Kansas City, Missouri – With a call for contributions to recreate Barney Allis Plaza, an urban park scheduled for a transforming renovation, Kansas City has opened its doors to all artists. Located in the center of the city, this one-square-block park rises over the Auditorium Parking Garage and surrounds the Kansas City Convention Center and the renowned Folly Theater.
Already underway, the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks public art experienced artists and teams to send their credentials before the March 28 deadline. Along with providing an excellent opportunity to impact a major urban area, this project seeks to establish Barney Allis Plaza as a cultural lighthouse and symbol of community and innovation in downtown Kansas City.
By including art to create a unified and immersive experience, the renovation of Barney Allis Plaza seeks to turn it into a vital point for activity and connection. The chosen artist or team will create a site-wide artistic concept, thus the plaza becomes a must-visit location reflecting the forward-looking attitude and innovative dedication of the city.
The curatorial consultant for the project will be Tiffany Meesha Thompson, EMBA, head of Petrichor Projects. She works closely with the design and construction teams to guarantee that art is discreetly included into the new plaza development. The intention is to establish a place that not only makes guests happy but also starts to define Kansas City.
Kansas City and Petrichor Projects will be in charge of the choosing process; a panel including public art specialists, curators, and museum professionals will oversee it. A committee of stakeholders and community members will select the final artist or team; shortlisted candidates will be paid a proposal fee to help them to develop their ideas.
Apart from the RFQ, Petrichor Projects provides one-on-one consultation sessions for artists trying to negotiate the complexity of the public art production. Designed to offer mentoring, these meetings specifically target local artists through February 25, 2025. Those who are interested in registering for these classes should do so at the Zhou B Art Center, Charlotte Street, and the Line Creek Community Center among other venues.
Moreover, March 3, 2025 is set aside for information seminars on the project and the choosing procedure. These sessions will be accessible to a large audience of interested artists through both in-person at the Crossroads Hotel and online via Zoom.
This project is about investing in Kansas City’s cultural fabric and building a landmark that reflects the values and goals of the people, not only about redesigning a public area. Barney Allis Plaza is poised to lead this transformation as the city develops, acting as a dynamic, artistic, connected urban park.
More details can be found here.
