Fayetteville arts council seeks public art funding in draft capital plan, approves new community program and accepts Stephen Carr memorial

Fayetteville Arts Council members on a Feb. meeting discussed requests to fund public art in the city’s draft Capital Improvement Plan and approved a series of actions including a new rolling Community Arts Program and acceptance of a donated memorial for Officer Steven Carr.

Joanna, a city staff member who presented the Capital Improvement Plan overview, said the plan outlines “the financing, location and timing for capital improvement projects” and that the city prepares a five-year plan on a biennial cycle. “Arts and culture funding comes from the sales tax fund, for CIP projects,” she said, and the arts-related requests in this cycle aim to fund a major piece of public art on the city's West Side in 2026, completion of Nelson Hackett Boulevard projects, a bicentennial public-art program for 2027 and a cultural facilities study in 2029–2030.

The requests also include budget for a formal public-art plan and a maintenance fund for installed works. Joanna said the art line in the CIP request was prepared “in line with a 1% for the arts” concept, but emphasized this is a request only and that the total CIP budget and final allocations are not yet known.

The council debated a proposed public-art planning study and how it would relate to the Arts & Culture Master Plan. Joanna said the study would formalize procedures such as commissioning, accessioning and deaccessioning and establish guidance on when smaller versus larger works are appropriate.

Members heard updates on several active projects. Joanna and other council members reported that the parks mural installation is underway, and the West Avenue Garage Mall mural artist selection has narrowed to a finalist pending logistics such as visas and scheduling; the installation there is currently targeted for mid-May. The Nelson Hackett Boulevard call for submissions had 55 applications in by 4:30 p.m. on the day reported, with a special Arts Council meeting scheduled for March 5 at 6 p.m. to review entries and select four finalists.

Council members discussed naming and framing for a Ramble-linked public call tied to construction fencing on Dixon Street. After exchange about using the terms “diorama” and “pictorama,” the council voted to issue the call without locking the exhibition name, reserving the right to name the show after submissions are selected. The submission deadline for the Upper Ramble / Dixon call was set at April 1, and staff said the materials will likely be printed on a lightweight, vinyl-like substrate for installation on construction fencing; staff also noted the pieces could be archived on the city website and licensed for future use.

The Arts Council voted to replace the previous Ramble activation approach with a rolling Community Arts Program (CAP). Staff described CAP as a competitive, rolling call that will accept proposals from individual artists, nonprofit organizations and community groups for temporary, art-infused programming in parks and public spaces. Funding per proposal was described as flexible, ranging from micro-activations around $500 up to program series of about $7,000; staff said the program will run until the annual CAP budget is exhausted and proposals will be reviewed monthly by the council.

In a formal action, the council voted to accept a donated memorial for Officer Steven (Stephen) Carr. Staff said the Fayetteville Police Department commissioned artists Paul Seventhal and Alex Cogbill to design a six-sided steel memorial that incorporates Carr’s name, badge number and personal motifs chosen with his family; staff said the piece will be fabricated in stainless steel with backlit blue lucite and, if accepted, will join the city's public art collection and be owned and maintained by the city.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to issue the Dixon/Upper Ramble call for submissions and delay final naming of the exhibition — approved.

- Motion to create and implement the Community Arts Program (CAP) to replace the Ramble format — approved.

- Motion to accept the donated Stephen Carr memorial into the city’s public art collection — approved.

What this means next

Staff will publish the Dixon/Upper Ramble call (April 1 submission deadline), continue review of Nelson Hackett submissions and proceed with contracting steps for the West Avenue Garage Mall artist once logistical issues are resolved. The CAP program will open on a rolling basis and proposals will be reviewed monthly until the program budget for the year is exhausted. The memorial for Officer Carr will be fabricated and installed under city ownership and maintenance once manufacturing and site work are complete.

Council members emphasized that CIP requests are proposals only and that final funding depends on the overall CIP budget and City Council decisions during the budget process.