Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Trail

The Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department is seeking an experienced artist or artist team to design and implement thematically related exterior, site-responsive sculptures or installations for the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Trail. The artwork should actively engage visitors and enhance the natural beauty of the park.

This commission is open to U.S.-based professional artists 18 years and older with a proven track record of creating and installing site-responsive, durable, and sustainable public art. Preference will be given to artists with experience in community engagement, permitting processes, and a body of work demonstrating ability to create site-responsive, durable, and sustainable work. The in-grade art should be designed to withstand the elements and be made of durable materials requiring minimal maintenance. The theme should align with the natural beauty and history of the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Trail, which spans approximately one and a half miles along the Brush Creek Greenway. The trail is envisioned as a series of interconnected nodes telling the story of the American Civil Rights Movement and the Black experience in Kansas City, with fourteen designated sites covering themes including Social and Political Activism, Events, Businesses, Worker's Rights, Built Environment, Innovation and Inspiration, Art and Entertainment, Desegregation, Public Service, Government, Faith-based Organizations, Education and Institutions, Healthcare, and Sports and Athletics.

Applications must include a resume demonstrating a minimum of five years of professional visual art experience, a statement of interest describing your connection to the project and how the art will enhance the space, six images of original completed commissions (not proposals or sketches) with title, medium, dimensions, project budget, year completed, location, and description for each work, and up to three optional videos. Examples of work must be original artwork completed within the last ten years. The jury will select three semifinalist artists to develop designs, with the finalist selected from these three designs. Entry deadline: December 15, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Central. Budget: $400,000.