Pracht Wetland Park Public Art Commission

The City of Wichita is seeking a qualified artist to work with the project design team consisting of RDG Planning & Design, KPFF and Alvine Engineering to incorporate a public art piece into Phase Three of the Pracht Wetlands Park located at 9926 W 29th St. N, 67205. Phase Three of the park is expected to open in Summer 2024, with artwork installation planned for Spring 2024. Pracht Wetlands Park sits on land once used by the Pracht family for farming and hunting. The Pracht family donated the land to the City of Wichita to preserve the area for future generations. Water serves as the driving connection between the site's history, the surrounding community and commercial development. The design draws on the idea that water is not an object to be looked at but rather something to experience in a tactile way. Phase Three consists of extending the existing west boardwalk approximately 380 feet, terminating in a space reminiscent of a wildlife blind.

The artist will be selected by a committee consisting of the design team and city staff based on artist eligibility and selection criteria. The selected artist proposal will require collaborative input with the design team and city staff on the final design. Budget: $183,000, which includes design fee for working with art consultant and design team and fabrication.

Eligibility: Individual artists or collaborations with multiple artists may apply. Artists should reside within a 200-mile radius of Wichita, Kansas. Demonstrated experience working with community public art programs, ability to work with architects, designers, and fabricators from conceptualization to installation, and successful experience working on time and within budget are required. Applicants must submit: artist name(s), phone number and email address; website and/or social media links if applicable; brief written description of project approach and intention to create connections to the Wichita community through the artwork and usage of local vendors (150 words or less); two references; five to ten images of relevant examples of past work with scale, medium, and installation year/location if applicable; and resume or CV. Questions must be submitted in writing to Cary Thomsen at [email protected] by March 1st, 2023.