Raleigh Greenway Tunnels 2026: North Carolina Artists Sought for Three $30,000 Public-Art Commissions
Three outdoor public-art commissions on Raleigh's Greenway
The City of Raleigh, North Carolina, is inviting professional artists and teams to express interest in creating permanent artworks for entrances or wing walls of three Greenway tunnels. The city’s Raleigh Arts division published the call in October 2026; the deadline is November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local Raleigh time. Three artists or teams are expected to be selected, with a project budget of US$30,000 per commission. This is an artist qualification process, not a guaranteed award for everyone who submits a portfolio.
The project involves tunnel entrances and wing walls used by walkers, cyclists and local residents. The City identifies ceramic or mosaic installations, fabricated metalwork and similar weather-resistant media as suitable. Conventional painted murals alone are not necessarily equivalent to the durable construction methods requested in the RFQ.
Eligibility: applicants must be connected to North Carolina
The detailed city RFQ limits applications to people or teams who live or work in North Carolina, are legally authorised to work in the United States and are at least 18 years old. Applicants should have at least three years of professional artistic practice and demonstrate design experience. The lead applicant cannot be enrolled in an undergraduate visual-arts course on the date specified in the RFQ.
This locally restricted opportunity should not be promoted as a worldwide open call merely because the project is featured online. Teams should check that each required individual meets the city’s eligibility criteria. The work also requires on-site collaboration and fabrication, rather than only uploading a digital sketch.
What the $30,000 budget covers
Each of the three final commissions has an all-inclusive US$30,000 project budget, rather than a US$30,000 personal prize on top of separate production costs. Applicants need to account for artistic fees, design development, technical drawings where necessary, fabrication, materials, insurance, transportation, taxes, safety and site installation. The City expects installations suitable for outdoor use with minimal ongoing maintenance.
A group of semi-finalists will be invited to prepare more detailed proposals for a separate small honorarium. Public documents contain inconsistent figures for this preliminary stipend; candidates should ask Raleigh Arts to confirm the amount rather than budgeting on a single unverified number.
What to submit
The RFQ asks for a statement of interest of up to 300 words, or a short audio or video alternative; a one-page biography; contact information for three professional references; and eight digital images documenting recent completed works, with identifying information. Applicants should show evidence of durable public-art installation, collaborative project management and work accessible to diverse communities. Final sites are provided to semi-finalists by Raleigh Arts.
Applications must be made through the official SlideRoom form linked from the city website. Entries submitted late or without required materials may be rejected. The city intends to continue planning, community engagement and art production through 2027; programme dates can change as the infrastructure works proceed.
Organizer record and practical risk checks
Raleigh Arts is part of the City of Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department. The project follows the City’s Capital Area Greenway Master Plan and 2022 Parks Bond, which directed funding toward art and improvements along the multi-use trails. The public-art team held community rides and consultations with local organization Oaks and Spokes in 2025 to understand desired places and artwork types.
Because the government website names a responsible municipal department, a detailed artist RFQ, official application channel and city project managers, the project has clearer accountability than an anonymous art marketplace advertisement. Nevertheless, any awarded contract will require careful review of construction, installation, safety and copyright terms.
Official documents
City of Raleigh project page: https://raleighnc.gov/arts/services/public-art/greenways-public-art
Official RFQ: https://cityofraleigh0drupal.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/drupal-prod/COR24/artist-call-greenway-tunnels.pdf
The application portal is linked from the City’s page. Deadline: November 20, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Raleigh local time. Checked against city materials on October 18, 2026.