BACKGROUND
The City of Charlotte Placemaking Program helps neighborhoods and activity centers by funding projects that create active and inviting public spaces, activating leftover and/or underutilized public spaces, implementing enhanced streetscapes, and demonstrating how public spaces can help transform neighborhoods by creating vibrant gathering spaces.
The Charlotte Urban Design Center (UDC) manages the Placemaking Program and works with other divisions and departments within the city to integrate public art, gathering spaces, and celebrations into capital and economic development projects.
The UDC developed the Creative Pool program to help connect local professional creatives to city- and community-led placemaking projects in Charlotte. Applying provides an opportunity for creatives and creative teams to reach a broad audience through placemaking. This application is open to creatives working in all media with demonstrated experience collaborating with architects, landscape architects, engineers, fabricators, installers, and/or community members.
The UDC will use the Creative Pool as a prequalified list to match creatives with opportunities commensurate with skills and experience.
The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternative formats, language access and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please email ria.naab@charlottenc.gov.
OVERVIEW
The city is accepting qualifications from local professional creatives (visual artists, performing artists, fabricators, photographers, poets, etc.), teams of creatives, and artist management businesses/organizations for potential inclusion in the 2026 Prequalified Creative Pool (Pool).
Creatives selected from the Pool may be commissioned to produce original work(s) and/or contracted to collaborate with the city to provide design or management services for art elements at several specific placemaking projects. Projects will vary in scale and scope. Opportunities include working with placemaking grant recipients who need an artist or fabricator, photographing community or city events, and completing public art commissions through capital projects or city programs. Creatives may also provide engagement services for planning efforts. Upon request, the UDC will share the Creative Pool list with community members and business leaders seeking help with their own creative projects.
Projects will range in scale and scope. Possibilities may involve:
- Pavement surface enhancements.
- Seating.
- Bike racks.
- Handrails.
- Lighting.
- Kinetics.
- Murals and street murals.
- Photography.
- Live performances.
- And more.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants not meeting the following eligibility guidelines will be withdrawn from consideration:
- Submittal of a complete application.
- Work samples demonstrate an ability to create dynamic, site-specific artworks and/or the ability to tie creative work to a place or community.
- The creative’s resume demonstrates evidence of professional competence and experience working in collaboration with architects, landscape architects, engineers, fabricators, installers, and/or community members.
- Local creatives and creative teams are required to live within Mecklenburg County with a preference for Charlotte residents.
SELECTION PROCESS
This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the UDC to identify the most highly qualified creatives for several upcoming opportunities throughout Charlotte. As part of this process, applications from creatives who wish to be included in the Pool will be pre-screened by city staff for compliance with RFQ eligibility requirements.
The UDC will then review all eligible applications to create a prequalified pool of creatives, creative teams, and creative management businesses/organizations. Those accepted into the Pool will be notified by the city via email.
City staff will then use the prequalified pool to make recommendations to the Placemaking Program and city departments, matching artists to specific opportunities on a project-by-project basis.
PLEASE NOTE: Inclusion in the Pool does not guarantee a commission, but we will share opportunities and open submittals to our email list throughout the year.
TIMELINE
- Jan. 29: Applications released.
- March 5: Portfolio workshop for creatives at all levels. Questions about the Creative Pool and this application are welcome during this event.
- March 13 at 5 p.m. EST: Application submission deadline.
- April 10: Selection review and notifications sent.
TO APPLY
Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. EST on March 13, 2026.
