City of Wichita Northwest Water Facility Public Art Commission

The City of Wichita is seeking qualified artists for three public sculpture art commissions on the grounds of the new Northwest Water Facility (NWWF), located near 21st N and Hoover, directly northeast of the Sedgwick County Zoo. The facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2024, with artwork installation expected by the end of 2023. The new water treatment plant will serve the city of Wichita, surrounding communities, industries, and wholesale customers, providing 120 million gallons per day of drinking water and replacing the aging Main Water Treatment Plant.

Artwork will be selected by a project steering committee including members of City Council and the Sedgwick County Zoo. Selected artists' proposals may require design development based on committee feedback and are subject to final approval. Selected artists will provide regular progress updates through fabrication and installation. Applicants must submit: artist name and contact information, website/social media links, indication of preferred art location(s), a brief written description of project approach and community connections (150 words or less), two references, five to ten images of relevant past work with scale and medium information, and resume or CV.

Eligibility requires demonstrated experience with community public art programs, ability to work with architects and fabricators, and successful experience working on time and within budget. Individual artists and collaborations may apply. The committee prefers artists who plan to utilize local Wichita firms for project services including engineers, concrete firms, fabricators, installation crews, lighting specialists, and landscape architects. Budget range: $111,150 - $384,750. Project timeline: RFQ announced January 6, 2023; artist questions due January 15, 2023; submission deadline January 25, 2023; finalists announced February 6, 2023 with stipend for concept designs; finalists submit designs February 24, 2023; commission awarded March 6, 2023; installation September-December 2023.