Call Description

01. CALL SUMMARY 

Project Name: City of Wichita – Integrated Public Art for Planeview Community Center 

Commissioning Organization: Davis Cohen Art, on behalf of SFS Architecture and the City of Wichita 

Entry Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM (CST) 

Project Completion: Fall/Winter 2027 

Budget – Exterior Façade Artwork: $110,000-125,000 

Budget – Interior Aerial Installation: $50,000-75,000 

Eligibility: National 

Call Type: Public Art 

02. INTRODUCTION 

The City of Wichita, in partnership with SFS Architecture, is developing a new community center in the historic Planeview neighborhood to supplement and replace the existing Colvin Neighborhood Resource Center and to expand recreation, meeting, activity, and social spaces in Planeview Park. The new facility will be adjacent to Colvin Elementary School and will serve Wichita City Council District 3. The project is anticipated to begin construction in Fall 2026, with public art installation targeted for Fall/Winter 2027. 

Davis Cohen Art, on behalf of SFS Architecture and the City of Wichita, is spearheading the process of procuring public art for the project, which is a key component of the project’s placemaking goals and is intended to educate and inspire visitors and neighbors by reflecting Planeview’s rich history and contemporary identity. The community center will support expanded programming in a safe, inclusive, modern environment, alongside site improvements such as parking, pedestrian connectivity, and stormwater-management components. 

Public Art Framework and Goals 

The City of Wichita – Integrated Public Art for Planeview Community Center project is an opportunity to commission durable, thoughtfully integrated artworks that welcome the community, elevate everyday experience, and express Planeview’s identity through impactful exterior and interior installations. 

Integrated artworks should complement and enhance the building design, strengthen a sense of place, and reflect community identity. The City is interested in works that engage the public in meaningful ways while honoring the unique characteristics of the Planeview community. 

Objectives for the City of Wichita Public Art Program  

• Art is fully integrated into the building design and complements/enhances the architecture.
• Art incorporates opportunities for creative public interaction where appropriate.
• Art strengthens placemaking within the park and surrounding area.
• Art thoughtfully considers and honors Planeview’s unique history.
• Art reflects and reinforces sense of shared community and reflects the area community members.

Project Team and Coordination 

The art consulting team is led by Davis Cohen Art, Consulting & Appraisal, and the design team is led by SFS Architecture and includes engineering and specialty consultants supporting civil, landscape, MEPF, and structural coordination. The public art approach will require close collaboration with the design team and City staff to confirm locations, integration requirements, and a procurement plan that aligns with construction. 

03. USEFUL LINKS 

Frequently Asked Questions / Arts & Cultural Services – Public Art (City of Wichita) 

City of Wichita Public Art Website 

Creating Public Art in Wichita: An Artist Toolkit 

A Brief History of Planeview (Wichita, Kansas) 

Planeview Community Center - Site Plan 

Planeview Community Center – Axon View Looking North 

Planeview Community Center - Floor Plan 

Planeview Community Center – Art Locations 

Planeview Community Center – Exterior Elevation - South 

Planeview Community Center – Rendering 1 

Planeview Community Center – Rendering 2 

Planeview Community Center – Rendering 3 

Planeview Community Center – Rendering 4 

Planeview Community Center - Rendering 5 

Planeview Community Center - Rendering 6 

Planeview Community Center - Rendering 7 

04. ARTWORK OPPORTUNITIES AND SITES 

In alignment with the project narrative and design intent, two primary integrated opportunities will be emphasized: 

(1) Exterior Entrance Façade (Outdoor):  A prominent, high-visibility location at the primary entry intended for a large-scale, integrated wall artwork that reinforces arrival, identity, and placemaking. 

Max allowable area for the outdoor façade artwork – we’ve indicated a 12’ x 11’ area on the South Elevation. Exterior work must be particularly durable and able to withstand environmental exposure.

(2) Welcome Entry and Main Corridor (Indoor):  A suspended aerial installation—could have multiple suspended elements—positioned at the welcome entry and partially extending through the main corridor, bringing energy, inspiration, and a sense of movement to a major interior thoroughfare. 

Maximum allowable volume (indoor suspended artwork): An L-shaped volume approximately 10' H × 70' L × 11' W, with a short leg approximately 10' H × 13' L × 17' W. This volume includes the structural support required for the artwork. 

Maximum allowable load/weight (indoor suspended artwork): In coordination with the structural engineer, the maximum point load per structural frame member is 5,000 lbs. in the main corridor. The overall allowable load is anticipated to be approximately 10 psf, inclusive of the secondary suspension structure and the art object(s). 

05. FUNDING SOURCE & BUDGET 

This project is funded through the City’s Percent for Art Ordinance and Capital Improvement Plan, which allocates a portion of eligible capital funds toward commissioning on-site artworks that become part of the City’s collection.   

The budget for each artwork is the following:  

Exterior Entrance Façade (Outdoor): $110,000-125,000 

Welcome Entry and Main Corridor (Indoor): $50,000-75,000 

Lighting enhancements will be designed by the architectural team to support and illuminate the artworks. If additional lighting is desired beyond the architect’s allocation/scope, it must be funded from the artwork budget—not the General Contractor’s scope. Any specialty or integrated lighting, as well as any specialty engineering required for the artwork, must be included in the public art budget and coordinated with the design team. 

The project budget is inclusive of all services required to competently and comprehensively deliver the work at a high level of professionalism, including (but not limited to) design development, shop drawings, renderings, fabrication, transportation, and installation. If a service is not explicitly listed, that does not mean it is excluded from the artist’s scope. 

06. PERCENT FOR ART & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 

This project is funded through the Percent for Art Ordinance and the City of Wichita’s Capital Improvement Plan. In 2019, the Wichita City Council approved an ordinance that allotted 2% of capital improvement funds to a pool of funding allocated for the commissioning of on-site artworks that then become part of the citywide art collection. The administration of the Percent for Art Program is overseen by the Design Council, an 11-member advisory board. 

07. ARTWORK OPPORTUNITIES / LOCATIONS 

Location 1 - Exterior Façade Artwork (Budget Parameters: $110,000-125,000) 

Location 2 - Interior Aerial Installation (Budget Parameters: $50,000-75,000) 

08. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION (RFQ) GOALS 

• This RFQ invites artists/artist teams to submit qualifications (not project-specific proposals) for two integrated public art opportunities at the Planeview Community Center. The goals are to:
• Identify highly qualified artist(s) with a proven track record delivering durable, fabrication-ready public artworks of similar scope and complexity.
• Select one artist/team for both opportunities or two artists/teams—one per opportunity—who can advance efficiently into site-specific concept development.
• Ensure artworks are thoughtfully integrated with the architecture and site, strengthening placemaking and enhancing daily experience.
• Prioritize artist(s) who can collaborate effectively with the art consultant, design team, engineers, fabricators, and the City through design, fabrication, and installation.
• Select artist(s) with the capacity to meet the project schedule and honor the established timeline and milestones.
• Support artworks that reflect Planeview’s history and community identity, with approaches that meaningfully engage the public.

09. SELECTION PROCESS 

Submissions will be reviewed and ranked by a Selection Committee comprised of City staff, the design team, and relevant stakeholders. Interviews are not anticipated but may be conducted if rankings are closely aligned or additional clarification is needed. 

The Selection Committee will evaluate submissions for evidence that the RFQ goals can be achieved. The following criteria will be considered in equal measure: 

• Artistic excellence and overall quality of past work
• Relevant experience delivering durable, fabrication-ready public artworks of comparable scope and complexity
• Project delivery capacity, including ability to manage budgets, schedules, fabrication, and installation
• Conceptual alignment with the project goals as expressed in the Letter of Interest
• Collaboration and professionalism, including demonstrated willingness to work with the consultant, design team, engineers, fabricators, and the City

10. TIMELINE 

  * Once an artist is recommended and approved, they will enter into a contract and begin design development, collaborating with project stakeholders to better understand the site, community, and overall project timeline. Artists should be available to begin immediately. 

11. REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS 

Each artist or artist team must submit an entirely digital application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  

• Artist/Artist Lead Team Bio (Max 2 pages per team member)
  • Provide CVs/Resumes for each team member, highlighting qualifications, experience, and related accomplishments.
  • References may be requested at a later date, if deemed helpful to the Selection Committee.
• Letter of Interest Featuring Related Experience (Max 1 page)
  • Describe the artist’s/artist team’s experience delivering similar projects or performing related functions. Share your approach to this project (or comparable commissions) so the Selection Committee feels confident in your ability to develop a compelling, site-responsive proposal if selected.
• Images of Past Work/Projects
  • Provide at least 5 and no more than 10 images of previous work, including dimensions, venue, and year of creation. Include examples from each team member, if applicable, and showcase relevant or similar works to that of this RFQ.
  • Submit images as jpg files, each labeled with dimensions, venue, and year.
• Optional materials are not required; however, if available, they may be submitted to supplement your proposal.
  • Optional: Provide maximum of 1 video.
  • Optional: Include a brief description of the conceptual meaning of the projects.
  • Optional: Provide renderings or elevations of past projects as supplemental material.

12. ARTIST EDUCATIONAL SESSION (VIRTUAL) 

A free virtual Artist Educational Session will be held via Zoom for anyone interested in learning more about the project and the application process. Attendance is optional and not required to apply. The session is anticipated to last approximately one hour. 

Artist Educational Session (Virtual) 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 @ 6pm (CST) 

To register, please click HERE. 

13. QUESTIONS 

If you require further information about this opportunity, please submit your questions by email to Lindsay Davis, Davis Cohen Art (Project Art Consultant), lindsay@daviscohenart.com, no later than Tuesday, March 24, 2026 @ 12:00 PM (CST). As questions are received, a link to all submitted questions and responses will be posted in this section. 

Application Requirements

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS 

Each artist or artist team must submit an entirely digital application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  

• Artist/Artist Lead Team Bio (Max 2 pages per team member)
  • Provide CVs/Resumes for each team member, highlighting qualifications, experience, and related accomplishments.
  • References may be requested at a later date, if deemed helpful to the Selection Committee.
• Letter of Interest Featuring Related Experience (Max 1 page)
  • Describe the artist’s/artist team’s experience delivering similar projects or performing related functions. Share your approach to this project (or comparable commissions) so the Selection Committee feels confident in your ability to develop a compelling, site-responsive proposal if selected.
• Images of Past Work/Projects
  • Provide at least 5 and no more than 10 images of previous work, including dimensions, venue, and year of creation. Include examples from each team member, if applicable, and showcase relevant or similar works to that of this RFQ.
  • Submit images as jpg files, each labeled with dimensions, venue, and year.
• Optional materials are not required; however, if available, they may be submitted to supplement your proposal.
  • Optional: Provide maximum of 1 video.
  • Optional: Include a brief description of the conceptual meaning of the projects.
  • Optional: Provide renderings or elevations of past projects as supplemental material.

Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open to professional artists and artist teams with proven experience and expertise in large-scale public art projects, who live and work in the United States of America.  

It is the declared policy and practice of the City of Wichita to extend equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, disability, or other non-merit factors.