A. Price Woodard Jr. Bronze Bust Commission

The City of Wichita invites professional artists and artist teams with demonstrated experience completing complex, permanent outdoor public art projects to submit qualifications for a $40,000 public art commission for A. Price Woodard Jr. Memorial Park. The project is scheduled to begin in late fall/early winter 2025, with installation anticipated to be completed in 2026.

The City envisions a commemorative cast bronze life-size bust dedicated to A. Price Woodard Jr., the first African American Mayor of Wichita, elected in 1970. The artwork must present Woodard's physical appearance in faithful accuracy and be durable and structurally suitable to extreme Kansas weather. Audial and lighting components are not allowed, and no found objects should be used. A memorial plaque and base/pedestal must be included as part of the work, with materials durable and suitable for Kansas weather. The bust may include shoulders or just the neck.

The park is located west of S. Waco Street and south of W. Douglas Avenue in downtown Wichita, adjacent to the Arkansas River. The exact location of the art installation within the park will be determined once the artist selection process is concluded. The $40,000 art budget is inclusive of all costs from design through structural engineering, fabrication, site preparation, transportation/delivery, and installation. Applicants will be reviewed based on artistic excellence, creative process, demonstrated experience in representational bronze sculptures, ability to coordinate engineering and fabricating teams, and meaningful relationship of their artistic approach to the project's purpose. Professional artists residing in the United States are eligible to apply. The City prefers artists who plan to utilize local resources for engineering, fabrication, and installation when possible.