February 28 Submission Deadline

DURHAM, N.C. – Local and regional artists are invited to apply for a new public art project to be displayed as part of the upcoming renovations at Morreene Road Park.

The City of Durham General Services Department, Durham Parks and Recreation, and the Public Art Committee are now seeking professional artists or artist teams to submit qualifications to design, fabricate, and install a signature, permanent piece of public art at Morreene Road Park.

Morreene Road Park, located at 1102 Morreene Rd., offers a variety of public art installation opportunities and applicants are encouraged to consider interactive installations such as sculptures, ground-plane murals, or creative-seating elements. The installation(s) may be installed along the pathways, near the play structure, or in the parking lot of the park. Additionally, applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the park’s dedication to accessible play space. 

Named after the historic “Morreene Dairy” which used to stand nearby, Morreene Road Park is home to baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, picnic shelters, and tennis courts. The park is also the site of Durham’s first purpose-built ADA accessible play structure. Morreene Road Park is a diverse, active space which invites people from all ages, abilities, and from all across Durham to come out and ‘play more.’

The City is currently renovating the athletic courts at Morreene Park. Improvements include a full reconstruction of the tennis courts, removal of old asphalt around the playground, and the addition of new ADA-accessible pedestrian pathways. Renovations are expected to be completed by April 2019.

To honor Morreene Road Park’s history, the Selection Committee will prioritize artist or artist teams with disabilities. Artist(s) are expected to create a work of permanent art inspired by one or all of the following themes: Inclusivity, Diversity, Community, Activism, Creativity, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Progress.

This contest is open to all creative people, age 18 or older, living or working in the following counties: Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Orange, Person, and Wake. All applications must be in digital format and include a statement of interest, annotated samples of previous work relevant to the project, personal resume(s), and references. The project budget is $3,500, including artist honorarium and materials, and the deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 28, 2019. Full submission guidelines, project details, and submission portal are now available on the City’s Call for Artists webpage.

For more information about this public art opportunity, contact Special Projects Manager Stacey Poston with the City’s General Services Department at (919) 560-4197, ext. 21254 or by email.

 About Durham Parks and Recreation

The Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) provides opportunities for the Durham community to ‘Play More’ by connecting the whole community to wellness, the outdoors, and lifelong learning. To learn more about Durham Parks and Recreation, follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or call (919) 560-4355.

About the City of Durham General Services Department

The General Services Department builds and maintains City properties to make Durham a great place for people to live, work, and play. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department’s core functions include the acquisition and sale of properties, design and management of new construction and renovation projects, building maintenance, landscaping and urban forestry services, cemeteries management, sustainability and energy management, cultural and public art program management, and supporting the nonprofit Keep Durham Beautiful.

 About the City of Durham Public Art Committee

The Public Art Committee serves as an advisory body to the Durham City Council and the City Manager, and its functions include assisting the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development on matters relating to public art; implementation of the Public Art Policy; and reviewing proposals for public art projects brought to it by the City administration; and making recommendations to the Cultural Advisory Board regarding project approvals. To further help artists connect with opportunities, the City has a Durham Calls for Artists webpage, which lists a number of upcoming opportunities for artists in and around Durham. Artists and other stakeholders who would like to be notified of current and future art-related opportunities and news can now sign up for alerts through the Cultural and Public Art mailing list. For more information about the City’s Public Art Program, visit the City’s public art web page. Artists interested in more information about the Public Art program may also contact Special Projects Manager Stacey Poston with the City’s General Services Development at (919) 560-4197, ext. 21254 or by email.