Call for Artists: Public Art for Hutchinson Arena Renovation Project

The Hutchinson Arena Renovation Project involves the construction and renovation of the Hutchinson Sports Arena, a 6,500-seat, multi-use, city-owned indoor basketball arena originally designed and built in the 1950s. The facility serves as home to Hutchinson Community College's men's and women's Blue Dragons basketball teams and hosts the annual National Junior College Athletic Association's men's basketball tournament, along with community events including the Dillon Lecture Series, high school graduations, banquets, and other sporting activities. The estimated $29 million renovation project, approved by local voters in April 2015 through a sales tax initiative, will be completed in phases over approximately two years while the building remains in use during basketball season. Improvements include community gyms, a running track, weight training and sports medicine facilities, expanded locker and team areas, a drop-off plaza with new entrances, enhanced lobbies and ticketing areas, concessions and food service areas, restrooms, elevators, offices, club areas, conference rooms, and landscaped parking facilities.

The project seeks artists to create public artworks that will enhance the facility's experience for athletes, spectators, and community members. Commissioned artworks should engage and challenge the public, be distinctive, and inspire curiosity and discussion. The artwork should reinforce the building's connection to its surroundings, reflect the character of the local population, support the relationship between the City and Hutchinson Community College, strengthen the user and spectator experience, and highlight the building's function as a site for sporting, community, and cultural events.

Artists will be selected through an open call and evaluated by an 11-member Public Art Design Council based on the overall quality and merit of their past works. The Design Council will screen applications and select 2 or more artists as finalists, who will then submit conceptual design proposals. Selected finalists will be invited to visit the project site and meet with the design team. The Design Council will submit recommendations to the Building Committee, which will select the final project artists. The Hutchinson City Council must approve contracts for amounts over $10,000. The primary public art location is the outdoor drop-off plaza and entrance on the south side, along with lobbies, circulation corridors, and Hall of Fame areas, with an approximate budget of $230,000 for one or more artists. Professional artists or artist teams residing in the United States are eligible to apply. Artists must have completed a project with similar budget, scale, and scope within the last five years. Applicants must submit 10-20 images of their work. Applications are due September 4, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.