Visual artists and designers are asked to submit their qualifications and portfolio examples by March 17.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) wants to wrap a bus with a design “celebrating diversity and cultural inclusion in Charlotte,” and CATS wants a Charlotte-area artist to be a part of the process.
As part of a project funded by the city of Charlotte, CATS is taking applications through March 17, then will pick at least one artist living and/or working in the CATS service area to create the design.
Visual artists and designers are asked to submit their qualifications and portfolio examples, though notably artists should not submit proposals for bus wrap designs.
The application is free to submit, and CATS is specifically encouraging emerging artists and historically underrepresented artists to apply. Artists who don’t live within the CATS service area can request an exception to apply if they can demonstrate a connection to the area’s indigenous cultures.
The chosen artist will be asked to create a design encompassing the Queen City’s diversity with art “representing all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities, veteran status, etc.” Further, since the art will be on a moving vehicle, artists have to consider how to best use the two long sides and back of the bus.
Between March 18 and April 5, a selection committee made up of CATS and city employees as well as art professionals will consider the applications and ultimately choose an artist. The committee will be considering aesthetic ability and experience, the artist’s statement of interest, and if the artist has demonstrated an ability to work on a budget and a schedule.
The artist chosen will receive $500 once a conceptual proposal is accepted, and $3,500 once the final design is approved. The bus, once wrapped with the design, will be in circulation in the service area for around one year.
