wayfinding artist-in-residence

Project Summary

• A one-year artist collaboration with the City of Raleigh Department of Transportation Sign Shop.
• Create artful wayfinding that helps visitors navigate from site to site around downtown.
• Organize a minimum of 2 community events/classes.
• Access to the City of Raleigh Sign shop facilities (under the supervision of the transportation department), and materials will be provided at cost.

About the Residency

The sign-shop artist in residence will collaborate with the Raleigh Department of Traffic Services division of Signs and Markings. This division is responsible for creating and maintaining street signs throughout the City of Raleigh. They have a full on-site shop to create and repair traffic signs that includes vinyl cutters and sign materials.

The Artwork created as part of this residency should provide placemaking and creative wayfinding for pedestrians in Raleigh and inspire appreciation of transportation infrastructure. Artists are encouraged to reference the Downtown Raleigh Economic Development Strategy plan.

The artwork can help visitors navigate from site to site around downtown, add family-friendly itineraries and routes, and improve the legibility and coherence of downtown districts.

Responsibilities of the artist in residence include:

1. Create artistic wayfinding that defines routes and districts around downtown.
2. Plan and hold a minimum of 2 events/classes. These can include workshops, community artwork construction, teaching about NCDOT operations and infrastructure and/or additional opportunities.
3. Spend approximately 10 hours per week on Residency duties.
4. The Artist will be expected to prepare a plan with a budget within the first two months for creating artworks, workshops, engagement opportunities, and an artist stipend. The Artist's proposal for residency funding and milestones will be approved by the Public Art and Design Board.

The City will provide:

1. A dedicated staff member from Raleigh Arts to meet with the artist once per week.
2. Transportation and Sign shop staff to meet with the artist on an as needed basis.
3. A 1-day orientation and training at the sign shop to familiarize the artist with materials, processes, and safety.
4. The Artist is invited to gather artmaking materials from the recycled discarded signs at the sign shop. They can also use materials and labor of the sign shop at cost.
5. The Sign shop will provide fabrication labor (within our capabilities) at no charge to the artist.

Recycled Signs: The transportation team replaces and maintains damaged signs and signals. As a result they have a stockpile of old and outdated signs. The selected artist may use the defunct road signs in the recycling pile to create artwork as approved by transportation.

The artist will also need to take roadway safety regulations into account when designing any artwork. Transportation staff will make sure that signs do not conflict with MUTCD and regulatory compliance.