Project Description 

*Please note that the project timeline has been adjusted to account for a more extensive jurying process. We are currently still jurying entries and hope to narrow the finalists by mid-November. Thank you for your patience!

Gatton Park on the Town Branch is a land-reuse project transforming an 11-acre asphalt parking lot adjacent to the Central Bank Center into a signature green space that will serve as Lexington’s version of Central Park. The park is under construction and anticipated to publicly open Fall of 2025, with a projected 1,000,000 annual visitors.

The park opening, coupled with Lexington’s 250-year anniversary, is an unprecedented opportunity to address and honor the complex history of Town Branch creek. Specifically, this project will explore the history of African Americans, enslaved and freed, who were essential to the creation of our built environment and early commerce along the Town Branch in Lexington, KY. The historical framework spans a period between 1775–1920 and will delve into the untold, human stories of those whose work led to the success of industries such as hemp, lumber, blacksmithing, carpentry, and distillery, among others, that sprung up along this important water body.

Gatton Park seeks experienced artists who can transform the untold stories of this site into an interactive public art piece(s) in summer 2025. More information and historic details will be shared with the qualifying finalists. A variety of materials will be considered. There is no application fee to enter. 

Project Budget

The project budget is $250,000. The budget is all inclusive to complete the artwork including artists fee, prototype, travel, research, execution, insurance, taxes, site preparation equipment rental and materials.

Project Details

Gatton Park on the Town Branch is a private, nonprofit organization.

Location: Gatton Park on the Town Branch, 795 Manchester St. Lexington, KY 40508. The exact location will be adjacent to the uncovered Town Branch creek that runs through the site.

Physical scale: To be determined by artist and should be site-specific and scaled with sensitivity to the historic landscape.

Media: The artwork will be outdoors and should have a physical presence on the site. Interactive elements are strongly encouraged. 

Project Site

The selected site is a creek that runs underneath parts of Lexington, but has been uncovered as part of the new construction of Gatton Park. The artwork will be installed adjacent to the creek bed and walking path. There is no pre-existing wall or structure for a mural. Concept development will be addressed with finalists during the proposal stage. Please refer to the site map link to view the recommended location of the artwork. The selected section of the creek is approximately 400 square feet.

Timeline

RFQ Open Applications: August 5 - September 18, 2024
Deadline for Artist Qualifications: September 18, 2024
Finalists Notified: October 1, 2024 NEW DATE IS MID-NOVEMBER
Finalists Proposals Due: November 15, 2024 NEW DATE IS DECEMBER-JANUARY
Finalist Selected and Notified: NEW DATE IS FEBRUARY
Artwork Creation: February 2025 - September 2025
Artwork Installation: September-October 2025
Unveiling: NEW DATE is September-October 2025

Application Requirements

Apply online through http://www.callforentry.org

• A one-page artist statement describing public art experience and interest in the project
• A current resume
• 6 digital images or a combination of images, video, and audio (totaling 6) of past public artwork with description of size, media, budget, year completed, location

(Incomplete Submissions will not be accepted)

For more information, please contact Erica Cook at (859) 281-8420 or erica@gattonpark.org.   

Eligibility Criteria

We are committed to a policy of providing opportunities to people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical disability. Artist or team of artists must be able to legally work in the United States and be at least 18 years of age. 

Given the nature of this project and the site, artists who identify as Black or African American, or of African American descent are encouraged to apply.

Selection Process

The submitted qualifications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of artists, arts professionals, and community leaders. The committee will identify the finalists. The selected finalists will have the opportunity to visit the site and meet with Gatton Park Staff. Finalists will be paid $3,000 upon delivery of a complete site-specific proposal including composition, concept statement, and process outlining budget and timeline for completion. An additional $1,000 travel stipend will be provided to finalists who choose to conduct a site visit during the design phase. A review of the final design will be conducted by the selection committee. One artist or artist team will be selected to realize their proposal.

Critical Selection Factors

• Artistic distinction
• Experience creating high-quality large scale public artwork
• Experience creating high-quality large scale public artwork with an emphasis on interpreting historical facts and highlighting marginalized communities
• Low maintenance, durability
• Contextual integration into Gatton Park

The strength of the submitted images of past artworks demonstrating the ability of the artist(s) to complete similar or related projects will be considered critical selection factors. In addition, the Committee is interested in a wide variety of creative solutions to the challenges of outdoor public artwork.

Request for Proposals: Site-specific proposals by the chosen finalists

Successful proposals will be expected to provide:

• A written document expressing the conceptual framework and artistic point of view that will guide development of the project
• One or more drawings of the proposed work of art; models are optional but are strongly encouraged. Drawings and/or models should illustrate the conceptual relationships between the artwork and its environment
• A timeline and budget (not to exceed $250,000) for production and installation
• A detailed list of materials and construction requirements, with attention to issues of durability, maintenance, and public safety