ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS)— The North Carolina Zoo and North Carolina Zoo Society are seeking artists and artist teams to design and create permanent outdoor public art for the Zoo’s new Asia continent, with a $250,000 budget supporting the project.
The Request for Qualifications opened in November and closes Feb. 2, 2024. All professional artists and artist-led teams ages 18 and older are eligible to apply.
The selected artwork will join more than 150 pieces in the Zoo’s collection, ranging from monumental sculptures like Peter Woytuk’s iconic “Elephant Group” at the Zoo’s entrance to intimate installations like William H. Turner’s “Preening Heron” overlooking the Swamp.
“The focus of the artistic collection within the Zoo is to enhance further the understanding and appreciation of our animals, wildlife, and natural habitat,” according to Zoo officials.
The project will unfold through three phases: a qualification phase, a design phase, and a final selection phase. Shortlisted artists will present proposals in April 2024, with donor voting in May. The selected artist or team will be notified in May 2024, with installation scheduled for fall 2025.
The artwork will be installed within Asia before the continent opens to the public in 2026.
Recent additions to the Zoo’s art collection include “Bridge to Africa” by Jim Hirschfield and Sonya Ishii, works that complement the Zoo’s educational mission and enhance visitor experience.
Artists interested in submitting qualifications should contact Angela Reavis, the Zoo’s Curator of Design, at Angela.Reavis@nczoo.org. More information about the project and other public art at the Zoo is available at www.nczoo.org/publicart.
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