The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (NC) Public Art Commission is seeking an artist or artist-led team with community organizing experience to engage the public and facilitate a citywide art project with the working title, “Winston-Salem Portrait Project.” The project is envisioned as a photographic portrayal of the community: a portrait made of its many faces, displayed where people come together and where they are divided. An artist/organizer experienced in photographic media is sought, with strong communication skills and the demonstrated ability to work collaboratively to conceive of and lead a community-wide project.
Budget: $200,000 total; $60,000 artist fee
Eligibility: Professional artists and artist teams with all members over 18
Deadline: January 5, 2018, by 4:00 p.m., EST
Project Concept
Winston-Salem is a city of 240,000 in central North Carolina. Once known for manufacturing cigarettes and textiles, it is shaping a new identity as “The City of Arts and Innovation.” It is home to five colleges and universities, including Wake Forest University, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and HBCU Winston-Salem State University. Downtown Winston-Salem is resurgent with condos, restaurants, breweries, and the best examples of the creative economy. Yet, despite the community’s efforts, the transition from industrial to postindustrial city has not ended the problems of segregation, inequality, and poverty. It is hoped that this artwork will help people see each other and the places they inhabit more openly, and increase the community's capacity for compassion.
Artwork Vision
Artist Scope of Work
The chosen artist or artist team will work with a local coordinator to manage a community engagement process that helps select individuals to be photographed and locations to display images. The artist/team will teach a community workshop that is free and open to the public; possible topics could include lighting techniques, creative marketing strategies, or professional development. The artist/team will lead an open studio session for the public, particularly emerging artists, to demonstrate the techniques used to create the project.
Artwork Location
The committee anticipates that this will be a citywide project that will include at least nine displays: one Downtown as well as at least eight displays throughout the city in neighborhood settings and other high-visibility areas. Locations will be determined as part of the community outreach component of the project in collaboration with City residents. The duration of each display could range from temporary to semi-permanent
to permanent.
Selection Process and Criteria
The selection committee will evaluate all submissions and recommend up to three (3) finalists. The artist’s letter of intent, professional work history, and portfolio will be evaluated. The committee will review applicants on the basis of:
Project Timeline
January 5, 2018: Qualifications Due
January 19, 2018: Semifinalists Notified
January 26, 2018: Skype Interviews of Semifinalists
February 9, 2018: Finalists Notified
March 2018: Finalist Proposals and In Person Interviews
March 30, 2018: Selected Artist Notification
Phase 1: Conception, Planning, and Prototyping (spring – fall 2018)
Phase 2: Production (winter – spring 2019)
Phase 3: Rollout (summer 2019)
Required Submission Materials
Letter of Intent
Resume or CV (for each artist or team member)
Visual Materials
References
How to Apply
Send submission materials and direct questions to:
City-County Planning
Attn: Kelly Bennett
P.O. Box 2511
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
kellyb@cityofws.org
336-747-7062
Submissions may be also submitted through Dropbox via the following link (preferred submission method): https://www.dropbox.com/request/bPoabvfxHGz6gNqP252T
** Submission must be received electronically, by mail, or handdelivered by January 5, 2018, 4:00 p.m. EST. No exceptions. **