J. Thomas Lovell Jr. Community Center - Sculpture Commission

The Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation Department seeks to commission a professional artist to design and complete a sculpture to be installed at the J. Thomas Lovell Jr. Community Center at Legacy Park, located at 901 NE Bluestem Drive, Lee's Summit, MO 64086. This work will be situated to the side of the main entry doors. The artwork should be inviting and creative, complementary to the space, embody health and fitness, and reference the center's community, active, and engaging environment. The total artist stipend is up to $13,500, which shall be all-inclusive and will be determined after the request for qualifications is complete.

The J. Thomas Lovell Jr. Community Center is a 58,000-square-foot facility that opened in January 2004, providing amenities including a gymnasium, racquetball courts, indoor aquatics area with pools and hot tub, personal training studio, and equipment rentals. This public art opportunity is open to professional visual artists and artist teams residing in the United States and at least 18 years of age. Applicants should have experience with outdoor installation considering Missouri's climate conditions and previous experience working in the public realm with public agencies is preferred.

The selection process includes two rounds: initial proposal review and finalist interviews. Three finalists will be selected to create concept proposals and receive a $500 stipend for their presentations. Final interviews are scheduled for January 12-14, 2026, with the artist selected by January 16, 2026, and sculpture installation planned for October-November 2026. Application materials must include a letter of intent, professional references, resume, and work samples demonstrating conceptual, aesthetic, and technical mastery in sculpture work.