Installation art for KCI Airport garage stairwells

The City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art program seeks to commission a professional visual artist or artist team to create two installations for the stairwells at the new KCI Airport parking garage. The installations (one per stairwell) will be located in either the gap between stair runs, directly inside the glass enclosure, or on the 7-story concrete wall separating the elevator shaft from stairs. The gap between stair runs is approximately 17'-6" long, 2'-0" wide, and 90 feet tall. The glass area between mullions varies but generally measures 6'x12' and 10" deep. Art can be suspended from the roof structure and/or supported from the ground and is permitted to extend the full height of the stair shaft. Visitors will be able to touch or interact with the installation. The artist may interpret these installations as a pair (diptych) or as duplicate pieces.

Eligible applicants are professional visual artists or artist teams at least 18 years of age. Artists located outside the United States are requested to use a U.S.-based fabricator. Demonstrated experience working with diverse community stakeholders is desired. Full-time, permanent City of Kansas City, Missouri employees, project consultants, project contractors, and their employees and sub-contractors are ineligible to apply.

The budget for the garage stairwells is up to $500,000 (US dollars), all inclusive. This budget includes stipends, design fees, travel, fabrication, supplies, material costs, delivery, approval by a Missouri-licensed engineer, lighting materials, installation, and other related costs. Submission materials required include a letter of interest (up to 1 page), resume/CV, a list providing details of portfolio images (title, date, materials, size and budget), and up to 20 total work samples (images, audio, or video files). The entry deadline is February 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. MST.