Artist Call: SEEK Raleigh

Project Overview

Summary

• SEEK Raleigh is an experimental public art program by Raleigh Arts. Projects should engage with the community in City of Raleigh parks, greenways, and/or community spaces. 
• Propose a public art project that you would like to create. 
• The city will provide space and funding.
• Project budget can range from $1,000 to $10,000.
• Spring 2024 Artist Selection results will be announced soon.
• The next application round will be in Spring 2025. Check back for details. 

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. (Students without a three-year history can apply with a Faculty sponsor as the team lead)
5. Applicants must have demonstrated experience in design through the creation of high-quality work.

Project Details

SEEK Raleigh is an opportunity for artists to introduce the public to new, unusual, and thought-provoking experiences through temporary public art. Artists are encouraged to explore site-specific installations and performances as a natural extension of their creative practices in parks, greenways and other community spaces.

The city of Raleigh contains more than 200 parks including art centers, athletic facilities, community centers, lakes, nature preserves, dog parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, historic sites, and open spaces. We encourage you to explore the various parks and choose a site(s) that resonates with your artwork and artistic practice.

Public Art Goals and Opportunities

• Consider both the landscape and context of the park(s). There are many opportunities to use outdoor space. Some building facades and indoor facilities may be available for approved works.
• Consider the duration of your artwork and whether the performances and installations will occur during the daytime, nighttime, or both.
• Consider how you would work to engage the community, attract visitors, or work with the community. This would be especially important for short term installations or performances where an immediate audience is desired.
• While you do not have to choose a specific site in this submission, it may be helpful to note which locations have access to power and cover from rain. Please consider whether or not you will need access to power or if your project has other specific requirements. Raleigh Arts staff will work with artists to determine the final locations for the selected project.

Project Examples

Read the complete artist call document to learn about the timeline, selection process, and more.

Deadline

The next round of applications will be in Spring 2025.

Budget

All submissions will be reviewed and considered. For the purpose of this Call for Artists, you will only need to select a budget tier for your project.

• Tier 1: $1,000 - $2,499
• Tier 2: $2,500 - $4,999
• Tier 3: $5,000 - $10,000

Artists selected as semi-finalists will be asked to provide a detailed budget breakdown, including design, fabrication, installation, insurance, travel, taxes, and fees.

How to Apply

Those wishing to be considered must submit the following:

1. Statement of Interest
   You can submit this information as either a brief 250-word (or less) statement outlining your project idea or a one-minute or less audio or video clip. We will only play the first minute of audio for the panel. Please note in your statement if your project is site-specific or if you are flexible on location and if your project will require certain elements (power source, indoor location, cover from rain, etc).
    
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. Previous Work, Digital Images
   Images: Four digital images of recent previous work (created within the past five years)
   
   Videos (for performers or video artists): Up to four videos of recent previous work (created within the past ten years) in any viewable format. Please provide video excerpts for videos longer than 2 minutes.
    

4. Simple Estimated Budget - Tier
   Estimated budgets should be inclusive of all expenses including design, fabrication, installation, insurance, travel, taxes, and fees. Selected artists will need to have general liability insurance or event insurance (for short-term performances or installations) prior to installation, so please be sure to consider this in your proposed budget. Additionally, if your artwork or equipment will need to be insured, please include those fees in your budget, as the City of Raleigh does not insure temporary public art. If working with a team of artists, only the lead artist will need to have insurance.

   Only Semi-Finalists will be asked to provide a detailed budget breakdown as part of their second submission.

Questions?

Please read the complete artist call document. Artists are encouraged to call for a quick consultation before applying. This is a chance to talk about your proposal, site location, and estimated expenses. You can reach Kelly McChesney, Public Art Director, at 919-996-5657 or kelly.mcchesney@raleighnc.gov.