2nd Street Corridor Public Art Project - Wichita, KS

This initiative is part of Wichita's broader vision to foster creative placemaking and enhance the public realm through integrated, site-responsive public art. The project is funded through the Percent for Art Ordinance and the City of Wichita's Capital Improvement Plan, with a total budget of $175,000 for public art. The selected artist(s) will collaborate with GFT Infrastructure, Inc., Landworks Studio, and the City of Wichita to conceptualize, design, fabricate, and install engaging, site-specific, permanent public art installation(s) at one or more identified locations along 2nd Street North between Main Street and St. Francis Avenue.

The 2nd Street North corridor is emerging as a hub for music industry startups and creative development, making it a natural canvas for sound and light-based public art. The area is home to Somewhere Fest, an annual multi-day music and arts event that draws over 15,000 attendees. Artists are encouraged to consider how their work can reflect and amplify this creative energy, contributing to the district's identity as a center for innovation, performance, and public engagement. Each new commission should engage the general public and host one changing, perceived changing, or interactive element.

A selection panel will review all submissions and select 3-6 finalists to respond to an RFP and develop proposals. Finalists will be awarded a $1,000 stipend for their proposal efforts and will participate in virtual interviews. Applications require 6-10 images of past large-scale public art projects, an optional 2-minute video, and an annotated image list including project details. The artwork should create a sense of place, encourage public interaction through responsive elements involving sound and/or light, enhance pedestrian and driver experience, ensure durability and safety, and celebrate the area's music and arts culture.