The North Carolina Zoo and North Carolina Zoo Society announce a new public art opportunity for artists and artist teams to design art for the new continent of Asia. With a budget of $250,000 provided through the Zoo Society, this project will join the more than 150 works of art in and around the Zoo.
The first step of the process, the Request for Qualifications, has begun and calls for artists (and artist teams) to submit their qualifications for the design, fabrication, and installation of a permanent outdoor public art project for installation within Asia. The request will run through Feb. 2, 2024.
The art collection at the Zoo includes monumental works ranging from our iconic "Elephant Group," by Peter Woytuk, welcoming guests as they enter the Zoo, to the "Bridge to Africa," by Jim Hirschfield and Sonya Ishii, as well as more intimate surprises like our "Preening Heron," by William H. Turner tucked away overlooking the Swamp. No matter which piece of the collection is on view, the art at the Zoo is intrinsically linked to our guest experience and educational mission.
The focus of the artistic collection within the Zoo is to enhance further the understanding and appreciation of our animals, wildlife, and natural habitat. All professional artists or artist-led teams ages 18 and above are eligible and encouraged to apply.
The project will be a three-phase selection process, including a qualification phase, a design phase, and the final selection phase. The timeline for the project is:
• Request for Qualification Released: November 2023
• Request for Qualification Submission Deadline: Feb. 2, 2024
• Shortlist Artists/Artist Teams Notified: February 2024
• Shortlisted Artists/Artist Teams Proposal Presentations: April 2024
• Finalized Proposal Presentation Open for Donor Vote: May 2024
• Selected Artists/Artist Teams Notification: May 2024
• Contract Executed: May 2024
• Artwork Installation: Fall 2025
The artwork selected will be installed within Asia, set to open in 2026.
Learn more about the construction of Asia at the North Carolina Zoo here: https://www.nczoo.org/visit/asia
For more information on this and other public art at the Zoo, visit: https://www.nczoo.org/publicart.
Submit your qualifications by Feb. 2 to the Zoo’s Curator of Design Angela Reavis (Angela.Reavis@nczoo.org).
About the North Carolina Zoo
At the North Carolina Zoo, we celebrate nature. As the world's largest natural habitat zoo, we inspire a lifelong curiosity about animals in the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our zoo each year. Our dedicated team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate care for the more than 1,700 animals and 52,000 plants that call our park home. We also lead efforts locally and globally to protect wildlife and wild places because we believe nature's diversity is critical for our collective future. The North Carolina Zoo invites all of our guests to witness the majesty of the wild in the heart of North Carolina and welcomes everyone to join in our mission to protect nature's diversity. Visit NCZoo.org to begin your life-changing journey.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov/.