North Kansas City -- Call to Artists

The Tim C. Crummett Family Charitable Fund is seeking professional artists or artist teams residing in the United States to create a commissioned unique and site-specific sculpture for Richards Park in North Kansas City. Applicants must have public art project experience and have successfully managed and completed at least one publicly-funded commission on schedule and on budget.

The sculpture will serve as a long-term attraction celebrating the city's history and heritage. Theme concepts to consider include the rich history of North Kansas City, the Missouri River, industrial history, urban neighborhoods, and the North Kansas City High School mascot (the Hornet). The exhibition will be located in Richards Park, which features a large 25' 6" square brick wall suitable for sculpture placement, with additional space available in the surrounding green space. Materials and designs must be durable enough to withstand severe weather, high winds, and harsh conditions over time without extensive maintenance. Artwork should discourage theft and vandalism, include plans for nighttime lighting, and be appropriate in size and height to the site.

Selected artist(s) will receive an honorarium of up to $75,000 for the commissioned piece(s), including all costs for optional site visits, design, materials, fabrication, engineering, transportation, and artist-related installation materials. Payment will be made one-half upon awarding of the commission and the remaining amount as arranged by contract. The City will assist with site preparation, in-ground piers, scheduling, installation assistance, lifting equipment, landscaping, and lighting. Artists are responsible for transporting and installing the artwork.

Applicants must submit: a letter of interest explaining their interpretation of how their art would fit the North Kansas City community; a current resume including educational background, previous work, gallery showings, and public art experience; 4-6 jpeg images representative of their body of work with title, dimensions, and materials (one additional video file is optional); and a rendering of the proposed sculpture(s) (hand drawing, computer rendering, or photo of scale model). An Artist Selection Panel will review submissions, and finalists will be interviewed by phone to discuss their proposed artwork. Artworks that are offensive or do not meet community standards of decency will not be approved. Selected artists must enter into a contractual agreement approved by the City of North Kansas City.