Calls to Artists and Requests for Qualifications
We seek local, regional and national artists that can add their impact on our cultural community through their work.
the arts & Science council - requests for qualifications (public art)
spirit square garden walk
Deadline HAS SINCE PASSED (AUGUST 4TH, 2025)
Applications must be received via (https://asc.slideroom.com), an online application system. There is no fee to submit qualifications.
A full recording of the project’s “pre submittal interest meeting” is available at the bottom of this page.
For complete application information, including a project timeline, download the Request for Qualifications below.
Project Background
Significant renovations are underway at Spirit Square – a prominent block of Charlotte, NC. Spirit Square’s McGlohon Theater and Duke Energy Theater are being preserved, updated, and included in the design of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s New Main Library.
The Spirit Square Center for the Arts & Education is a historic, interdisciplinary arts venue offering classes, exhibits, meeting spaces, and theaters. Notably, it houses the McGlohon Theater, a former 1909 First Baptist Church sanctuary restored and reopened as a theater in 1980. Its historic architecture and charm make it a desired venue for a variety of events. The McGlohon Theater and black box Duke Energy Theater will undergo repairs and updates and share space with the New Main Library lobby.
Project Overview
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is accepting qualifications from artists/artist teams for a public art opportunity at the Spirit Square Garden Walk in Charlotte, North Carolina. The selected artist/s will work with ASC, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County Asset and Facility Management, architects Clark Nexsen and Snøhetta, and the local community to create an immersive artwork that responds to the parameters of the site, the aesthetics of the architecture, and the themes identified by the project team.
The Garden Walk entrance, between the McGlohon Theater and Duckworth’s restaurant, has been identified as the site for the installation of a three-dimensional artwork. Specifically, the artwork should address the stucco wall at this entrance. Selected artist(s) will play a central role in shaping the vision for this installation, actively directing both the design and the preparation of the site.
The intent is to create a dynamic and interactive piece that resonates with the local community and visitors alike, while also complementing the historic and artistic context of the surrounding area.
See complete project details in the “Request for Qualifications” below.