Outdoor Public Art Markers

SmART Kinston City Project Foundation, the Kinston Community Council for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council are seeking proposals from artists or artist teams to design a system of visual art markers to connect pedestrians from downtown Kinston, NC to the scenic Riverwalk on the Neuse River. The wayfinding series will begin at the Kinston Community Council for the Arts and continue along the designated Avenue of the Arts to the Riverwalk (Blount Street west to Pearson Park entrance). The artwork can range from a series of gateways or other sculptures, to light pole attachments, mosaics, sidewalk or wall inlays, or light installations. Three elements will be funded through this project, but the design plan may include more interventions to be produced over time.

Three artists will be selected to visit Kinston and create proposals. Selected artists will be paid $1,500 including travel and lodging for creating a proposal due June 14, 2019. The selection committee will reconvene to view the proposals and select a finalist. The total project budget is $60,000 including fabrication, equipment rental, permits, insurance, installation, materials, travel and accommodations and any other costs incurred by the artist. Timeline: RFQ submissions due April 8, 2019; First Artist Selection Meetings April 22, 2019; Three Finalists visit Kinston May 8-15, 2019; Finalists' Proposals Due June 14, 2019; Selected Project Artist(s) Notified June 18, 2019; Community Engagement & Design phase July 2019; Fabrication and Installation Summer 2020.

Submission materials must include: Statement of Interest outlining interest in the project, experience working on comparable projects, and experience working with government agencies and relevant organizations; Community Engagement section describing experience collaborating with community members on public art projects and proposed methods of engaging with community stakeholders; Résumé highlighting artistic background and professional accomplishments; up to ten visual images of related art and design projects named and numbered to match an annotated image list; and three current references with contact information and relationship to the artist noted. Applicants must be age 18 or older. Local, regional and national professional artists and artist teams are invited to apply. Applications must be received by April 8, 2019 no later than 11:59 pm MDT. Mailed or physical copies will not be accepted. For additional information, contact Cheryl Stewart, Public Art Consultant at [email protected].