Arkansas River Corridor Improvement Project - West Bank - Public Art Planning Consultant RFQ

LK Architecture has been retained by the City of Wichita to provide full design services for improvements to the west bank of the Arkansas River between the Douglas and Waterman bridges. The project extends from the edge of the water to the east curbline of McLean Blvd. and includes a private development parcel in design for a hotel. LK Architecture and the City of Wichita invite public art consultants with a demonstrated history of completing complex, permanent, outdoor public art projects to submit their qualifications for a Public Art Planning Consultant position. The selected consultant will be responsible for coordinating with the design team and City staff to determine appropriate locations and scope of integrated public art within the project and conducting a Call for Artists to provide the artwork.

The project is funded through the Percent for Art Ordinance and the City of Wichita's Capital Improvement Plan. In 2019, the Wichita City Council approved an ordinance that allotted 2% of capital improvement funds to a pool of funding allocated for commissioning on-site artworks that become part of the citywide art collection. The City of Wichita has allocated an overall budget of $700,000 to be spent on public art for this project, including fees for the Public Art Planning Consultant and all artist creative work, art, and installation on site. LK Architecture will retain 1% of the budget for administrative purposes.

The selected Public Art Planning Consultant will work collaboratively with the design team and City staff to identify appropriate location, type, and scope for more than one public art installation integrated into the overall riverfront design. Public art objectives include integration into the overall design where art complements and enhances improvements, creation of interactive public art, enhancement of placemaking within the riverfront design, and consideration of the site's unique location along the Arkansas River and within the historic Delano District. The consultant will attend design team meetings, facilitate the artist solicitation process, present design concepts to approval boards, facilitate site preparation and installation, and obtain milestone updates and maintenance plans. It is anticipated that the project will retain two to five artists through an open call for entry. Qualifications are due March 15, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. CST. Interviews, if needed, will be conducted April 1-5, 2024, with notification of award on April 8, 2024.