Artist Qualification Application

Explore Asheville, River Front Development Group, and the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail (BCHT) Advisory Committee seek artists to submit qualifications for consideration for public art enhancements of the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail. Public art is art utilizing any media such as murals or sculptures in public spaces that are free and open to the public.

Project Background

In 2018 Explore Asheville, powered by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, supported the creation of the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage trail in partnership with River Front Development Group through a Tourism Product Development Fund Grant. The process included community engagement, the creation of an advisory committee, research, design, installation, and the creation of a digital version of the trail.

Twenty-one signs at 14 sites throughout downtown, Southside, and the River Area in Asheville were installed December 2023. The content of the trail informs the physical path that the trail takes through the historically Black neighborhoods that surround and include downtown Asheville. The four interpretive goals for this project are:

• Share the accomplishments and contributions of the Black community in Asheville.
• Celebrate individuals and groups that supported the community.
• Highlight Black people’s agency and the capacity to express individual power.
• Combat or correct misconceptions and preserve history for future generations.

Phase II of the project will include enhancement and placemaking through public art.

Artist Eligibility

Explore Asheville invites applications from professional artists or designers aged 18 or older who are eligible to work in the United States. Qualified artists should have experience working within communities in or around Buncombe County and/or a proven record of accomplishment using materials and methods appropriate for large format outdoor art installations. Explore Asheville encourages artists who only have one qualification to partner with an artist or maker who can fulfill the other qualifications. New artists and/or collaboration are encouraged. This call for qualifications is open to all, regardless of experience or size of portfolio.

Qualification Form

What is Next?

Scope of Project

From this call for artists, a working group of individuals from the BCHT Advisory Committee and Explore Asheville will review and choose the top four most qualified artists for this project. Those qualified artists will each be provided with a $2,000 honorarium to develop a project proposal around location(s) provided.

The working group is especially interested in art that highlights the proposed locations or narratives along the three sections of trail: Downtown, Southside, and River Area. Artists are encouraged to highlight accessibility, creativity, engagement for all ages, and the experience of the piece. The work could be a sculpture, mural, or other appropriate and engaging installation along the trail at one or more of the identified location options.

Artists will present their proposal to the working group. The working group will give the final recommendation to Explore Asheville and the BCHT Advisory Committee. Explore Asheville and the BCHT Advisory Committee will make the final selection for the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail Phase II Project.

Expected Proposal Requirements

• Description of proposed public art, including how the design reflects one or more of the four interpretive goals:

  1. Combat or correct misconceptions and preserve history for future generations.
  2. Share the accomplishments and contributions of the Black community in Asheville.
  3. Celebrate individuals and groups that supported the community.
  4. Highlight Black people’s agency and the capacity to express individual power.
• Image(s) with visual rendering of proposed public art.
• List of proposed materials, including information about durability, expected budget, insurance, and permitting fees.
• Estimated square footage based on location(s) provided.
• Description of the method that will be used to secure the public art and timeline for installation and completion, not to exceed six months from the date of approval.
• Maintenance requirements and schedule
• Summary of artist’s experience and statement of how the artist’s past work demonstrates an ability to successfully implement the project. Images of past public art projects may be included for reference.
• Detailed project budget.

The selected artist or team will be required to perform the following services:

• Collaborate with the Explore Asheville Destination Project Manager and BCHT Advisory Committee Working Group on the final design as it pertains to installation, safety, and any necessary requirements.
• Collaborate with the Explore Asheville Destination Project Manager to complete all required permitting for the art piece.
• Deliver and install completed piece(s) by established deadlines.
• Submit a reasonable sustainability and maintenance plan to ensure proper conservation of the piece.
• Attend an Explore Asheville-organized unveiling of the installed piece(s).
• Agree to representation on our website and promotions.

Compensation

If chosen to develop and fabricate the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail themed piece(s), the budget range for the entire project is $150,000 to $190,000 including art design and project management, fabrication, installation, travel, insurance, professional fees (legal, permitting, conservator assessments), signage, and educational materials.

Additional Deadlines

• Mid-June 2024 – Artists will be notified if invited to submit a proposal based on qualifications.
• Mid-July 2024 – Proposal Deadline
• Later July/Early August – Artist presentations
• Fall 2024/Winter 2025 – Contracting, Design, Fabrication, and Installation
• Early 2025 – Ribbon Cutting

Questions?

Contact Kimberly Puryear, Destination Project Manager, at kpuryear@exploreasheville.com or (828) 210-2724.