Welcome to the application portal for Public Art in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.
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Before applying, please:
- Read the call to artists and make sure you are eligible to apply.
- Create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit an application.
- Fill out and submit an application before the project deadline. If you want to add more information to a submitted application, you can request to edit your application. Application edits are not allowed after the project deadline.
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions here.
To read the full artist call, visit: https://www.cityofws.org/3602/Public-Art-Opportunities
Overview
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (WS|FC) Public Art Commission is seeking qualifications from professional artists or artist-led teams to design, paint, and install a mural on the south-facing exterior wall of the Dream Center of Forsyth County in east Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This public art project is funded as part of the Choice Neighborhoods (CNI) Public Art Revitalization Program in partnership with the City of Winston-Salem and ASPIRE.
The mural will serve as a landmark gateway into east Winston-Salem via North Liberty Street and will require a high-impact design that considers stories from the neighborhood alongside the Dream Center’s work in service.
Budget
The total all-inclusive budget for this project is $60,000. The contract award covers all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to artist/design fees, materials, equipment, labor, insurance, and travel/lodging.
The site has a primed wall and will be power washed prior to installation. The mural must be sealed with an anti-graffiti, UV-resistant protective topcoat.
Artist Eligibility
- This opportunity is open to all professional artists, muralists, or artist teams aged 18 and older legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Applicants must demonstrate experience managing public art budgets or projects of similar scope.
- Artists must demonstrate artistic skills in creating history-driven compositions that include figures/portraits.
Evaluation/Scoring Criteria
- Overall Artistic Excellence: Demonstrated quality, visual impact, and technical execution as seen in past work samples. (50 Points)
- Community Experience: Demonstrated experience synthesizing multiple perspectives and narratives into a community-focused mural as shown in written statement and past work samples. (30 Points)
- Project & Budget Management: Demonstrated experience with similar-sized projects as shown in written statement and Resume/CV. (20 Points)
Required Submission Materials
Background Information
- Name(s)
- Phone Number
- Address
- Website
Short Answer Questions
- Statement of Interest (250 Words Max): Description of your interest in the Dream Center Mural project and your process in creating community-driven art.
Uploads
- Resume / CV (2 Pages Max): Highlight public art commissions, past mural experience, awards, and relevant credentials.
- Work Samples (5–10 Images): Provide high-resolution images of previous exterior mural projects. Include project title, year, location, and budget for each image.
Applications Due: November 13, 2026, by 11:59 PM EST.
To read the full artist call, visit: https://www.cityofws.org/3602/Public-Art-Opportunities
Overview
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (WS|FC) Public Art Commission is seeking qualifications from professional artists or artist-led teams to design, paint, and install a mural on two exteriors walls of the Sunrise Towers, an 11-story public housing apartment building in the east Winston-Salem neighborhood. This public art project is funded as part of the Choice Neighborhoods (CNI) Public Art Revitalization Program in partnership with the City of Winston-Salem and ASPIRE.
The murals will serve as a landmark along the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive corridor of east Winston-Salem. This project will include coordination with the residents of Sunrise Towers and ASPIRE (the former Housing Authority of Winston-Salem) to ensure that community input is a part of the design.
Artistic Goals
In an initial survey, residents said that they wanted to see artwork that is focused on natural elements, with floral designs and/or landscapes that can provide a glimpse into another world. Residents are open to human figures situated within the natural elements, with a preference for a more painterly or naturalist approach to portraiture rather than photorealism. Additionally, residents were attracted to abstract murals, where there were calming color palettes with organic, smooth shapes.
Budget
The total all-inclusive budget for this project is between $100,000 - $150,000, depending on the final proposed scope of work. The contract award covers all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to artist/design fees, materials, equipment, labor, insurance, and travel/lodging. The site walls will be power washed prior to installation, but priming the surface will be the responsibility of the artist. The mural must be sealed with an anti-graffiti coating and a UV-resistant protective topcoat as well.
All project work must be completed by July 31, 2027, when project funding expires. Applicants must be available to install the mural between April and July 2027.
Artist Eligibility
- This opportunity is open to all professional artists, muralists, or artist teams aged 18 and older legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Applicants must demonstrate experience managing public art budgets or projects of similar scope.
Evaluation/Scoring Criteria
- Overall Artistic Excellence: Demonstrated quality, visual impact, and technical execution as seen in past work samples. (50 Points)
- Artistic Interpretation: Demonstrated experience interpreting multiple community perspectives and historical narratives into a singular mural as shown in written statement and past work samples. (30 Points)
- Project & Budget Management: Demonstrated experience with similar-sized projects as shown in written statement and Resume/CV. (20 Points)
Required Submission Materials
Background Information
- Name(s)
- Phone Number
- Address
- Website
Short Answer Questions
- Statement of Interest (250 Words Max): Description of your interest in the Sunrise Towers Mural project and your process in interpreting historic and personal accounts from a site to create a work of art.
Uploads
- Resume / CV (2 Pages Max): Highlight public art commissions, past mural experience, awards, and relevant credentials.
- Work Samples (5–10 Images): Provide high-resolution images of previous exterior mural projects. Include project title, year, location, and budget for each image.
Timeline
- RFQ Issued: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Questions Deadline: Monday, November 9, 2026
- Answers Posted: Friday, November 13, 2026
- RFQ Submission Deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026, by 11:59 PM EST
- Semi-Finalist Selection: December 2026
- Finalist Selection: January 4, 2027
- Finalist Proposals Due: February 1, 2027
- Finalist Interviews: February 11, 2027
- Artist Contracting: February 2027
- Site Visit: March or April 2027
- Final Design Deadline: May 2027
- Mural Installation: Scheduled between late May and July 2027