Residenza artistica “Civic Art in Public Environments” (CAPE)

The City of Durham, through its Cultural and Public Art Program in partnership with the Transportation Department, is launching the Civic Art in Public Environments (CAPE) Artist Residency. The pilot program offers a $40,000 budget for an artist (or artist team) to develop and install public‑art solutions in four city parking garages, integrating storytelling, community engagement, and problem‑solving into civic infrastructure. The residency runs for one year, beginning in late summer 2026, and embeds the artist within city departments to capture local voices and address issues such as mental health, safety, and community isolation through creative interventions. Selection will be made by a panel of residents, arts professionals, and public‑private sector representatives, with extra consideration given to local artists. The process uses a Request for Interest (RFI) application, and there is no fixed deadline – applications are accepted on a rolling basis.