LYNX Blue Line Extension Art Opportunities

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking 3 artist teams and individual artists for art opportunities on the LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE), a light rail project extending 11 miles from 7th Street in Uptown Charlotte to the University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC). The BLE will serve Center City Charlotte through Historic North Davidson (NoDa) and University City, including two campus stations at UNC Charlotte, with 7 park and ride lots and projected daily ridership of 22,500 by 2030.

Artists will work cooperatively with the project team, communities, and the Art-in-Transit Advisory Committee. Artist teams must include at least two artists working in one designated zone, while individual artists may be selected for specific art opportunities throughout the corridor, within a specific zone, or at specific stations. Art opportunities exist at station platforms (platform paving, shelter column cladding, windscreen, seating, track fencing, drinking fountain basin, bike locker, tree grate, communication cabinet, cheekwall), transition sites (hardscape, landscape, elevator, staircase, fencing, park and ride lot, lighting, traction power substation, signal house), and place makers/community landmarks (bridge, retaining wall, underpass, plaza, park and ride lot, gateway, signage).

Eligibility is open to all professional visual artists; experience in public art or comparable visual art experience is desirable. Students are not eligible. All selected artists must possess the ability to work cooperatively with multiple professionals including architects, engineers, project personnel, artists, designers, and community members, and must meet project deadlines throughout all phases including proposal submittal, design development, construction documents, fabrication, delivery, and installation. Art selection criteria include excellence, connection to site and/or adjacent community, impact on transit users and the public, durability and resistance to vandalism, minimal maintenance requirements, and safety. Applications must include six images of recent completed art, an annotated image sheet, a statement of interest (1000 characters maximum), a two-page resume for each artist, and three professional references.