The Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park in cooperation with the City of Overland Park is seeking art concepts to consider for permanent acquisition to be installed in the LongHouse Visitor Center at 8909 W. 179th Street, Overland Park, Kansas. This space is the new entry and event space at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Surrounded by picturesque scenery, LongHouse Visitor Center welcomes guests to the expansive gardens. We believe permanent art that reflects the beauty of the gardens and landscapes in the Arboretum is needed in this distinctive space.

Stunning indoor and outdoor spaces offer ideal backdrops for special events. LongHouse Visitor Center offers 21,000 square feet of interior space including a cafe and gift shop as well as rental spaces for weddings, corporate meetings, exhibits, community events, special occasions and workshops. Exterior spaces include gardens, lawns and a reflecting pool, offering additional spaces to celebrate and connect with nature. It is expected that submissions will reinforce this theme.

The LongHouse Visitor Center opened September 2023. The City is seeking to add art to The Gallery which is the upper level hallway leading to the garden entry. This is an event space and passthrough to the gardens. No floor mounted art will be considered. There are  six (6)  walls that will feature art and the remaining walls will be used for exhibitions that change over time.

Artists wishing to see the public space may do so during open hours of the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, however be advised there is a ticket cost to enter the gardens. Arboretum and Botanical Gardens hours are Sunday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except for Thursdays in the summer when it stays open until 8:00 pm. Visitors from all over the world come to the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

City of Overland Park in Brief:

• Location:  Southeastern Johnson County, Kansas
• Population:  Over 206,030 residents
• Second largest city in Kansas and metropolitan Kansas City
• Land area:  75.8 square miles
• Government:  Mayor and 12 member City Councilmembers
• Sister City:  Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany
• School Districts:  Blue Valley, Olathe, Shawnee Mission, Spring Hill
• Retail Sales:  4.9 billion in 2023

Accolades:

• Best Cities for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions, WalletHub
• Best Cities for Jobs, WalletHub
• 10 Best Places to Live for Families, Travel & Leisure
• Tree Equity Score of 93 percent, American Forests
• Happiest Cities in America, WalletHub
• 15 Most Affordable and Safe Mid-to-Large Cities, MoneyGeek
• Top 100 Best Places to Live, Livability.com

Installation Sites and Specifications:  Art will be hung a minimum five feet (5’) above the floor in the main hallway space and 4' in the alcove. Ceiling height is 17’ in the main hallway, the walls have a mild curve.

1. Wall #1: West wall next to the gift shop - 32’ wide
2. Wall #2: East wall next to downstairs stairway entrance - 6’ wide
3. Wall #3: East wall next to elevator entrance - 11’ wide
4. Wall #4: East wall next to children’s alcove - 12’ wide
5. Wall #5: West wall between classroom doors - 9’ wide
6. Wall #6: North wall in alcove - 11’ wide x 9’ tall

Timeline for Reviews and Purchase:  The committee will review works between deadline and start of the new year. Recommendations for acquisitions will be made by spring. Commissions will be managed as needed with final installations taking place prior to the second anniversary of the LongHouse on September 9, 2025.

Entry Fee:  Everyone is welcome to apply, we do not believe money should be a barrier to artists. If you need assistance with this fee. Contact our offices.

Application Requirements

Response Requirements:  All submission information requirements listed below apply and must be submitted electronically via CaFE by December 2, 2024. Submission information will include high resolution images in jpg or gif format and the following information:

1. High quality color images of the art design with colors and dimensions noted as well as materials used is expected.
2. Sizes for all proposals must have dimensions in inches and weight in pounds.
3. Recommended location of piece
4. Detailed mounting information and/or installation criteria
5. Itemized budget or pricing information
6. Two dimensional works should not include framing but should be finished and suitable for installation as is.
7. Recommended protection products (if needed) and maintenance with estimated first 5 years cost.
8. Artist vitae including previous commissions and collection acquisitions
9. Statement regarding piece of art submitted: creation of, themes, messages, inspiration, process
10. Again, the mission of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical must be considered in the final product.

Galleries and consultants seeking to propose the entire collection must still submit electronically via CaFE. 

Eligibility Criteria

Artist Eligibility Requirements:  

1. Calls for proposals are open to artists and curators working in all media.
2. Priority will be given to local artists who live, or have lived in Kansas or Missouri.
3. Galleries and consultants seeking to propose for part or the entire collection must still submit electronically via CaFE.
4. Artists must be 18 years of age or older.
5. The mission of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical must be considered in the final product.