Clayton Seeks First "Artist-in-Residence"

The Town of Clayton is seeking a conceptual artist to be the community's first Artist-in-Residence, a position that will take the lead in helping build Clayton's reputation as an arts community.

A "Request-for-Qualification" (RFQ) with a Nov. 11 submission deadline is ready for regional distribution.

"It's not something that a lot of small towns have, but it expresses our commitment to establishing a reputation for Clayton as an arts community," Mayor Jody McLeod said. "I'm really excited that we're going to have someone working with us to provide vision and guidance."

The Artist-in-Residence will provide vision for a collaboration of art and space in new town projects, as well as finding ways to bring out more of the beauty that's already here, the Mayor said. But, perhaps the position's greatest responsibility will center on working with residents, organizations and town officials to promote the arts in step with the community's unique values and identity, he said.

The idea for an Artist-in-Residence came out of a January "idea session" that included members of the Town Council and the Public Arts Advisory Board.

Town officials hope to make a decision on a candidate by mid-December. The budget for the position is $15,000.

Town officials have put more and more effort in recent years into building the town's reputation for the arts. The town's first public art pieces--murals at Town Hall and the Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library--were unveiled over the last couple of years, and the new Cultural Arts Grant Committee, formed four years ago, has already awarded $76,000 in arts grants to local arts groups.

Town officials have said they intend to increase spending for the arts as the economy improves.

For a copy of the RFQ, please click here.