Reimagining African Burial Ground Design Competition
Open call for architects, artists, and designers to create a memorial for the Enslaved African Burial Ground at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance (VCPA) and Design Trust for Public Space NYC are inviting architects, artists, and designers to participate in a Design Ideas Competition to reimagine the African Burial Ground located in Van Cortlandt Park. The site has been identified as the likely burial place of enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples who lived, worked, and died on the Van Cortlandt family plantation. With funding from the Mellon Foundation, this project aims to create a community-informed memorial design that connects Bronx neighbors and visitors to the history of the space, confronts its painful legacy, and invites opportunities for gathering, educating, and healing. The competition seeks to transform the largely unmarked site into a meaningful memorial that honors those buried there and provides space for reflection and community dialogue. Three winners will be selected and invited to create design materials. Winners will receive a $20,000 stipend and opportunities to speak at public events. The selection process involves a Request for Qualification (RFQ), with finalists notified by mid-February 2026 and design work beginning in Spring 2026. This project represents a significant opportunity to contribute to historical preservation, community healing, and social justice through creative design.