Visiting Artist Program

This inaugural year of the Visiting Artist Project will support the community’s creation of memorable places, the promotion of Asheville’s African American history, and participation by the local community in diverse acts of cultural expression.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW 

The Public Art and Cultural Commission and the City of Asheville announce that three artists/artist teams have been chosen as finalists for the City’s first-ever Visiting Artist Program.

The artists are:

• Jefferson Pinder;
• Art Ecologie Featuring: Monique Luck, Flavia Lovatelli and Francisco Gonzalez;
• The Color Dreamers Featuring: Amir Shakir and Ivette Cabrera. 

Three artists/semi-finalists have been invited to submit proposals to the Leadership Team and the Public Art and Cultural Commission, who will be selecting the winning project based on proposal elements and input gathered from the public.

FINALIST PROPOSALS - SURVEY

STAND ALONE PROPOSAL LINKS

For more information watch a video about the artist site visit here. 

SELECTION PROCESS 

Mon, Sept 17 - Final Artist Proposals are due

Thurs, Sept 20 - Public feedback survey added to Open City Hall (open until Thursday October 4th). Paper surveys will be available at the following community centers starting next week: Stephens Lee, Tempie Avery Montford Center, Senior Opportunity Center, Rev. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, the Harvest House, Burton Street Center and Shiloh Center.

Thurs, Sept 20 - Public Feedback Party (AAAC Refinery from 5:30-7:30 pm)

Tues, Oct 9 - VAP Leadership Team ranks proposals and creates recommendation

Thurs, Oct 11 - Selected final proposal presented at PACC meeting for final approval (City Hall, 1st floor conference room from 4-5 pm)

Fri, Oct 12 - Announcement of the selected artist(s)/proposal

Oct 18-20 - African Americans in WNC & South Appalachia Conference

Fri, Oct 19, VAP presentation on at 1 pm in the Mountain View Room of UNCA Sherrill Center

Oct 22- Nov 12 - Call for Local Artists (to be evaluated by Leadership Team and by finalist

Dec 2018 - Contracts finalized

Jan 1- Oct 1, 2019 - Project implementation (exact dates TBD, but sometime in this period)

PRESS

Listen to BPR’s Waters and Harvey show piece on the project

Read more about what's happened  on the City's Blog

Read more on the Visiting Artist Program from the Mountain Xpress. 

Photos, left to right: Community engagement at the painting of the Triangle Park Mural; craftsmanship of master mason James Vester Miller; celebrants at the Goombay Festival

The 2018 partnership is funded by the City’s Percent for Public Art Policy, sponsored by the Public Art and Cultural Commission, and being guided by a leadership team of artists, arts and culture educators, activists, and promoters including:

Darin Waters
Brent Skidmore
Viola Spells
Ron Laboray
Katie Cornell

Steph Monson Dahl
Shirley Whitesides
Jay Miller
Michael Carter
Sheneika Smith

The leadership team is seeking additional partnerships with the community. We’d like to connect with others that have similar projects underway, and we are interested in talking to potential sponsors who can help increase the quality of the community's involvement in this project.

For more information contact:

Steph Monson Dahl
City of Asheville Strategic Development Director
smonson@ashevillenc.gov
828-337-4111