Lexington Freedom Train: A Public Art Monument to Lewis and Harriet Hayden

LexArts, in partnership with the Lexington Freedom Train Memorial Committee, seeks an artist or artist team to create a permanent public art installation honoring Lewis and Harriet Hayden, two of Lexington's enslaved who became famed abolitionists. The artwork will commemorate the stories of other enslaved persons in Lexington and their paths to freedom via Lexington's Underground Railroad.

The installation will be located at the southeast corner of Limestone and 4th Street in Lexington, Kentucky, on public land adjacent to the Lexington Traditional Magnet School and a stop on the Legacy Trail greenway. The project budget is up to $400,000 and must include travel, research, design, execution, insurance, taxes, site preparation, and materials. Any media is acceptable; the artwork should have a physical presence on the site, with additional interest in new media or augmented reality as an educational supplement. Physical scale should be site-specific and scaled with sensitivity to the historic landscape.

The selection process will identify three or more finalists through a committee comprised of artists, arts professionals, and community leaders. Finalists will be encouraged to visit the site during October-December 2023 (hotel provided for two nights) and will present proposals in person in January 2024. Selected finalists will be paid $2,500 upon delivery and presentation of a complete site-specific proposal. One artist or artist team will be selected in February 2024 to realize their proposal by May 2025. Applicants should submit a current resume, six digital images of past public artwork, and a one-page artist statement describing public art experience and interest in the project. There is no application fee. The project is a significant element of Lexington's 250th anniversary in 2025 and the Nation's 250th anniversary in 2026.