City of Albemarle, NC - Courthouse Plaza Mural

The City of Albemarle, North Carolina, is seeking proposals from artists with experience in the design and execution of a large mural for Courthouse Plaza, a new public gathering space in downtown Albemarle located in a former alleyway stretching from West Main Street to King Avenue. The proposed artwork should be engaging and inviting, beautify Courthouse Plaza, enhance the quality of life for Albemarle citizens, attract tourism, promote arts and culture, and encourage businesses to locate within the city. The mural should be designed as a memorable visual landmark that prompts visitors to stop, take photographs, and share their experience.

The mural wall is located at 119 W Main St, facing east toward Courthouse Plaza. The wall measures approximately 100 feet in length and varies in height between 27 and 31 feet, with a total surface area of roughly 2,900 square feet. The facade is brick and two stories high. The City of Albemarle is open to proposals that incorporate all or part of the wall's surface into the mural footprint. Artists should consider how the mural will be perceived both up close by pedestrians in the plaza and from a distance by drivers and pedestrians traveling east along W Main St. If the design extends across the fire escape and metal doors, these elements may be integrated, provided the fire escape remains in place and painted in a contrasting color per fire code requirements.

Up to $35,000 has been identified for this project. Artists are responsible for their own travel costs, surface preparation, materials (including scaffolding/lifts), and personal liability insurance. Up to three semi-finalists will be paid a $500 stipend for their proposals. A seven-person committee will select up to three semifinalists to interview and select one finalist for the project. This call is open to all US-based artists. Artists may submit a maximum of three proposals. Candidates must be professional artists, designers, or fabricators or partnered with professional artists, designers, or fabricators; eligible to work in the United States; and age 18 and older. The artist must be available to oversee the installation of the mural and use quality materials rated for 10-15 years. Entry fee: $30.00 per design submitted. Entry deadline: 10/17/25 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.