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Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Public Art Project
Project Background
The Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Public Art Project is a series of community-lead public art projects in nine under-represented historically Black neighborhoods across Durham.
With strong consideration for the racial injustice in the community, community members have proposed the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Public Art Project. As was proposed and supported by City Council at the City Council Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, City staff will work with community members to honor the call to action and demands for change from the loca l community by funding public art projects with a focus on youth in the arts, as a tool for healing in historically under-resourced communities of color. The Bull City 150 projects outlines the racial and economic injustices promulgated against Black people in Durham (https://www.bullcity150.org/).
Project Goals
The primary goal of the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Public Art Project is to use art as a tool of engagement to promote community healing and equality in nine of Durham’s under-represented historically Black neighborhoods. In coordination with a community leader, each neighborhood will work with a local artist to create public art that speaks to their history and culture on public streets, public amenities or buildings in their community.
The goals include:
- Use art as a tool of engagement to promote community healing and equality in nine of Durham’s under-represented historically Black neighborhoods
- Activate each identified neighborhood through public art by working with local artists and community leaders to create artwork that speaks to the history and culture of their community
- Youth-based public art project, where young people are empowered to develop and create artwork for their neighborhoods.
Lead Artist(s)
The Lead Artist will be the overall project manager and will be responsible for implementing the project with identified youth and community leaders. Implementation will include leading the visioning sessions, designing the artistic elements of the artwork. The Lead Artist will install the artwork as groundplane art, mural, and/or community building art where community members may have an active role in the creation and/or installation of the artwork. The process will be supported by Community Art Project Coordinators and the Community Leads to assist through the duration of the project. For each neighborhood public art project, a Community Art Project Coordinator will be paid to assist the Lead Artist. Community Art Project Coordinators will work with neighborhood community leaders, the Lead Artist, and artists to engage the neighborhood residents in a visioning process. Small community conversations around the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods will occur in accordance with COVID-19 public safety guidelines.
The Lead Artist(s) will:
- Act as the overall Project Manager including community engagement, artist-design, fabrication, signage, and documentation of the artworks
- Collaborate with Community Art Coordinators for the project, community leaders , Durham Cultural Advisory Board and Public Art Committee liaisons
- Host a series of Zoom and/or in-person meetings to discuss the goals and outcomes of the project
- Work with artists and community leaders to schedule components of the art project
Proposed Timeline
McDougald Terrace Timeline*
Friday, February 12, 2021: Release Call for Artists
Friday, February 26, 2021: Application Deadline for Call for Artists for McDougald Terrace
Monday, March 15, 2021: Notify Artists of Artists Selection Panel's decision & City provides Contract to Lead Artist
Thursday, March 22, 2021: Lead Artist begins design development and community engagement phase
Thursday, April 15, 2021: Lead Artist shares Final Designs with Community
Monday, April 26, 2021: Fabrication, Installation & Neighborhood Celebrations phase begins
Friday, May 7, 2021: Final Day of Installation phase
* The project timeline is subject to change.
Locations
McDougald Terrace
Durham, NC 27701
Artist Selection Process
PRE-QUALIFIED ARTIST REGISTRY
The Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Project's artist selection process will be determined by each neighborhood. 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 serves as a resource for the program’s selection of artists and artist teams to create City cultural and public art projects. Candidates must either identify as or partner with an artist, designer, or fabricator, eligible to work in the United States, and age 18 and older. The City encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply. Candidates are eligible regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability. All applications must be in digital format and include an artist statement, photos of previous work, a personal resume(s), and references.
Full submission guidelines, project details, and submission portal are available here: https://durhamnc.gov/2984/Durham-Calls-for-Artists.
McDougald Terrace Artist Selection Process
Application: Pre-Qualified Artist Registry
Deadline: Friday, February 26, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. EST.
The McDougald Terrace artist selection panel of community members will utilize the Pre-Qualified Artist Registry to select a local artist to lead this project. The artist selection panel has particular interest in artist(s) who are familiar with the McDougald Terrace community and/or who are intimately connected to the history of the area, and are highly encouraged to apply. The artists will be contracted by the City of Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program.
The deadline to be considered for the McDougald Terrace public art project is Friday, February 26, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. EST. The Pre-Qualified Artist Registry has a rolling deadline for other upcoming public art projects, including the other eight neighborhoods for the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Project. Apply today at https://durhamnc.gov/2984/Durham-Calls-for-Artists!
Budget
The total budget allocation for the Celebration of Black Artistry in Neighborhoods Project in nine neighborhoods is $58,000 including community engagement, artist-design, fabrication, signage, and documentation of the artworks on site. Each neighborhood will be allocated an estimated budget of $6,230. The artist fee for the McDougald Terrace public art project is $3,000, plus funding for community leaders, youth participants, and supplies.
QUESTIONS?
For information about the public art project, 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
Service request:
Click or call 919-560-1200