Call for Artists

Downtown Market Plaza Public Art Opportunities

The Cultural Arts Division has several current and future public art opportunities for the Downtown Farmers Market and Plaza, an ambitious mixed-use project in the heart of downtown Lee’s Summit. The project centers around a new farmer’s market pavilion, an outdoor performance area, vibrantly designed streetscapes and several permanent and temporary public art installations. This dynamic project will complement the historic Downtown Lee’s Summit district as a long-lasting asset to the Lee’s Summit community. This public-private capital development project broke ground in October 2023 and is scheduled to open in late spring 2025. 

A detailed overview of the project and associated public art opportunities can be viewed on the project website. 

Project Website 

View Current Opportunities

 

Downtown Market Plaza Public Art General Overview

Artist Selection Process

For each public art project within the Downtown Market and Plaza project, a Selection Panel comprised of members of the Lee’s Summit community, Cultural Commission and site stakeholders will advise the City on artist selection and approval of the Concept Proposal.

  • Each Selection Panel will select three (3) to five (5) finalists per public art opportunity to develop and present a Concept Proposal.
  • Finalists will receive a stipend to participate in the concept proposal process. The stipend amount will vary depending on the specific project. The concept proposal process, depending upon the project, may include attending a virtual briefing with the design team and City staff before developing a proposal and a virtual technical review meeting to review the concept proposal before submission. Proposals will include renderings, a short narrative description, a preliminary budget and timeline.
  • Finalists will present their concept proposals virtually to the Selection Panel. The Selection Panel will recommend a final artist/concept for the project.
  • Should the City determine that it would like to conduct any of the above meetings in person, artists living more than 100 miles from Lee’s Summit will be paid a stipend for travel and lodging expenses in addition to the stipend awarded to prepare the concept proposal.

Eligibility

Public art opportunities for the Downtown Market Plaza are open to artists and artist teams residing in the United States. We are seeking experienced public artists and artist teams with backgrounds in a variety of mediums specific to each public art site. All applicants submitting a design for consideration should possess an understanding of, or experience with, outdoor installation that considers the climate and ecosystem specific to Missouri (high winds, hail, extreme hot and cold temperatures, humidity, etc.). Applicants should have experience in executing ideas from concept to completion and meeting a specified budget and timeline. Previous experience working in the public realm and with a public agency is preferred. Experience involving community members in the visioning and creation of artwork is also preferred. Finalists must be able to attend a virtual interview and presentation of the concept design proposal.

Project Budgets

Each public art project will consist of a budget, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Individual project budgets listed are considered not-to-exceed totals and must cover all applicable design modifications, fabrication, engineering, installation, foundations, infrastructure, site preparations, lighting, site visits, transportation of artwork, insurance, permit fees, and other related expenses including expenses related to any artist community engagement efforts if applicable to the specific call. More specific information about the site will be made available to the finalists.

Artist Selection Round 1: Qualifications Review Process

Selection Panels for each public art project will review artist qualifications and select three to five finalists to develop Concept Proposals. Artist qualifications will be reviewed by the Panel based on the following criteria:

  • Artistic excellence as demonstrated by past work and submitted materials. (30%)
  • A clear understanding of the project. (30%)
  • Artistic interest and body of work that demonstrates an ability to create an artwork that responds to the goals of the project. (30%)
  • Availability to meet the project timeline and project budget. (10%)

Round 2: Final Review Process and Concept Proposal Submission

For each public art project call, three to five finalists will be selected and paid a stipend (plus an additional travel stipend, if needed) to attend a site visit and orientation if needed, develop a Concept Proposal (including renderings, narrative description, budget, and timeline), and present the proposal to the Selection Panel. The selected artist will then be placed under contract for the final design, fabrication, and installation of their approved concept.

Selected Artist Scope of Work

For each project, the selected artist or artist team will be responsible for designing, fabricating, and installing the artwork, including:

  • Based on the approved Concept Proposal, developing final design documents detailing every physical feature of the construction, the artwork, and its integration into the site (the final design).
  • Executing the final design on schedule and in a manner that conforms to the approved Concept Proposal.
  • Managing all aspects of the installation of the artwork.
  • Providing maintenance and conservation instructions for the completed artwork.
  • Work cooperatively and maintain effective communication with all parties involved in the project.
  • If applicable, participating in community outreach and attending any dedication events.

To Submit

Applications to be considered for a Downtown Market Plaza public art project will only be accepted electronically through the Call for Entry website (www.callforentry.org). Each public art project will have a separate Request for Artist Qualifications. The list of all projects, call for submissions timeline and links to Call for Entry can be found below.

Step One: Request for Qualifications

Please apply to all calls through Call for Entry (CaFE). By clicking the button below you will be directed to Call for Entry, a third-party website not maintained by the City of Lee's Summit. 

Register at Call for Entry

You will be required to create an artist account on Call for Entry (www.callforentry.com). Please follow Call for Entry’s instructions for how to create your account and upload your portfolio.

In addition to your contact information, you will be asked to provide the following:

  • Letter of Intent. A one-page letter describing interest in the specific public art project, approach to design and research as well as a statement addressing eligibility criteria.
  • Professional References. One-page listing of three (3) professional references of recently completed projects. Please include contact information including name, commissioning entity, phone, email, and address.
  • Resume or Biographical Information. Up to three (3) pages of biographical information, resume or CV. If you have multiple team members, please provide brief biographical information on each member but do not exceed three pages.
  • Work Samples. Upload 5-10 images of your recent projects. Please provide a brief description for each. Follow CaFE image requirements: JPEG format only, 1,200 pixels on the longest side, less than 5MB in size.
  • Do not submit a project proposal or design at this time.

Emailed images or application documents sent directly to City staff due to an inability to submit information via Call for Entry will not be accepted.  If you need alternative application submission formats for accessibility please contact the City of Lee’s Summit Cultural Arts Division at LSAC@cityofLS.net or 816-969-1028.

Step Two: Conceptual Proposal Presentation

Three to five finalists will be selected and scheduled to present their design concept proposal virtually. Each finalist will receive a stipend to present their concept. The presentation of the concept proposal should include visuals or sketches. The Selection Panel expects a completed design concept, not a final design at the time of presentation. It is understood that any community engagement efforts might shape the outcome of the final artwork. The presentation should include a description of how the design meets the needs of the project as well as a detailed budget outlining how the proposed artwork will fit within the budget parameters. A basic, digital design image and description will be requested and distributed to the selection panel one week before the scheduled presentations. Finalists will receive information regarding the selection panel and schedule of events before the presentation.

 

Still Have Questions?

It is the responsibility of the applicant to inquire about any portion of the RFQ that is not fully understood or susceptible to more than one interpretation. Written inquiries are required and oral communications (telephone, zoom, in-person) will not be accepted.

All inquiries, questions, or clarifications must be submitted by the Deadline for Questions date listed on each project prospectus. Inquiries submitted after this date will not be answered. All inquiries will be responded to within three business days. Please do not ask other City personnel questions, as information gathered from other sources may not reflect the correct position or interest and could result in disqualification.

Questions and Answers addendum related to any Downtown Market Plaza public art RFQ will be updated as questions come in and can be found on the specific Call for Entry listing. Please direct any other questions related to the RFQ process to Cultural Arts Division staff. All questions concerning the RFQ must reference the page number, section heading, and paragraph. Questions should be submitted via email. Please place the title of the specific RFQ call in the subject line.

Contact Us

 

Entryway Public Art Call for Artist Qualifications

The Lee’s Summit Cultural Commission seeks to commission a professional visual artist, or artists team, to create an outdoor, site-specific, or site-responsive art piece to be placed at the new Downtown Market Plaza’s main entrance. This location is the first space visitors will see when approaching the facility from Third Street to the south of the Plaza and Farmer’s Market. It will be highly visible to pedestrians and vehicular traffic. It will be the primary entry point and gathering/meeting space on the facility’s southern boundary. This piece is meant to serve as an iconic beacon and gateway installation for the Downtown Market Plaza development.

Budget: $100,000

Timeline

  • Request for Qualifications Deadline: March 22, 2024, 11:59 pm
  • Finalist Selected: April 5, 2024
  • Finalist Presentations: May 2024
  • Proposal Selected: June
  • Artwork Installation: April 2025

 

View RFQ and Apply

 

 


 

Downtown Sculpture Walk

The 2024 Call for Artists is now closed! The deadline to apply was January 12, 2024, sign up for our Public Artist Roster to receive notifications on when it re-opens.

The Downtown Sculpture Walk increases access to public art and contributes to the vision of creating a vibrant community. The annual temporary outdoor exhibit features local and national visual artists and greatly supports the revitalization of our award-winning downtown district. The Downtown Sculpture Walk is a collaboration between the City of Lee’s Summit Cultural Arts Division, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., and the Downtown Community Improvement District.

Artists will be selected to install 3D sculptural works of art throughout Downtown Lee's Summit from May 2024 through May 2025. 

Applications are accepted via Call for Entry and will be juried by a panel comprised of Cultural Arts staff, Cultural Commission members, and members of the Downtown Cultural Arts and Design committees. Selected artists will receive a stipend of $2,000 to support costs associated with the installation and removal of their artwork. 

Program Highlights

  • Selected artists will receive a $2,000 stipend to support costs associated with travel and installation. 
  • Artwork and artists will be featured on the City's Otocast Mobile Audio Guide App, allowing artists to record information about their work. 
  • Artwork will also be featured on the City's social media, website, and email newsletter platforms. 
  • Art will be available for purchase throughout the exhibit, artists receive 100% of the sale price.

Sculpture Walk Artist Documents and Forms

2024 Call for Artist Prospectus (PDF)

2024 Call for Artist Online Application (www.CallforEntry.org)

Sculpture Walk Artist Agreement Template

View the 2023 Sculpture Walk Exhibit and Map


Exhibit Your ArtworkImage of a City Hall artwork exhibit

The Cultural Arts Division is committed to presenting a range of ideas and artistic explorations that reflect the cultural diversity of Lee’s Summit and the Greater Kansas City Metro Region. Visual artists, artisans, craft guilds, and other organizations are invited to apply to have their work considered for a show in the lobby of either City Hall or Police Headquarters. Artists are selected on artistic quality and cultural significance that encourages public engagement and fosters an appreciation for the arts. All work selected for exhibition must be of professional quality and appropriate for a public business setting.

City Hall Exhibition Application

Proposals may be submitted year-round. Exhibit proposals are subject to availability of space, exhibit calendar, and internal review. The Cultural Arts Division will assist in the development and coordination of the exhibit.


Exhibit Your Artwork at Gamber Community Center

Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation oversees the curation of the gallery located in the lobby of Gamber Community Center. The lobby provides ample exhibit space for large-scale and group-curated exhibits. Gamber Community Center hosts numerous classes and private events throughout the year offering a steady flow of visitors to the facility. 

To have your artwork considered for an exhibit at Gamber Community Center, call 816-969-1580.