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Durham County showcases expanded public‑art program, prioritizes local and MWBE artists
Summary
County staff and the Public Art Coordinator reported plans for murals, library window art and community‑driven projects, saying 164 artists responded to a call and 11 of the 12 top artists are North Carolina residents; staff emphasized mentorship and community engagement for 2025 rollouts.
Perry Manns, deputy director for county engineering, and Sarah Martin, the county's contract Public Arts Coordinator, presented an update on Durham County's public‑art program and projects planned through 2025.
Martin said the county issued a nationwide RFQ and received 164 applications, narrowing the field to 12 top artists. “Our MWBE participation percentage of our top 12 scored applicants was 75%,” she told commissioners, and noted 11 of the 12 finalists live in North Carolina. Staff displayed images of completed pieces and designs for upcoming installations at county buildings and parking decks.
The presentation catalogued completed work—murals at the Youth Home Lobby, the Innovation Lab, and two pieces at the 300 East Main parking deck—and current efforts, including classroom panels at the Youth Home and a window‑activation design for the Stanford L. Warren Library. Martin said the library installation aims to transform a 16‑foot window into a nighttime “beacon” and incorporate historical imagery and symbols meaningful to local staff and patrons.
Commissioners and staff discussed durability and maintenance of outdoor murals and how community members will participate. Martin described a mentorship and cohort model for community painting events: visiting artists would work on site, engage youth and emerging artists, and provide maintenance plans specifying paints and sealants.
Vice Chair Burns and other commissioners praised the program's community input and asked staff to continue improving signage and online interpretive material for each installation. Martin said project statements and QR codes will appear at sites so visitors can learn about artists, materials and community input. A grand opening for the Stanford L. Warren project was tentatively scheduled for mid‑December.
The presentation is intended to support staffing decisions—Martin is currently a contract position that staff said will be evaluated for permanence as budgets allow—and to align the county's public art work with the city and cultural partners going into a cultural roadmap planning phase.
