Thank you for applying to the Civic Art in Public Environments Artist Residency Program, supported by a partnership between the City of Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program and the Transportation Department.
Please review the full Request for Interest (RFI) before submitting your application.
Applications must be submitted through Submittable by Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET.
Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered.
The City reserves the right to request additional information from applicants prior to award.
Important Dates:
• Open Call/RFI Release: Monday, May 18, 2026
• Deadline to Request Interpretation/Translation Services: Friday, June 5, 2026
• Pre-Submittal Meeting: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
• Questions Due: Monday, June 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM
• Application Deadline: Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET
Questions:
Questions about the RFI or application process should be emailed to Project Manager Jo Palazuelos-Krukowski by Monday, June 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM.
Project Contact:
Jo Palazuelos-Krukowski
Cultural and Public Art Program Coordinator
jo.palazuelos.krukowski@durhamnc.gov
(919) 560-4197 ext. 21201
If you have concerns that are not being addressed by the Project Manager, please contact:
Rebecca Holmes
Cultural and Public Art Program Manager
rebecca.holmes@durhamnc.gov
(919) 560-4197 ext. 21245
Interpretation and Translation Services:
Interpretation and translation services are available at no cost. To request services, contact dcab@durhamnc.gov or (919) 560-4197, ext. 21243, by Friday, June 5, 2026.
Workspaces & Wayside: Public Art at ESS South
&
Beacon of Service: An Innovative Sculpture for Fire & EMS Station 19
The City of Durham Cultural & Public Art Program (CPAP) is releasing two Requests for Interest (RFIs) concurrently for public art projects at Environmental & Services South (ESS South) and Fire & EMS Station 19. These RFIs share identical application materials and submission requirements.
Artists may submit one application to be considered for one or both projects.
Eligibility
This RFI is open to artists and artist teams living and working in the United States. Artists based outside the Durham region are welcome to apply; however, all travel, lodging, and per diem expenses related to the project must be included within the Artist Fees.
This opportunity is open to professional artists or artist teams who demonstrate the ability to successfully complete projects of similar scope and complexity.
Artists working in durable, permanent media suitable for outdoor or civic environments are encouraged to apply. Experience working collaboratively with project teams, stakeholders, or community members is strongly preferred.
A single application will be used to evaluate artist qualifications for both projects. Within the application, artists will be asked to indicate:
- Whether they wish to be considered for ESS South, Fire & EMS Station 19, or both projects
- Relevant past work experience
- Professional qualifications and project approach
Selection panels may recommend artists for one or both projects based on qualifications, experience, and project fit. The City encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply. Candidates must be artists, designers, or fabricators or partnered with artists, designers, or fabricators, eligible to work in the United States, and age 18 and older. Candidates are eligible regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability.
Pre-Submittal Meeting
If candidates have questions about the RFI application process, they are strongly encouraged to attend the City’s virtual pre-submittal meeting.
Virtual Pre-Submittal Meeting 12:00 p.m. ET — May 29, 2026 This meeting will cover both RFIs (Workspaces & Wayside: Public Art at ESS South and Beacon of Service: An Innovative Sculpture for Fire & EMS Station 19).
Meeting access details will be provided in the RFIs and posted on the project webpages.
Request for Interest (RFI) documents & questions
To read the Request for Interest (RFI) documents, visit the City Purchasing Division's webpage, here: https://www.durhamnc.gov/bids.aspx
Submission Timeline
Virtual Pre-Submittal Meetings for Potential Applicants: 12 p.m. ET, May 29, 2026
Questions Due in writing via email: 5:00 p.m. ET, June 8, 2026
Addendum posted to the RFI: June 10, 2026
RFI Deadline for Submissions: 3:00 p.m. ET, June 18, 2026
Receipt of application
Applicants will receive confirmation application receipt via email from the Project Manager and/or Submittable upon submission. If a respondent does not receive confirmation of submission from the Project Manager and/or Submittable, it is the responsibility of the Candidate to contact the Cultural & Public Art Program.
Questions?
Questions about the RFI process and forms must be submitted in writing by 5:00 p.m. ET, June 8, 2026, to the Project Manager:
Stephanie Minor, Public Art Project Manager
City of Durham, General Services Department, Cultural and Public Art Program
The City of Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program invites artists and artist teams to submit portfolios as an entry to join the City of Durham Pre-Qualified Artist Registry. This registry will serve as a resource for the program’s selection of artists and artist teams to create City cultural and public art projects. Access to a predetermined network of qualified artists saves artists and staff members valuable time by making the process for responding to the numerous calls issued by the City more efficient. It also strengthens and streamlines the program by maintaining a database of artists in the community with particular skill sets.
The application process does not have a deadline.
Candidates are eligible regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability. Artists who are selected to join the City of Durham Pre-qualified Artists Registry are encouraged to apply to any additional open calls issued by the City of Durham Public Arts Program, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
El Programa Cultural y de Arte Público de la ciudad de Durham invita a los artistas y equipos de artistas a presentar sus portafolios con el fin de inscribirse en el Registro de Artistas Precualificados de la ciudad de Durham. Este registro será usado por el programa como un recurso para la selección de artistas y equipos de artistas para la creación de los proyectos de arte público y cultural de la ciudad. Contar con un acceso a una red preestablecida de artistas cualificados le permite a nuestro personal ahorrar tiempo valioso al hacer más eficiente el proceso de respuesta a las numerosas convocatorias realizadas por la ciudad. Además, fortalece y agiliza el programa al mantener una base de datos de artistas en la comunidad con habilidades particulares.
El proceso de solicitud no tiene una fecha límite.
Los candidatos son elegibles sin importar su raza, color, religión, nacionalidad, identificación de género, situación militar, orientación sexual, estado civil o capacidad física. Se invita a los artistas seleccionados para el Registro de Artistas Precualificados de la ciudad de Durham a que apliquen a cualquier convocatoria abierta adicional emitida por el Programa de Artes Públicas de la ciudad de Durham, siempre y cuando cumplan con los requisitos de elegibilidad.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
If you have questions about the application process, please email dcab@durhamnc.gov.
Para más información sobre el proceso de solicitud para miembros del Comité de Arte Público, puede comunicarse con el personal del Programa de Cultura y Arte Pública al teléfono 919-560-4197 o al correo electrónico dcab@durhamnc.gov.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
If you have questions about the application process, please email dcab@durhamnc.gov.