About

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation believes that art can open the door to conversation. Our investment in inclusive public art is intended to share stories of diversity, equality, inclusion and equity as they relate to the people and places of North Carolina, especially those whose stories are often untold or under told. After an impactful inaugural cohort, we know that this effort can catalyze community conversations that result in a shared and fuller understanding of our common history — and common bonds — as North Carolinians.

During the Foundation’s yearlong listening and learning tour across North Carolina, it was evident that legacies of racism and segregation are pervasive in many communities we visited, but are not discussed often in public unless there is a major issue involving race. Combined with the national reckoning regarding public art, monuments and race, the Foundation wanted to explore how art could serve as a starting place for people to engage in important — even difficult and courageous — conversations about their communities’ past, present and future.

In January 2022, ZSR and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation - the largest supporter of arts and humanities in the U.S. - announced a $2 million partnership to expand and continue our Inclusive Public Art Initiative across North Carolina. The partnership, which includes $1 million from both the Mellon Foundation and ZSR, supports commemorative and artist commissions – specifically focused on underrepresented narratives and communities. 

A birds-eye view of a large-scale portrait banner on the tower at Rocky Mount Mills with the river in the background.
Haliwa-Saponi artist Phillip Harley carves a tall, wood figurative sculpture with a hammer and chisel.

Criteria & process

This initiative aims to diversify the voices included in the decision-making processes about art in public places and is intended to spark healthy dialogue. The community engagement aspect of these grants is just as important as the art installations themselves. Therefore, the Foundation selects grantees that will authentically engage a cross-section of their communities in telling, discussing and perhaps even producing the story(ies) depicted in the art.

Projects/installations must express/demonstrate/depict one or more of the following:

  • Contributions or achievements of a North Carolina person or group, especially women and people of color, whose story in a particular part of the state has not been or is not often told;

  • Ways in which the racial and ethnic diversity of our communities makes our communities better; and/or,

  • Ways in which cultural differences strengthen our communities.

ZSR appointed an Inclusive Public Art Advisory Council (PAAC) to assist ZSR in reviewing Letters of Intent, and grant applications, to recommend semifinalists and finalists to ZSR’s Board of Trustees. ZSR's Board of Trustees makes final decisions regarding grant awards.

In addition to the PAAC, ZSR has contracted with Durham-based muralist and public art consultant Brenda Miller Holmes, who is serving as program coordinator for the Inclusive Public Art initiative. If you have any questions regarding ZSR’s Inclusive Public Art initiative, please reach out to her at brenda@brendamillerholmes.com.

If you have questions for the Foundation regarding other initiatives, please contact info@zsr.org.