Public Art Project Background: Thank you for your interest in the City’s Downtown Public Art Project. As part of
the Center Street Streetscape Project, the City made plans to incorporate public art into the street transformation
and design. Three round-a-bouts were created to manage traffic flow at the intersections throughout the corridor.
These round-a-bouts exist at the intersections of Center & Mulberry, Center & Walnut and Center & Chestnut. The
round-a-bout where Center Street crosses Walnut Street features “Cityscape,” a large granite fountain that serves
as a permanent focal point for the corridor. The two remaining round-a-bouts are designed to serve as platforms
for significantly sized sculpture pieces.
The City and 2015-16 Public Art Steering Committee made a decision to utilize these platforms to house public art
on an annual lease basis for several reasons. First and foremost, we believe having art changed out each year will
add an element of excitement and interest to downtown. Other benefits to this approach include: reduction of
upfront costs, reduction of long-term maintenance costs and the possibility that at some point, everyone will
experience a piece they favor and, if you don’t like a piece, you have the comfort of knowing it is temporary.
2015-16 Selection Process: City staff requested the assistance of people representing various interests to serve
on a steering committee, now named the Public Art Steering Committee (PASC). The Downtown Development
office worked with the Arts Council of Wayne County to identify a cross section of local artists, designers, and city
related staff or committee members to commit to helping us with the selection process. After a couple of
meetings, the PASC decided it was best to hire the services of a public art consultant to help identify possible
pieces and guide us in the process. This consultant identified available, leasable pieces for the PASC to view and
consider. Based on preferences, size, dimensions, scale/mass and availability, the PASC created a shortlist for
further consideration. The shortlisted pieces were then made available via the City’s website for one month to
gain feedback from the public. This feedback helped the Goldsboro City Council select the two that were chosen.
2020-21 Process: Our plan is to follow the same format outlined in the 2015-16 process. Since we are interested
in fresh perspectives, we maintain up to seven positions that will rotate new membership each year. We are
seeking to fill these positions with persons that are interested in public art and are able to be part of a team to
make decisions. Our interest is to have a diverse and new committee, thus selections to fill these positions will be
based on the following: 1) application submittals, 2) race, 3) sex, 4) age, 5) profession, 6) geographic area of
representation, 7) prior involvement, 8) organizational representation and, 9) ability to attend meetings.
Participation in two meetings is needed: 1) the meeting we review the submittals that respond to the Call for
Artists and narrow the selection for public input, and 2) the Public Art Installation Ceremony to be held in
October.
If this seems like something you are interested in, please complete the application and return to the Downtown
Development office by 12 p.m. Monday, July 20, 2020 to be considered. If you have any questions, please feel free
to call our office at 919-735-4959.
