18th & Lydia Parking Garage Public Art Commission

The City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art program seeks qualifications for a professional visual artist or artist team to design, fabricate, and install permanent wall-based public art for a new city parking garage in the 18th & Vine district. All art must fit within a reserved space measuring 29' H x 20' W on the north façade of the garage. Two to 5 semifinalist artists will be asked to advance to the RFP phase and propose designs. Semifinalists will be paid a design proposal stipend of $2,775.

The $20-million garage project involves the reconstruction of the surface lot at 18th Street and Lydia Avenue as part of Revive the Vine, Kansas City's $400+ million reinvestment initiative in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. The maximum budget available for this project is $185,000, all inclusive. Expenses may include artist's fees, travel, fabrication, supplies, material costs, meeting and administration hours, labor, artist's legal review fees, permits, licenses, insurance, lighting, equipment rental, shipping, delivery, documentation, footings and installation.

Applications must include up to 10 images and 6 videos of original completed commissions demonstrating qualifications for the project, an artist resume, and a letter of interest. Eligibility is limited to professional visual artists or artist teams at least 18 years of age based in the United States. Artists previously contracted for a City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art commission within two years of their past project's contract execution date are not eligible. Full-time, permanent City of Kansas City, Missouri employees, General Services Department and Public Works Department project consultants and their employees and sub-consultants are ineligible. The selection panel will evaluate submissions based on excellence, relevant prior experience with similar scale projects and stakeholder coordination, appropriateness to the site and project context, and durability of materials and processes. Questions should be emailed to [email protected] by Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Central.