Kansas City, Missouri – In an ambitious attempt to redefine public space and community involvement, Kansas City has announced a global call for artists to participate in the makeover of Barney Allis Plaza. This rare opportunity is part of a comprehensive strive to restore the downtown urban park into a dynamic cultural monument that symbolizes the city’s progressive attitude and communal pride.
Situated in the heart of Kansas City, Barney Allis Plaza has long been a vital focus for residents and visitors alike. Flanked by prominent monuments such as the Kansas City Convention Center and the historic Folly Theater, the plaza is built atop the Auditorium Parking Garage, affording a vast perspective of the surrounding skyline. The makeover aspires to raise the plaza from a simply pass-through space to a dynamic, engaging atmosphere that captivates the imagination of those who visit.
The Request for credentials (RFQ), which was officially opened on February 17, 2025, encourages artists and collaborative artist teams from around the globe to submit their credentials and visions for the plaza’s future. The initiative wants inventive thinkers who are motivated to defy conventional boundaries and design a space that merges art smoothly with everyday living.
Tiffany Meesha Thompson, EMBA, CEO of Petrichor Projects, will take part as the curatorial consultant with the design and construction teams. The goal is to guarantee that art is not just an addition but a vital feature of the plaza’s identity, strengthening its role as a gathering place and a symbol of community.
The selected artist or team will be responsible with designing a unified aesthetic vision that will be woven throughout the entirety of the plaza. This vision is supposed to provide a coherent and immersive experience that promotes innovation and engages the audience in new and surprising ways. The completed piece will serve as a tribute to Kansas City’s unique and forward-thinking approach to urban development and public art.
The RFQ process is administered by Kansas City and Petrichor Projects, with a panel comprising of museum professionals, curators, and public art experts set to examine submissions. Shortlisted candidates will receive a proposal fee to further develop their concepts. The final artist(s) will be selected by a committee of stakeholders and community members, ensuring the chosen project resonates with the people it wants to serve.
Petrichor Projects is providing one-on-one consultation sessions to help prospective candidates with public art process direction. Local artists get first priority in these sessions, which run until February 25, 2025. The official project website, barneyallis.org/public-art, allows interested artists to register for these sessions and obtain further specifics.
Apart from personal meetings, information seminars will be conducted to go over the project and application procedure even more. These sessions include a virtual Zoom conference on March 3, 2025, at the Crossroads Hotel and an in-person gathering there.
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This invitation to artists not only reflects a major cultural investment by Kansas City but also offers an opportunity for artists to permanently change the fabric of the city. Reimagining Barney Allis Plaza will make it not only a monument of artistic expression but also a pillar of community interaction and celebration in downtown Kansas City.
