Wall Street Steps Mural - RFQ

Start Date: February 10, 2026

Deadline: March 10, 2026

The Asheville Downtown Association (ADA), the Asheville Downtown Association Foundation (ADAF), and the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) are seeking qualified artists and artist teams based in Western North Carolina to submit qualifications for a temporary, site-responsive mural installation on the Wall Street Steps in Downtown Asheville.

The stairwell was previously activated through a mural depicting Catawba Falls by local artist Ian Wilkinson, and this update is envisioned as a temporary public art project. This approach allows the stairwell to remain an active and evolving part of Downtown Asheville’s public realm while creating opportunities for artists and renewed engagement for the community. This project is intended to complement broader placemaking, wayfinding, and signage efforts along Wall Street, promoting activation and supporting creative culture within Downtown.

The stairwell is located at 43 Wall Street and connects Battery Park Avenue and Wall Street. It is a highly visible pedestrian corridor on City-owned property and an important gateway within Downtown.

Wall Street began its life as a service alley between Battery Park Avenue to the north, Patton Avenue to the south, Otis Street to the west, and Battery Park at Haywood Road to the east, and today hosts independently owned shops, award-winning restaurants, and unique cultural spaces.

Project Goals

ADA, ADAF, and ADID envision the mural as a high-quality public art activation that:

Enhances Downtown wayfinding and the pedestrian experience
Reflects and celebrates the neighborhood’s unique history and character
Amplifies local creative talent and creates paid opportunities for local artists
Invites engagement from residents, workers, and visitors
Increases pedestrian foot traffic and activity along Wall Street

Process

ADA, ADAF, and ADID envision the mural as a high-quality public art activation that:

Enhances Downtown wayfinding and the pedestrian experience
Reflects and celebrates the neighborhood’s unique history and character
Amplifies local creative talent and creates paid opportunities for local artists
Invites engagement from residents, workers, and visitors
Increases pedestrian foot traffic and activity along Wall Street

Project Administration

ADAF will contract directly with the selected artist and administer payment. The City of Asheville owns the site and will provide permitting oversight.

Selection Panel

AA selection panel made up of community members and arts professionals, as well as Wall Street stakeholders, including the Wall Street Business Association, will participate in the review process and provide feedback. The panel informs the decision of ADA, ADAF, and ADID, which retain final selection authority.

Budget, Contracting & Key Requirements

The total budget for the Wall Street Mural Steps Project is $6,000. This amount is intended to cover the full scope of the artist’s work, including design development, materials, equipment, labor, and installation. The selected artist or artist team will be responsible for procuring all materials, supplies, insurance coverage, and equipment necessary to complete the mural.

Maintenance In addition to the artist budget, ADAF has allocated $2,000 for routine conservation and minor touch-ups over the first three years following installation. This maintenance reserve will be administered by ADAF and is not part of the artist contract or project budget.

Insurance/Indemnification Following selection, the artist will enter into a project agreement with the ADAF. While a full contract is not included as part of this RFQ, the agreement will include standard provisions typical of public art projects on City-owned property, including but not limited to:

General liability insurance naming the City of Asheville and the Asheville Downtown Association Foundation as additional insureds
Indemnification and hold-harmless provisions related to the artist’s work
Compliance with applicable City permits, safety standards, and ADA requirements

Detailed contract terms, permitting steps will be reviewed with the selected artist prior to execution of the agreement.

Proposed Timeline

Tuesday, Tuesday, February 10th: Artist RFQ publicly released
Tuesday, March 10th: RFQ submission deadline
Week of Mar 16: Panelist Deliberation, artist notification
Week of Mar 23: Artist design kickoff meeting
Week of Apr 20: Artist design draft due
Week of Apr 27: Design review and community presentation (public; panelists
encouraged to attend)
Week of May 11: Final design approval
May–June 2026: Mural implementation and site preparation

*Timeline is subject to change

Submissions should demonstrate capacity to manage all phases of the project with high quality outcomes, on time and within budget. This is a qualifications-only RFQ. Concept designs are not required at this stage.

RFQ Submission Requirements Artist Qualifications: Candidates should show: