Liberty Missouri City Hall Commissioned Outdoor Sculpture RFQ

The City of Liberty, a northeastern suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, is seeking an artist or artist team to create an exterior sculpture for the City Hall Entrance located at 101 E. Kansas Street in downtown Liberty. The sculpture will serve as an iconic focal point for City Hall and complement the historic Downtown Liberty district as a long-lasting and widely recognizable asset to the community.

The total project budget is $100,000, with 50% paid upon signing of contract and 50% upon installation. All budgets are not-to-exceed totals and must cover design modifications, fabrication, engineering, installation, infrastructure, site preparations, lighting, site visits, transportation, insurance, permit fees, and related expenses. Applications are due March 20, 2025. A Public Art Panel comprised of Liberty community members, Arts Commission members, and stakeholders will review qualifications and select three to five finalists to develop Concept Proposals. Finalists will receive a $1,500 stipend to develop their Concept Proposal, which should include renderings, narrative description, preliminary budget, and timeline. Artists living more than 100 miles from Liberty will receive additional stipends for travel and lodging if in-person meetings are required. Finalists will present their Concept Proposals virtually to the Public Art Panel, which will recommend a final artist and concept to the Arts Commission and City Council.

Artist qualifications will be evaluated based on artistic excellence, relevant prior experience with similar scale and budget projects, clear understanding of the project context, durability of materials and processes, ability to meet the project timeline and budget, and professional references. The selected artist will be responsible for final design development, fabrication, installation, providing maintenance and conservation instructions, and participating in community outreach and a dedication event. Installation is estimated for on or before April 1, 2026.