Durham Civic Art in Public Environments (CAPE) Artist Residency Program

Call for Artists: Request for Interest (RFI)
Durham Civic Art in Public Environments (CAPE)
Artist Residency Program
RFI Deadline to Apply: Thursday, June 18, 2026
The City of Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program and
Parking Services (referred to as "City") is seeking an Artist
(referred to as "Candidate") with experience in public murals,
municipal design, and community-based engagement. The City
seeks this Artist to serve the Durham community through arts-
based solutions in a one-year pilot residency to beautify
Durham's public parking spaces.
Figure 1: Photograph of Chapel Hill Street Parking Garage at the intersection of
Chapel Hill and Mangum Streets in Durham, NC.

SELECTED CONTENTS
20. Project Manager and Contact with City, Questions about this RFI ................................. 1
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND NATURE OF RFI .......................................................................................... 2
30. Project ................................................................................................................................................ 2
31. Site Description .............................................................................................................................. 2
32. Project Background ........................................................................................................................ 3
33. Community Engagement ............................................................................................................. 4
40. Scope of Work ................................................................................................................................ 4
50. Compensation Amount ................................................................................................................ 5
60. Definitions in this RFI: City, RFI, Proposal, Candidate, Contractor, Should .................. 6
70. Contract ............................................................................................................................................. 6
70.1 Interpretation and translation services.................................................................................. 6
100. Insurance Requirements of Selected Candidate................................................................ 6
110. Discretion of the City .................................................................................................................. 7
SCHEDULE ................................................................................................................................................................ 8
120. Schedule ........................................................................................................................................... 8
140. Deadline to Receive Submissions ............................................................................................. 8
GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT AND RFI PROCESS ................................................... 9
150. Questions ........................................................................................................................................ 9
160. Pre-submittal Conference ........................................................................................................ 9
EVALUATION CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................................ 10
180. Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................................................................ 10
190. Call for Artists/RFI Eligibility ...................................................................................................... 11
200. Project Agencies ........................................................................................................................... 11
240. RFI Submission Requirements .................................................................................................. 12
300. Candidate to Bear Expense: No Claims Against City .......................................................... 15
310. State Treasurer's Lists Regarding Iran and Boycott of Israel ........................................... 15
320. Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act ............................................................... 15
330. Values of City of Durham regarding Treatment of Employees of Contractors ........... 15
SAMPLE CONTRACT & NON-COLLUSION AFFIDAVIT..................................................................................... 17
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20. Project Manager and Contact with City; Questions about this RFI
Direct questions and concerns to:
Attn: Jo Palazuelos-Krukowski
Cultural and Public Art Program Coordinator
Arts Culture and Sustainable Communities Division
General Services Department
2011 Fay Street
Durham, NC 27704
Office Contact: (919) 560-4197 ext. 21201
Email Address: jo.palazuelos.krukowski@durhamnc.gov
If you have concerns about this RFI that you believe are not being addressed by the project manager,
please contact:
Attn: Rebecca Holmes
Cultural and Public Art Program Manager
Arts, Culture, and Sustainable Communities Division
General Services
2011 Fay Street
Durham, NC 27704
Office Contact: (919) 560-4197 ext. 21245
Email Address: rebecca.holmes@durhamnc.gov
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DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND NATURE OF RFI
30. Project
The City of Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program and Parking Services (referred to as "City") is
seeking an Artist (referred to as "Candidate") with experience in public murals, municipal design, and
community-based engagement. The City seeks this Artist to serve the Durham community through
arts-based solutions to beautify Durham's public parking spaces.
The Durham Artist-in-Residence program aims to create opportunities for locally engaged artists to
serve the Durham community through unique arts-based problem-solving. The first iteration of the
pilot program, a collaboration between Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program and Parking
Services, aims to embed a local artist within municipal operations for a 12-month residency to
beautify Durham's public parking spaces. The artist will collaborate with City staff to develop
creative, community-driven solutions for placemaking and wayfinding in the parking booths and
floors of four City-owned parking garages.
The selected Candidate will:
* transform select City parking garages into welcoming spaces through creative placemaking;
* improve user experience and accessibility with artistically-designed wayfinding elements;
* ensure meaningful community engagement by involving local residents in the design to
reflect Durham stories and voices;
* provide a locally engaged artist with the opportunity to develop their own creative solution
to a community challenge; and
* promote collaboration by fostering partnerships between artists and City staff in Parking and
Transportation through the embedding and integration of artistic perspectives into municipal
planning.
You can find more information on the Durham Artist-in-Residence Program at the City of Durham
website here: https://www.durhamnc.gov/5497
31. Site Description
The selected Artist will be working to create four murals/wayfinding element projects in four of the
following parking locations:
CAPE Chapel Hill Street Garage Sites (below):
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CAPE Church Street Garage Sites (below):
CAPE Corcoran Garage Site: CAPE Durham Centre Garage Site:
Figure 2: Photographs of Parking Sites at Chapel Hill Street Garage, Church Street Garage, Corcoran Street Garage, and
Durham Centre Garage.
Parking garages serving as potential sites of renovation include:
* Chapel Hill Street Garage at 326 East Chapel Hill Street
* Corcoran Street Garage at 110 East Corcoran Street
* Church Street Garage at 109 South Mangum Street
* Durham Centre Garage at 300 West Morgan Street
* Morgan Rigsbee Garage at 105 West Morgan Street
32. Project Background
The City of Durham is launching the Civic Art in Public Environments (CAPE) Pilot Program to give
artists the opportunity to integrate their work in Durham's civic life and public infrastructure. This
program represents a strategic partnership between the City's Cultural and Public Art Program and
Parking Services, designed to integrate creative perspectives into municipal planning while enhancing
public spaces.
Parking garages, essential to daily life, are often viewed as utilitarian and unwelcoming. Through this
pilot program, the City aims to revitalize Durham's facilities into dynamic and inviting community
assets. An Artist-in-Residence will collaborate with City staff, community stakeholders, and residents
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over a 12-month period to develop site-specific interventions-ranging from murals and wayfinding
designs to an artist-led creative project-that foster a stronger sense of place, improve accessibility,
and reflect Durham's diverse cultural identity.
The residency will unfold with a focus on collaborative placemaking in City-owned parking garages,
where the Artist will conduct site research, facilitate community engagement, and implement
designs that enhance the parking experience.
33. Community Engagement
Community participation will be central to the Civic Art in Public Environments (CAPE) Pilot Program.
The selected Candidate will conduct site visits, lead workshops, and gather input from residents to
ensure designs reflect Durham's voices and stories. Engagement activities will help identify
community priorities, inform the design of murals and wayfinding elements, and shape the artist's
four murals and/or wayfinding element projects. This process ensures that public art in City parking
garages is both functional and meaningful: welcoming spaces that embody local identity and foster a
stronger sense of connection between residents, visitors, and the City.
40. Scope of Work
The Civic Art in Public Environments (CAPE) Pilot Program will embed one local artist into municipal
operations for a 12-month residency to transform four City-owned parking garages into more
welcoming, accessible, and community-centered spaces. The selected artist will collaborate closely
with City staff, Parking Services, and Durham residents to design, fabricate, and install creative
solutions for placemaking and wayfinding.
Section 1. Engagement-Led Design (12 Months)
The artist will begin with an orientation session led by the City's Cultural and Public Art
Program and Parking Services. They will conduct site visits across the City's parking garages,
including the Chapel Hill Street, Corcoran Street, Durham Centre, and Church Street garages,
documenting physical conditions, user experience challenges, and opportunities for
improvement. Through knowledge exchange with City staff, the artist will gain a deeper
understanding of operational realities, safety requirements, and long-term planning
considerations that shape the use and function of these facilities.
Community engagement will be a key component of this project. The artist will design and
lead activities to gather input from Durham residents, ensuring that the resulting designs
reflect community stories and voices. These engagement sessions can be formal or informal.
The selected artist will work with City staff to define the sessions based on the identified
garages. These insights will inform the development of preliminary design concepts for
wayfinding and placemaking interventions. The artist will refine these concepts in
consultation with City staff and stakeholders before preparing detailed site plans, material
specifications, and final designs for approval.
Once designs are approved, the artist will fabricate and install the works-such as murals,
painted surfaces, or other site-specific placemaking projects-while coordinating closely with
Parking Services on logistics including lane closures, accessibility standards, and compliance
with City regulations. Community participation during artwork installation is encouraged.
Throughout the process, the artist will document each stage through photography and
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written reports, ultimately producing a final report summarizing the project's process,
community impact, and lessons learned. The phase will conclude with a public presentation
or event to share outcomes with the community.
Section 2. Deliverables
The program will result in a series of four total community-informed murals or placemaking
elements installed across four City-owned parking garages that respond directly to
community-identified opportunities or challenges. Documentation of the program will
include photographs, written reports, and presentations, culminating in a public presentation
of outcomes to share the impact of the residency with the Durham community.
Section 2A. Recommended Qualifications for Candidate
The ideal candidate will be a locally based artist with demonstrated experience in public art,
community engagement, and site-specific design. They should be skilled at collaborating with
diverse stakeholders, including municipal staff and community members, and able to
translate community input into creative, functional design solutions. Strong project
management skills, knowledge of materials and installation processes, and a commitment to
accessibility and safety are essential. Preference will be given to artists with a track record of
creating work that reflects local culture and enhances public spaces.
50. Compensation Amount
The selected Artist will have an estimated total project budget of up to $40,000, inclusive of all costs
associated with this 12-month project. This total budget covers artist fees, materials, fabrication,
installation, transportation, community engagement, documentation, insurance that meets the
standards of the City of Durham, and all other related expenses.
A planned budget of $28,000 within the total contract amount may be allocated toward the Artist's
stipend, supporting approximately 3-4 hours of work per week throughout the residency to complete
four murals at four of the City of Durham's parking garages. Additional allocations within the total
contract amount include $10,000 for garage placemaking projects, $1,000 for community
engagement activities, and $1,000 for administrative support.
Proposed Budget Breakdown
Description Amount
Artist Stipend $28,000
Garage Placemaking $10,000
Administrative Fees $1,000
Community Engagement $1,000
TOTAL $40,000
The selected Artist will enter into a contract with the City of Durham not to exceed $40,000. The final
compensation structure and payment schedule will be negotiated with the successful Candidate,
based on the scope of work, engagement activities, and completed deliverables.
The City will not be providing reimbursement for travel.
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60. Definitions in this RFI: City, RFI, Proposal, Candidate, Contractor, Should
Unless the context indicates otherwise - (a) The expressions "RFI," "this RFI," and "the RFI" refer to
this document as it may be amended or updated. (b) "City" and "city" mean the City of Durham. (c)
The "proposal" or "Bid" is the response of a person, firm, or corporation proposing to provide the
services sought by this RFI. (d) The word "Candidate" or "candidate" is the person, firm, or
corporation that submits a proposal or that is considering submitting a proposal. (e) The word
"Contractor" or "contractor" is the person, firm, or corporation with which the City enters into a
contract to provide the services sought by this RFI. That is, "contractor" generally refers to a
successful candidate that has obtained a fully executed contract with the City, while "candidate" is
generally reserved to the stage before a contract has been signed. (f) The word "should" is used to
tell candidates what the City thinks it wants and/or what the project manager thinks is best.
Candidates that want to increase the likelihood of being selected will, in general, do what the RFI
says candidates "should" do, but failure to comply with all "shoulds" will not necessarily and
automatically result in rejection.
70. Contract
The City anticipates that at the conclusion of the RFI process there will be a contract between the
City and the successful Candidate under which the successful candidate will provide the goods and
services generally described in this RFI. It is the City's intention to use the contract that is attached
as Exhibit A, modified and filled in to reflect the RFI and the proposal. If a candidate objects to any of
the contract provisions, it should state the objections in its proposal. Failure to provide objections
creates an assumption that the candidate accepts all standard City contract terms and conditions.
Attached Exhibit: Sample Artist Contract and Non-Collusion Affidavit
Please see page 17 of this RFI for reference.
70.1 Interpretation and translation services
Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you need them, please
contact us at dcab@durhamnc.gov or (919) 560-4197, ext. 21243, by: Friday, June 5, 2026.
Hay servicios de interpretacion y traduccion a su disposicion sin costo alguno. Si los necesita,
pongase en contacto con nosotros mandando un correo electronico a dcab@durhamnc.gov o
llamando a (919) 560-4197, ext. 21243, hasta esta fecha: viernes, 5 de junio, 2026.
80-90 Reserved
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100. Insurance Requirements of Selected Candidate
(a) Automobile Liability Insurance
Selected Candidate will be required to carry personal automobile insurance at or above the
minimum liability limits in accordance with the state laws of North Carolina throughout the
life of this contract for every vehicle driven by the contractor, the contractor's employees, or
any sub-contractor hired by the contractor for this contract. Contractor will be required to
submit proof of automobile insurance for all vehicles driven in service of the contract as well
as proof of renewal for the automobile insurance policies once they have expired. At no time
should automobile insurance lapse during the life of the contract.
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(b) Commercial General Liability Insurance
Selected Candidate will be required to carry Commercial General Liability insurance with a
combined single limit of no less than $1,000,000 for each occurrence and $2,000,000
aggregate. The selected Candidate agrees to endorse the City as an Additional Insured on the
Commercial General Liability. The Additional Insured shall read "City of Durham as its interest
may appear."
(c) Worker's Compensation & Employers Liability Insurance
Selected Candidate may be required to carry Worker's Compensation & Employers Liability
Insurance in compliance with Chapter 97 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
110. Discretion of the City
A. The City of Durham reserves the right to (i) reject any, any part of, or all proposals, or (ii)
accept that proposal which the City deems to be in its best interest.
B. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this document or in any addendums to this
document, unless the contrary provision refers specifically to this provision, the City reserves
the right (i) to negotiate changes of any nature with any candidate with respect to any term,
condition, or provision in this document and/or in any proposals, whether or not something is
stated to be mandatory and whether or not it is said that a proposal will be rejected if certain
information or documentation is not submitted with it, and (ii) to enter into an agreement for
some or all of the work with one or more persons, firms, or corporations that do not submit
proposals. For example, all deadlines are for the administrative convenience or needs of the
City and may be waived by the City in its discretion. This subparagraph B applies to the entire
RFI.
C. Where the City asks or tells candidates to do stated things, such as that a proposal should
follow a stated format or that the candidate should do stated things in seeking the contract, the
City may reject a proposal because it does not comply with those requests, so the candidate is
adding to its risk of rejection by non-compliance. Still, the City may, in its discretion, waive non-
compliance. This subsection (C) does not limit subsections (A) and (B).
D. Once a contract is signed, the parties to the contract may enforce the contract according to
its terms as allowed by applicable law.
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SCHEDULE
120. Schedule
The Durham Artist-in-Residence Pilot Program is scheduled to begin in September 2026 and run for
12 months. If the program launch is delayed, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. The City
expects that the contract will require services to be complete by August 31, 2027. The contract will
end in winter 2028 in the event of delays.
Open Call for Artists/RFI Release/Promotion Monday, May 18, 2026
Pre-Submittal Meeting for Potential Applicants Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Open Call/RFI Deadline (Last date for receipt of proposals): Thursday, June 18, 2026
Confirmation of RFI Receipt
from City of Durham to Candidates Thursday, June 18, 2026
Review Committee to meet to evaluate submissions Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Finalist Interviews July 6 - July 10, 2026
City to notify Artist(s) of decision Friday, July 17, 2026
Contract Development & Signing July - August 2026
Residency Kick-Off & Orientation September 2026
Community Engagement, Design, and Installation September 2026 - August 2027
Final Presentation, Documentation & Project Closeout August 2027
130. Reserved
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140. Deadline to Receive Submissions
Candidates should see that their proposals are received by 3:00 PM ET on Thursday, June 18, 2026
via Submittable.
Please email any questions regarding submission to Project Manager Jo Palazuelos-Krukowski
(jo.palazuelos.krukowski@durhamnc.gov) with the following subject line: "Public Art RFI: Durham
Artist-in-Residence Program" by Monday, June 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
The Project Manager will distribute all questions and answers to those respondents who have
requested RFIs from the City. No other City official or employee is empowered to speak for the City
with respect to this RFI.
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