an existing 0.57-acre neighborhood park, located at 110 Maywood Avenue, approximately 1 mile south of Downtown Raleigh. Schematic designs for the redevelopment of this park site are currently being finalized. The project is anticipated to move through permitting and bidding from fall 2024 to spring 2025. Construction is planned for summer through fall of 2025.
In March 2023, the City of Raleigh was selected as a recipient of an Accessibility for Parks Grant, which will be used for universal design-focused renovations to Caraleigh Park, with a special emphasis on sensory play. Proposed improvements include a new, ADA-accessible ramp to access the park, renovations to the basketball court, a new playground with safety surfacing and unique, adaptive play structures, areas for natural play features, and sensory-focused elements. There will also be general improvements to the open space, landscaping, and shade. Additionally, the project will include upgrades to the existing bus stop in front of the park, including a pad and furnishings.
The park property is surrounded by residential homes on all sides, making screening between the park and adjacent property owners key. Raleigh Parks wishes to incorporate public art into this project, to provide an additional new element to the park. It is desired that this art piece will serve the dual purpose of screening between the park and adjacent properties, while also serving as a unique, interactive art piece.
In keeping with the universal design goals of this project, Raleigh Parks would like the art piece to have sensory elements, such as tactile features, bright, visually stimulating colors and designs, and unique materials that interact with light or product soft sound. Raleigh Parks is also interested in working with an artist(s) with lived experience with disability and/or neurodivergence.
Learn more about the Caraleigh Park Improvement Project.
Rendering of the new playground at Caraleigh Park, which will include unique, adaptive, and accessible features.
Public Art Goals and Opportunities
- Artwork should include sensory elements, such as brightly colored, visually stimulating designs, tactile features, or materials that interact with light.
- Artwork should be two-dimensional, approximately 50 feet long by 6 feet high.
- Artwork should be durable and long-lasting.
- Artwork should be able to act as screening between the park and adjacent residential properties.
- Selected artist will work with the design team to define aesthetic goals for the artwork.
- Selected artist will work with the planning and design teams to integrate artwork into the landscape and built elements of the site.
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 four criteria: artistic merit; appropriateness for the project; community engagement; and social/cultural relevance of work.
| RFQ Application Deadline | November 4 |
| Semi-Finalist Selected and Notified | November 2024 |
| Semi-Finalists Interviews | December 2024 |
| Project Awarded | December 2024 |
| Contract Finalized | January 2025 |
| Concept Designs | March 2025 |
The selected artist will create concept designs between December 2024 and February 2025, with the final design completed by March 2025. Construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2025 and will extend through fall 2025. Fabrication will occur between March 2025 and September 2025. Installation will occur at the end of project construction.
How to Apply
Deadline: All RFQ materials must be received no later than November 4, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Incomplete or late submittals will not be considered.
Apply online by November 4, 2024
Those wishing to be considered must submit the following materials:
1.Statement of Interest: A statement, outlining your interest in this residency and your experience working on public art projects, or relevant art experience. Include how your work and experience will complement this project. You can submit this as:
- A written statement of 500 words or less
- Or a two minute or less audio or video clip. We can only play the first two minutes of audio for the panel.
2. Biography: A biography of no more than one page that includes information regarding your practice, experience, and education. If applying as a team, submit a single file containing separate biographies for each team member.
3. Three Professional References: Contact information for three references should be submitted, including name, title and affiliation, phone number and email address. References should be able to speak to your ability to provide services for a public art project or artwork of a similar scope.
4. Previous Work, Digital Images: Eight 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).
Please contact Jenn Hales, Public Art Coordinator for Raleigh Arts, at Jenn.Hales@raleighnc.gov if you need additional accommodations in applying.
Submission and Deadline
All RFQ materials must be received no later than November 4, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Incomplete or late submittals will not be considered.
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.