Call for Artists
The America 250 NC Initiative within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is seeking qualifications from professional illustrators or artists from across North Carolina to design and create an original work of art to be reproduced as a poster and disseminated in classrooms across North Carolina.
One piece will depict numerous historical figures as “Revolutionary North Carolinians” that span across our history from the American Revolution to today. These figures will be selected by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The other piece will be an original work by the selected artist with the theme, “What freedom means to me,” as related to the America 250 NC commemoration, to help connect enduring social themes from this nation’s founding to modern North Carolinians.
There is not a preferred medium, but the work must be two dimensional. Please email all submissions to Anna Freeman at Anna.Freeman@dncr.nc.gov
Request for Qualifications Project: North Carolinian Revolutionaries
Artist Stipend: $3,500
Deadline: April 10, 2025
Project Summary and Goals:
The America 250 NC Initiative within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is seeking qualifications from professional illustrators or artists to design and create an original work of art to be reproduced as a poster and disseminated in classrooms across North Carolina. The piece would depict numerous historical figures as “Revolutionary North Carolinians” that span across our history from the American Revolution to today. These figures will be selected by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. There is not a preferred medium, but the work must be two dimensional.
The goals of this project are:
• To create meaningful connections between North Carolina school children and the United States founding ideals, equality, liberty, and personal freedom that we continue to strive for.
• Produce a work of art that expresses the themes of the 250th anniversary commemoration in North Carolina for generations to come.
• To produce an artwork that could be connected to North Carolina’s last 250 years of statehood.
• To produce a visual representation of North Carolinian’s identities as inheritors of a revolutionary legacy.
Project Profile
In 2026, the United States will commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the development of a new nation dedicated to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” In the years since, our country has undergone many changes and faced many challenges. This commemoration offers us a unique opportunity to reflect upon our country’s founding ideals. America 250 NC is an agency within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources which aims to provide resources, connections, and historical guiding themes to communities across North Carolina in service of the commemoration.
Artist Eligibility & Submissions: Preference will be given to North Carolina artists or artist teams.
Submission Guidelines
• An artist statement, 100-300 words of interest in the project
• Three references with e-mail and telephone contact information
• Artist resume or biography. Resumes can have a maximum of two pages. Biographies can have a maximum of 250 words.
• Examples of other relevant works and/or reviews of similar work. Maximum of five (5) images. Each image submitted as a .jpg and label with the artist’s last name, image number, and image title. For example: Smith_01.jpg, Smith_02.jpg, etc. Images must be 1028 x728 pixels (or smaller) and at least 72 dpi.
Budget:
The total amount to be paid to the artist is a stipend of $3,500 inclusive of travel, and the design and fabrication of the art piece. The artist’s fee is also inclusive of all materials and equipment necessary to complete the project.
Artist Responsibilities
• The artist must complete an orientation with America 250 NC to the themes and overarching goals of the project.
• The selected artist will create a detailed color drawing/design, for the painting that reflects the artist’s proposal for final approval by the selection committee.
• Artist works with DNCR to create an artist’s statement that is no longer than 1000 words.
Selection Process
This project has a two-step selection process. After applications are received, the selection panel will invite up to three artists to interview. selected artist will return to meet with the selection committee and create a proposal.
Evaluation Criteria – Step #1 Three finalists will be selected based upon:
• Artistic accomplishment demonstrated by images of previously completed artwork.
• Technical competence and comparable scale of past works.
• Demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget.
Evaluation Criteria – Step #1 The selection of an artist, or artist team, will be based upon:
• Artistic merits of the design
• Concept reflects stated goals of the project
• Artist’s qualifications
• Originality of the design
For additional information on this project: contact: Anna Freeman at anna.freeman@dncr.nc.gov
Request for Qualifications
Project: Painting of Freedom’s Meaning
Artist Stipend: $3,500
Deadline: April 10, 2025
Project Summary and Goals
The America 250 NC Initiative within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is seeking qualifications from professional artists to create an original work of art that will be reproduced in the form of posters that will be disseminated to classrooms across North Carolina. There is not a preferred medium, but the work must be two dimensional.
The theme for the artwork is, “What freedom means to me,” as related to the America 250 NC commemoration, and helps connect enduring social themes from this nation’s founding to modern North Carolinians.
The goals of this project are:
To create meaningful connections between North Carolina school children and the United States founding ideals, equality, liberty, and personal freedom that we continue to strive for.
Produce a work of art that expresses the themes of the 250th anniversary commemoration in North Carolina for generations to come.
To produce an artwork that could be connected to North Carolina’s last 250 years of statehood.
To produce a visual representation of North Carolinian’s identities as inheritors of a revolutionary legacy.
Project Profile
In 2026, the United States will commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the development of a new nation dedicated to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” In the years since, our country has undergone many changes and faced many challenges. This commemoration offers us a unique opportunity to reflect upon our country’s founding ideals. America 250 NC is an agency within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources which aims to provide resources, connections, and historical guiding themes to communities across North Carolina in service of the commemoration.
Artist Eligibility & Submissions
Preference will be given to North Carolina and local/regional artists or artist teams. All artists are eligible to apply.
Submission Guidelines
An artist statement, 100-300 words of interest in the project
Three references with e-mail and telephone contact information
Artist resume or biography. Resumes can have a maximum of two pages. Biographies can have a maximum of 250 words.
Examples of other relevant works and/or reviews of similar work. Maximum of five (5) images. Each image submitted as a .jpg and label with the artist’s last name, image number, and image title. For example: Smith_01.jpg, Smith_02.jpg, etc. Images must be 1028 x728 pixels (or smaller) and at least 72 dpi.
The total amount to be paid to the artist is a stipend of $3,500 inclusive of travel, and the design and fabrication of the art piece. The artist’s fee is also inclusive of all materials and equipment necessary to complete the project.
Artist Responsibilities
The artist must complete an orientation with America 250 NC to the themes and overarching goals of the project.
The selected artist will create a detailed color drawing/design, for the painting that reflects the artist’s proposal for final approval by the selection committee.
Artist works with DNCR to create an artist’s statement that is no longer than 1000 words.
Selection Process
This project has a two-step selection process. After applications are received, the selection panel will invite up to three artists to interview. selected artist will return to meet with the selection committee and create a proposal.
Evaluation Criteria – Step #1
Three finalists will be selected based upon:
Artistic accomplishment demonstrated by images of previously completed artwork.
Technical competence and comparable scale of past works.
Demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget.
Evaluation Criteria – Step #2
The selection of an artist, or artist team, will be based upon:
Artistic merits of the design
Concept reflects stated goals of the project
Artist’s qualifications
Originality of the design
For additional information on this project: contact: Anna Freeman at anna.freeman@dncr.nc.gov