The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh sits on 160 acres of land that was formerly a military training ground and later a prison and prison farm. Civitas was engaged by the museum to explore how Museum Park could be developed to bring the museum into nature. The museum had already developed trails, placed sculpture and begun managing the land toward a more natural state.

The design for the park creates multiple new experiences, places, and venues for art appreciation, activity and a broad range of events to engage new audiences. There will be expanded sculpture installations, however the goal of the project is to expand the range of education, events and experiences that take place today and take them outside. The park will focus on engaging art and nature, elevating public health, and broadening the definition of the traditional gallery by encouraging personal interaction with art and nature together.

The project is privately funded for Phase One, which provides a patterned native garden, an art promenade that connects the interior and exterior galleries, a major outdoor venue for art and social events, and parking set into a wooded grove. The project is happening in conjunction with the re-interpretation of the former prison smokestack by artist Jim Hodges, establishing the first site-specific work of art commissioned for the park.