Durham Calls for Artists

parking garage with art mural
Photo by Estlin Haiss

Request for Proposals/Qualifications and Services

Pre-Qualified Artist Registry


The Pre-Qualified Artist Registry has a rolling deadline for upcoming public art projects, including the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Project. Apply today!

Project Overview

The City of Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program invites artists and artist teams to submit portfolios to be selected to join the City of Durham Pre-Qualified Artist Registry. This registry will serve as a resource for the program’s selection of artists and artist teams to create City cultural and public art projects. Access to a predetermined network of qualified artists saves artists and staff members valuable time by making the process for responding to the numerous calls issued by the City more efficient. It also strengthens and streamlines the program by maintaining a database of artists in the community with particular skill sets.

NOTICE: The application process is does not have a deadline. 

Submission Requirements

Application materials must be received on Cafe Items required include:

  • Artist Statement
    Briefly describe your experience, your discipline(s), and your qualifications for completing artworks. Artist teams should explain their interest and qualifications collectively.
  • Images
  • Resume
  • References

Pre-Qualified Artist Registry Overview & CaFÉ Application

Information Document - City of Durham Pre-Qualified Artist Registry

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Submissions for City of Durham Pre-Qualified Artist Registry via CaFÉ

Pre-Qualified Artist Registry_Cafe Application Portal Opens in new window


RFQ for Fire & EMS Station 18  

Recognizing the need to facilitate storytelling and documentation with a focus on Durham’s diverse and unique history, the Cultural and Public Art Program will hire a Public Historian and Photographer team (“Candidates”) for a public art project centered around historical documentation and education of Durham’s Fire Department history.  

The City seeks Candidates to create artworks that contribute to the interest and aesthetic appeal of the Fire Department and develop archival resources for the public to learn about Durham’s history. The Candidates will work in collaboration to capture and archive the Fire Station's objects of historical significance as digital images, large-scale photographs and/or vinyl printed murals along with interpretative text, which will be displayed inside of the Fire & EMS Station 18 and through an online platform. The Candidates will also work with the Fire Department staff to document the everyday objects used in their work and capture the current staff’s commitment to the community.   

Deadline: Friday, May 14, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.  

For full RFQ details and submission process, visit https://durhamnc.gov/4428/Fire-EMS-Station-18.

Keep Bull City Litter-Free Public Art Project  

The City of Durham Cultural and Public Art Program in partnership with Keep Durham Beautiful (KDB) have received a $15,000 grant from South Arts to promote litter prevention through creative public art at three upcoming bus stop shelters across Durham. These bus shelters are located at Fulton Street directly in front of the Durham VA Medical Center; Erwin Road at Fulton Street; and E Main Street at Dillard Street near the Durham County Human Services Building.

Durham’s grant award will fund the collaboration to create new ground plane murals that encourage residents to decrease cigarette butt litter and act as advocacy agents around litter prevention in their community. The City and Keep Durham Beautiful will work closely with a selected artist(s) or artist team(s) to design temporary ground-plane murals around three bus shelter sites with newly installed Ballot Bins (ash receptacles) with anticipated socially-distant community engagement sessions at Durham Bus Station. The program will also explore developing an interactive video with the selected artists to distribute to Durham Public Schools on the topic of litter prevention, sustainable art practices, and recyclable art materials. 

Deadline: Friday, July 9, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.  

For full RFQ details and submission process, visit https://durhamnc.gov/4464/Keep-Bull-City-Litter-Free-Public-Art-Pr.

Upcoming Calls for Artists Email List 


To be notified of subsequent Calls for Artists (Requests for Proposals, Request for Qualifications, etc.) from the City of Durham, sign-up here:

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Questions? 


For information about calls for artists, please contact the Cultural & Public Art Program staff here: 

Alexandra Benson
Cultural & Public Arts Program Assistant
Email: alexandra.benson@durhamnc.gov
Phone: 919-560-4197, ext. 21238

Rebecca Brown
Cultural & Public Arts Program Manager
Email:  Rebecca.Brown@durhamnc.gov
Phone: 919-560-4197, ext. 21245.