Downtown Arts 2026-27

Downtown Arts provides support for and generates awareness about members of Greensboro's visual arts community while enhancing the downtown built environment with original works of art. Selected artists will receive compensation and promotion through several City-led initiatives. Applicants can choose to be considered for one or both of the following opportunities.

Art on Downtown Kiosks offers a $500 honorarium to up to ten artists whose submitted work is selected for digital display on City maintained property, including on the 11 digital kiosks located throughout downtown, February 2026 through January 2027. Each selected artist/image will be displayed in a rotating slideshow on the downtown kiosks for 10 weeks. One work sample image from each selected artist will be chosen for the program, displayed in electronic format (minimum 980 x 980 pixels and minimum 72 dpi). Art in City Hall - Special Commission awards a $3,000 commission to one artist who will create a new, original work no larger than 36" x 24" (or 36" x 24" x 24" if three-dimensional) that reflects their creative perspective on Greensboro in 2025. The original work will be placed in the City's permanent collection and displayed periodically in public facilities. The work will be enlarged to 10' x 20', reproduced onto vinyl, framed and installed on the council chamber wall, and on display July 2026 through July 2027.

Both opportunities are available for Greensboro-based artists working in painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, glass, photography, digital arts, or fiber arts. Applicants must be full-time residents of Greensboro at least 18 years of age. Artists must submit a resume, high quality headshot, artist statement (no more than 2,000 characters), and 5-10 images of work made within the past 5 years. Those interested in the City Hall commission must also include a statement describing ideas/concepts they would explore in the commissioned work reflecting on Greensboro in 2025.